FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Hyde returns to Class S state playoffs

Last season’s subpar 4-6 finish might seem like a distant memory for the Hyde football team.

But the Howling Wolves, especially the seniors, never forgot how it felt to miss out on a state playoff berth.

Since becoming a varsity program in 1998, Hyde has qualified for the postseason eight times and won Class S titles in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2009.

After a year’s absence, the Howling Wolves are back in the Class S field.

“We’re glad to be back,” Hyde coach Melvin Wells said. “We’re glad to be in the mix again. The kids have done a real nice job of sticking to the ground stone. This (reaching the playoffs) was their plan for the start.”

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WEEK 10 HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton Sr. RB Kyle Wing: Carried 18 times for a school-record 361 yards and six touchdowns in a 57-28 win over Granby on Saturday.

♦Guilford Jr. RB David Knapp: Rushed 13 times for 212 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-13 win over Foran on Wednesday. Knapp also returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Ansonia Sr. LB Hezekiah Duncan: Scored on a 35-yard interception return in a 56-26 win over Woodland on Thursday.

♦Oxford Jr. DB Kyle Chudoba: Made two interceptions, including one he returned 23 yards for a touchdown, in a 35-12 win over Bunnell on Saturday.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Ansonia Sr. LB Hezekiah Duncan: Scored on a 35-yard interception return in a 56-26 win over Woodland on Thursday.

♦Oxford Jr. DB Kyle Chudoba: Made two interceptions, including one he returned 23 yards for a touchdown, in a 35-12 win over Bunnell on Saturday.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

♦Ansonia: Junior running back Arkeel Newsome rushed 23 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns and he also had a touchdown reception in a 56-26 victory over Woodland on Thursday in the Naugatuck Valley League championship game.

♦Barlow: Alex Lockwood had 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 29-22 victory over Brookfield on Thursday.

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Latest CIAC Pairings
Hand, Staples, Ansonia remain the top 3 teams in the latest Register Top 10 Poll

Guilford’s record entering this past week didn’t quite reflect how talented and competitive the Indians could be.

Guilford suffered losses to North Haven and West Haven, two of the better teams in the Southern Connecticut Conference, during the first two weeks of this season.

But the Indians finally had reason to celebrate after a 56-7 Southern Connecticut Conference Division II West victory over Lyman Hall last Friday.

“It feels great,” Guilford coach Tom Unger said. “It was a D2 West win, and it was a good feeling for our guys to get in the win column.”

LION PRIDE

Foran, like Guilford, posted its first win of the season after earning a 26-7 victory over Sheehan last Friday. The Lions had lost to Hillhouse and Shelton to the year.

“We’ve got a young team, so we needed to play well and get a win,” Foran coach Jeff Bevino said. “I kept telling them they can do it, and now they know they can.”

Bevino credits his defensive coordinator, Jim Esposito, for preparing the Lions for Sheehan’s explosive offensive attack.

Sheehan scored on its opening possession, but was shut out the remainder of the game.  

“Our kids were extremely well-prepared,” Bevino said.

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HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF WEEK

♦Hillhouse Jr. RB Harold Cooper: Rushed for four touchdowns in a 32-18 win over Branford on Friday.

♦Notre Dame-West Haven Sr. RB Cameran Tucker: Rushed 44 times for 323 yards and two scores in a 34-13 loss to West Haven on Friday.


DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Cheney Tech Sr. CB Andre Rose: Made three interceptions, including one he returned 40 yards for a touchdown, in a 36-19 win over Wilcox Tech on Saturday. Rose also scored on an 83-yard kickoff return.

♦Glastonbury Sr. LB Nick Karp: Made 15 tackles and returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in a 35-6 win over Conard on Saturday.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Newtown Sr. Dan Hebert: Scored on an 85-yard kickoff return in a 43-14 win over Stratford on Saturday. Hebert also had touchdown runs of 13 and six yards.

♦Shelton Sr. Ed Groth: Kicked field goals of 34 and 41 yards in a 34-28 win over Amity on Saturday.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

♦Nonnewaug: T.J. Meyer blocked a field goal as time expired in an 8-7 win over East Hampton/Vinal Tech on Saturday. The victory was the first varsity win for the Chiefs since 2008.

♦Sacred Heart: Jaquan Overbey rushed 13 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-30 win over Whitney Tech on Friday. The win marked the first for Cortez Johnson as the Hearts’ head coach.

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Xavier, Staples, Hand remain 1-2-3 in Register Top 10 Poll

Xavier remain No. 1 in Register Top 10 Poll

HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Berlin Jr. QB Mitch Williams: Completed 16-of-18 passes for 320 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-6 win over East Catholic on Saturday.

♦Bunnell Sr. QB Bryan Castelot: Completed 22-of-42 passes for 380 yards and three scores in a 44-35 win over Bethel on Friday.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Derby Sr. DB Dillon McMahon: Scored on an 96-yard interception return in a 55-26 win over St. Paul. McMahon also had two rushing touchdowns and scored on a 70-yard punt return.

♦North Haven Jr. DB Carlos Martinez: Made two interceptions in a 28-0 win over Guilford on Friday.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Amity Jr. David Buono: Returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in a 35-13 loss to Hand on Friday.

♦Bacon Academy Sr. Trey Geisman: Kicked two field goals and two extra points in a 28-20 loss to Plainfield on Friday.

TEAMS OF WEEK

♦Cheshire: Defeated Shelton 30-23 in the head coaching debut for Don Drust.

♦East Haven: Defeated Lyman Hall 28-27 to win its season opener for the first time since 2006.

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NOTEBOOK: East Haven starts strong