I sent out preseason preview forms to state coaches on Tuesday; props to Pomperaug coach Dave Roach for being the first coach to reply.

In the coming days and weeks, as coaches begin to send back forms, I'll post team previews on this blog to get us ready for the start of the 2013 High School Football Season, which kicks off on Sept. 11. 

Since they were the first, we'll start with Pomperaug.

POMPERAUG

Ed Arum Field, Southbury

Coach: Dave Roach (3rd year, 12-8)
Conference: SWC
2012 Record: 4-6
2013 Kickoff: vs. Newtown, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.
Top offensive players: Wade Prajer, 6-0, 190, Sr., QB; Steve Croce, 5-9, 165, Jr., WR; Sam Rubinstein, 6-1, 170, Sr., WR; Seamus Conway, 6-2, 220, Sr., OL; Bob Tzepos, 5-9, 185, Sr., RB.
Top defensive players: Jack Yule, 6-0, 230, Sr., LB; Nico Rosa, 6-4, 230, Sr., DE; Matt Silverman, 5-8, 165, Sr., LB; Jake Parsell, 5-10, 235, Jr., DL.
Key losses: Eric Beatty, K/QB; Jesse Prajer, DE; Carl Gatzendorfer, CB; Corey Bake, OL.
Outlook: The Panthers have size, strength and speed, according to Roach. There was a renewed emphasis on off-season lifting and conditioning, and Roach thinks his squad will be competitive.  Pomperaug will likely run several formations offensively, but the Panthers have to adjust to life without Beatty, who directed the offense last season. Three of Pomeraug's losses last season were to teams that qualified for the playoffs (Masuk, Newtown, Weston) and another (Oxford) that just missed out on a Class S berth. There's a good chance that the Panthers can climb back over .500 this season.

By Register Citizen Staff
Torrington has offically offered the football head coaching position to former Sheehan High School offensive coordinator Gaitan Rodriguez.

“I was chosen,” said Rodriguez. “I am very excited and extremely excited to come home.”

He played at Torrington High School in the 90’s and was an All-NVL selection; he also began his coaching career with the Raiders.

Torrington Athletic Director Mike McKenna said they were looking for a coach who would be able to do more for the program than just coach on the field.

“We were looking for someone who’s going to develop young men academically and socially. Football is not the big thing that people are going to learn. What they get out of sports is way beyond what they learn on the field,” said McKenna. “I think Gaitan Rodriguez is the guy who can do that. I’ve known him since he was a freshman in high school. He’s absolutely what we were looking for.”


In other coaching news, Doug Cotto was hired at Bunnell and Rich Holmes was named head coach at Abbott Tech.

Dawon Dicks has been let go as head football coach at Notre Dame-Fairfield after one season. The news was first reported on Twitter on Tuesday morning.

ND athletic director Rob Bleggi later released a brief statement, which read:

"Coach Dicks is no longer the head football coach at Notre Dame-Fairfield. I have no further comment on the matter."

Notre Dame went 1-9 last season.

The Fairfield, Conn. Sports page on Facebook had this information:

According to twitter, Notre Dame Fairfield’s Dawon Dicks has been dismissed as the school's head football coach. Players and students took to twitter late Monday night in protest of Dick’s dismissal using the hash tag #WeWantCoachD.

The school has yet to confirm or deny that Dick’s will no longer be coach. Via a text message early Tuesday morning, Notre Dame athletic director Rob Bleggi said he had no comment at this time.

Dicks, an alumnus of the school, was hired as the Lancers coach in August and went 1-9 in his lone season. Since Jeff Bevino stopped coaching the Lancers in 2005, Notre Dame has had four different coaches and now will have three different coaches in three years come the fall.

Our friends at the NVL football blog have listed 2013 schedules for NVL teams. Schedules are not official, and do not include dates and times.

2013 marks the first year of the NVL-SWC challenge, which takes place in Week 6.

EDITED: Murphy was approved by the school's board of ed. 


John Murphy, who stepped down at Masuk after winning three state titles in 15 years, is expected to be hired at New Milford, the CT POST reports.

From the POST:

It's not official yet. Murphy's hire is pending approval by the New Milford Board of Education.

The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, said New Milford athletic director Lance Pliego, who had no comment on the possible hiring of Murphy.

On the board's agenda is a proposal to hire Murphy as the school's football coach effective Thursday.

Murphy, 45, who lives in Stratford, would also take over as the school's girls lacrosse coach, a position he held at Masuk.

Murphy, who declined comment, compiled a 158-33-1 record at Masuk, replaces Chuck Lynch, who resigned after nine seasons.

Craig Bruno, who coached Bunnell to state titles in 2006 and 2007, has been named the next coach at Naugatuck. The news was first reported by the CT POST on Thursday.

From the POST article:

Bruno, 44, played at Bunnell in the 1980s and was elevated to head coach in 2001 to replace his mentor, Bob Mastroni.

Bruno will leave as its most decorated after 12 years, four state playoff appearances and two state championships.

Bruno, who is also the athletic director at Bassick, takes over at Naugatuck after a tumultuous 2012, which saw the school embroiled in a recruiting scandal involving former coach Rob Plasky and Sacred Heart receiver David Coggins. Plasky resigned in August. The Greyhounds went 6-4 under interim coach Shawn Kuczenski.

The South-West Conference and the Naugatuck Valley League have agreed to play interconference football games for the next two years.

The games will take place during Week 6 of each season. The matchups were determined based on the teams’ records in 2011 and 2012. The host teams will determine the dates and times of the games.

2013

Masuk at Ansonia
Newtown at Wolcott
Holy Cross at Weston
Woodland at Pomperaug
Barlow at Torrington
Bunnell at Naugatuck
Seymour at Oxford

Derby at Bethel
Brookfield at Wilby
New Fairfield at Sacred Heart
Watertown at New Milford
Kennedy at Stratford
Notre Dame at St. Paul
Immaculate at Crosby

2014

Wolcott at Masuk
Ansonia at Newtown 

Pomperaug at Holy Cross
Weston at Woodland
Naugatuck at Barlow
Torrington at Bunnell
Bethel at Seymour
Oxford at Derby
Sacred Heart at Brookfield
Wilby at New Fairfield
Stratford at Watertown
New Milford at Kennedy 

Crosby at Notre Dame
St. Paul at Immaculate

Masuk's John Murphy and Trinity Catholic's Pete Stokes stepped down as head coach from their respective schools on Tuesday.


Murphy was coach for 15 years, winning 159 games, six SWC championships and three state championships.

Read more on Murphy from the CT POST



Stokes led the Crusaders to an 8-3 record and a berth in the Class S quarterfinals this season.


Read more on Stokes from the STAMFORD ADVOCATE

Tickets for the Stratford vs. Bunnell game on Nov. 21 are on sale at both high schools in the athletic and main offices.
Tickets are also on sale at Hilltop Food Market (across from Eli Whitney School) on Huntington Road in Stratford.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bunnell.
Tickets are $3 for students and senior citizens and $5 for adults when purchased in advance.
All tickets are $5 for students and senior citizens and $7 for adults at the gate. No passes will be accepted.
For additional information, contact Bunnell athletic director Dave Johnson at (203) 385-4260 or Stratford athletic director Robert Baird at (203) 385-4240.
Foran-Law Tickets
Tickets for the Foran-Law Thanksgiving day football game went on sale at both schools on Tuesday. Tickets purchased before Thanksgiving are $5 and all tickets purchased on Thanksgiving Day will be $7.

 Hyde continues to impress with 21-10 win over Cromwell

By Jimmy Zanor
Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — Hyde football’s 2012 Redemption Tour continued to get rave reviews following the Howling Wolves’ 21-10 Pequot Conference victory against Cromwell Saturday at the Wilbur Cross Athletic Complex.

With last year’s 55-20 loss to the Panthers still fresh in their minds, Hyde took advantage of four Cromwell turnovers and grabbed a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

“The kids circled the calendar for this one,” said Hyde coach Melvin Wells. “We’ve got a group of seniors that played last year and they remember the feeling and it wasn’t a good one. We felt embarrassed. This year they dedicated themselves to getting better and today we came out prepared.”

An interception by Hyde linebacker Khalil Morant set up the Howling Wolves’ first score, a 17-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kevin Jones to Tyquan Franklin, who was open in the corner of the end zone.


VOTE for Hyde's KEVIN JONES for Saturday's STAR OF THE DAY! 

DIAZ LEADS OXFORD 

Oxford 55, Notre Dame-Fairfield 20: Quarterback Brennen Diaz threw two touchdown passes and ran for another and Chris Van Kamerik caught the two touchdown passes and added a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown to lead Oxford to its SWC Patriot win in Fairfield. Kamerik had five receptions for 72 yards and Dan Trombetta had five carries for 112 yards, including a 93 touchdown run, for Oxford (3-1).

READ MORE ROUNDUP HERE

PLATT TECH has been nominated for TEAM OF THE WEEK! VOTE!

Fairfield Prep blitzes Shelton 

By Mary Albl, Register Staff
malbl@journalregister.com / Twitter: @MaryAlbl

Shelton's Mark Piccirillo looks for room through the Fairfield Prep's defense during the first quarter of Prep's 42-3 win. Photo Peter Casolino/New Haven Register.

FAIRFIELD — All season long Fairfield Prep football head coach Tom Shea has preached the message of beating an elite opponent. Last Saturday, the Jesuits hopes of doing that were crushed in a 35-14 loss to top-ranked Xavier.

Friday night at Alumni Field, Prep answered the call with a dominant 42-3 Southern Connecticut Conference victory over Shelton to move to 3-1.

“Listen, they’re (Shelton) an outstanding program with a great tradition,” Shea said. “You cannot be a good team unless you’re able to play with, compete with and beat a team like that. For us, we hope it’s a step forward.”

Masuk runs wild over Bunnell

STRATFORD — At tradition-rich programs like Masuk, where there’s usually an abundance of talent, most players must wait their turn until they’re seniors to play full-time.

 Andy Fredeen is one of those players. Fredeen played sparingly last season when the Panthers advanced to the Class L state semifinals.

Fredeen returned the game’s opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown against rival Bunnell, helping the Panthers cruise to a 63-14 South-West Conference victory Friday.

“He’s a senior who’s been waiting for his time,” Masuk coach John Murphy said. “He stepped up tonight when we needed him. (Had a) big one on the opening kickoff to get us going. I thought Andy had a great game.”

PHOTOS: Masuk runs past Bunnell

ROUNDUP: Hillhouse shuts out Law

Andre Anderson ran for 135 yards, scored three touchdowns, had an interception and eight tackles and JeVaughn Moore ran for 85 yards one seven carries and a touchdown as the Hillhouse football team routed Law 47-0 in New Haven on Friday afternoon in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division II game.

Cheshire 48, Notre Dame-West Haven 13: Vin Sansone threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more amassing 175 total yards and Sam Pascale had two rushing touchdowns as Cheshire won the SCC Division I East game.

Jack Cunningham had five tackles, two interceptions, a blocked PAT and on offense, six rushes for 69 yards for Cheshire (3-1) in the win over Notre Dame-West Haven (1-3).

No. 3 Hand 49, Wilbur Cross 14: Seven different players scored for Hand in a SCC Division I East game at New Haven.


Hillhouse's Andre Anderson and North Haven's Jalon White have been nominated for FRIDAY'S STAR. VOTE!

Senior Frank Bacarella rushed 14 times for 132 yards and four touchdowns for visiting Masuk in this South-West Conference victory Friday at Stratford.

Thomas Milone rushed 11 times for 79 yards and caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Malik Cummings for the Panthers (4-0), who are ranked No. 7 in the Register Top 10 Poll.

Andy Fredeen returned the game's opening kickoff 65-yards for a touchdown for Masuk. Fredeen also caught two passes for 11 yards and made two interceptions.

Nolan Aurelia scored on an 8-yard run and Bryan Castelot tossed a 73-yard touchdown pass to Justin Townsend for Bunnell (1-3).

 Linta leads Hamden Hall

T.J. Linta completed 23-of-37 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns to lead host Hamden Hall to a 28-18 victory over Morristown-Beard (N.J.) at Hamden.

Derby 55, St. Paul 26: Dillon McMahon scored four touchdowns, two on offense, one on defense and another on special teams, to lead the Red Raiders to their Naugatuck Valley League interdivision win in Bristol.

Cromwell 51, East Hampton/Vinal Tech 14: Derrick Villard scored three touchdowns on the ground as the host Panthers rolled up 241 rushing yards in the Pequot Conference win.

Oxford 35, Immaculate 0: Brennen Diaz passed for 107 yards, threw two touchdowns and kicked an extra point as the Wolverines shut out the Mustangs in  this SWC contest.

More roundup.

VOTE for Linta and McMahon for Saturday's STAR OF THE DAY!

EAST HAVEN has been nominated for the Register's TEAM OF THE WEEK!

We've begun to post more Preview Capsules by Conference on-line. We will post more in the upcoming days.

Southern Connecticut Conference

South-West Conference

Preps: Hamden Hall and Hopkins


Central Connecticut Conference


Here are some we posted the other day.




Note: Only teams where information was made available have been included.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Bryan Castelot, Bunnell hope to have foes on the run

By Henry Chisholm, Register Staff
hchisholm@nhregister.com / Twitter: @NHRHenryC

Bunnell High School quarterback Bryan Castelot, left, and football coach Craig Bruno at a recent practice. Peter Hvizdak / Register

STRATFORD — Prior to the 2009 regular-season finale against rival Stratford High, Bunnell coach Craig Bruno said he asked then freshman quarterback Bryan Castelot if he was ready to go.

“He didn’t say anything,’ Bruno said. “He just smiled at me.”

Castelot went out and threw his first two passes for touchdowns in that game.

Now a senior, the hefty quarterback has been ready to go since day one.

Well, really since day seven.

“It took me about a week (to learn the playbook),” Castelot said about his freshman year.

And it didn’t take Castelot long to master the Bulldogs’ fast break, run-and-gun, no-huddle offense, either.


 

In response to @BigPat31 on Twitter, below are some games around the state that might be worth checking out in 2012.

You can follow me on Twitter @MikePucciNHR.

Dates, sites and times are subject to change.

CCC

New Britain at Glastonbury, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Southington at New Britain, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Berlin, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Bloomfield at Northwest Catholic, Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.
Windsor at Hartford Public, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Berlin at Northwest Catholic, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
Windsor at Middletown, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Bloomfield, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Glastonbury at Southington, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Berlin at Bloomfield, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Berlin at New Britain, Nov. 21, 6 p.m.
Northwest Catholic at Rocky Hill, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

ECC

Fitch at Norwich Free Academy, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.
Norwich Free Academy at Ledyard, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Fitch at New London, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.
New London at Ledyard, Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m.
Norwich Free Academy at New London, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

FCIAC

Greenwich at Ridgefield, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Staples, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Darien, Sept. 29, 1:30 p.m.
New Canaan at St. Joseph, Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m.
Staples at Darien, Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m.
St. Joseph at Trumbull, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.
New Canaan at Darien, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.
Staples at Greenwich, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

NVL

Torrington at Wolcott, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Woodland at Ansonia, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Derby at Ansonia, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Torrington, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Ansonia at Holy Cross, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Woodland at Torrington, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Wolcott at Ansonia, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Woodland, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Woodland at Wolcott, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Wolcott at Holy Cross, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.
Naugatuck at Ansonia, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

PEQUOT

Cromwell at Hyde, Oct. 6, 2 p.m.
Gilbert/NW Regional at Avon, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.
North Branford at Cromwell, Oct. 27, 1 p.m.
Hyde at North Branford, Nov. 21, 6 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Nov. 21, 6:30 p.m.

SCC

Hand at Hillhouse (Bowen), Sept. 21, 4 p.m.
North Haven at Xavier, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Sheehan at Amity, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Notre Dame-West Haven, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Xavier, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Shelton at Fairfield Prep, Oct. 5, 6 p.m.
Hand at Xavier, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
Hillhouse at North Haven, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Hand, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
North Haven at Sheehan, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Xavier at Hillhouse, Oct. 26, 3 p.m.
Xavier at Shelton, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Shelton at Hand, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Xavier, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Foran at Guilford, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
Amity at North Haven, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.
Fairfield Prep at West Haven, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

SWC

Bethel at Bunnell, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
Pomperaug at Masuk, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
Bunnell at Brookfield, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Pomperaug at Newtown, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Brookfield at Newtown, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Masuk at Bunnell, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Masuk at Brookfield, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Brookfield at Pomperaug, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
Bunnell at Newtown, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Masuk at Newtown, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.
Bethel at Brookfield, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

Non-league

North Haven at New London, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Stamford at Norwich Free Academy, Oct. 20, 1 p.m.
Middletown at Xavier, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.
Cheshire at Southington, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

OXFORD

Coach: Joe Stochmal (6th year, 13-28)

League: SWC

Last season: 5-5

Top offensive players: Bucky Gumbrewicz, Sr., OL; Dave Lavorgna, Sr., WR

Top defensive players: Brennen Diaz, Sr., LB; Jeff Haney, Jr., LB

Key losses: Alex Miller, QB/DB; Joe Carbonaro, OL/DL; Matt Hanna, OL/DL; Chris Hovan, RB/LB; Jordan Biagioni, WR/DB; Brian Spicer, TE/DE; Anthony Paternoster, FB/LB (playing at Fitchburg St.); Justin Lasto, WR/LB (playing at University of New Haven)

Inside the huddle: Stochmal says: “We will be young and have to show to grow up quickly. We must play with a sense of urgency. Staying healthy will be a key factor in our success, as we are young and inexperienced at the varsity level.” Most of the Wolverines’ skill players graduated, so replacing those starters will be a challenge, as will adjusting to a new offensive set. Stochmal lists Newtown and Bunnell as the top two teams in the South-West Conference.

Stat Facts: Diaz made five sacks and recovered two fumbles last season and will anchor the defense.

Despite a 28-14 loss to Masuk in the Class L state quarterfinals this past Tuesday, North Haven constructed a 17-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Joe Schwab's 1-yard TD run. The drive lasted almost nine minutes. The Indians held the ball for all but 90 seconds in that third quarter.

North Haven then recovered an on-sides kick and later scored to tie the game at 14 before Masuk pulled away and earned the victory.

Now it's Hand's turn to stop the Masuk express. The Panthers have scored a state-best 575 points this season. Both teams enter Saturday's contest unbeaten. Kickoff between the No. 2 seed Hand and No. 3 Masuk is set for 7 p.m. at West Haven's Ken Strong Stadium.

"Our game is like their (Mausk) game," Hand coach Steve Filippone said. "Our game is a balanced attack of short passing mixed in with a few runs."

Both Masuk and Hand operate out of a spread offensive attack, and Filippone expects both teams' offenses to do what they do best, which is passing the ball.

Masuk senior QB Casey Cochran is the best at the position in the state, and he has targets in seniors Jason Piontkowski and Brandon Cusmano and junior Thomas Milone.

Hand counters with senior quarterback Henry Foye and senior receiver Nick Vitale, among other weapons.

"I'd love to say, yes, we're going to do what North Haven did, that we're going to put our hand on the ground and we're going to use our big backs and rip at them and be happy to have a 15-play drive," Filippone said. "That's not going to happen; that's just not the way we play anymore here. We're going to play the way we play.

"No one's going to stop them (Masuk). Are we going to shut out Masuk? If I were a betting man, I would bet the house we're not getting a shut out. If we're fortunate enough to hold them to four touchdowns, we have a shot at winning the game."

Junior quarterback Bryan Castelot completed 7-of-11 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns to lead the host Bulldogs to this SWC victory in a game where both teams entered unbeaten.

Senior Jawad Chisholm caught four passes for 177 yards, including TD catches of 80 and 82 yards, for Bunnell (5-0).

J.J. Bivona had a 2-yard TD run and Jared Vasquez caught an 8-yard TD pass for the Bulldogs.

Andrew Reel caught two touchdown passes for the Panthers (4-1).

Masuk senior quarterback Casey Cochran set the state record for career passing yards after throwing for 298 yards in a 49-14 South-West Conference interdivision victory over host Oxford Saturday.

Cochran has now thrown for 7,998 yards. He needed just 11 yards to surpass the mark of 7,710 yards set by former St. Joseph standout Joe Della Vecchia from 2007-2010. Cochran was 15-of-19 with three touchdowns and one interception.

Colin Markus rushed 10 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers, ranked No. 2 in the Register Poll. Thomas Milone returned the game's opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and he also caught four passes for 114 yards and one touchdown in the win.

Chris Hovan scored on an 84-yard kickoff return, and Jeff Haney returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdowns, for the Wolverines.

Note: Stats were called in by Oxford and are unofficial.