I went to Saturday's quad scrimmage between Hillhouse, Cromwell, Oxford and Fairfield Warde at Bowen Field in New Haven.

Below is a video of a series between Hillhouse and Warde.

Hillhouse looked pretty good. They moved the ball well, scoring several times. For as long as I stayed, Hillhouse did not surrender a touchdown.

The Academics seem to certainly be a Class M contender.

Below is a video clip from that scrimmage.

Here's a video clip from Wednesday's scrimmage between Masuk and Shelton in Monroe. Both teams moved the ball well.

Masuk RB Colin Markus proved why he's expected to be one of the top running backs in the state this year.

Shelton's option offense also drove the ball down the field well.

Ansonia won by the score of 5 TDs to 2. Ansonia scored twice on interception returns, including one by Raeshaun Finney, which is the first clip in the video below.

Ansonia sophomore Arkeel Newsome scored on a 70-yard run (second clip in video).

The Chargers scored twice more offensively and then added another score during a red-zone series.

Notre Dame scored once on a passing play (fourth clip in the video), and then once on a running play during the red-zone series.

Both teams looked like it was a first scrimmage (It was). Ansonia is extremely quick and athletic with a slew of playmakers. I expected the highly touted Chargers' offensive line to be a bit more aggressive and physical, though. But, again, first scrimmage. Ansonia appears to be a team ready to make a run at the NVL title and a Class M playoff berth.

ND had some trouble passing the ball early, but adjusted. ND has some size and should be fine once its young players gain more experience. New QB, new receivers, some new guys on the line. Pretty certain at mid-season that ND is going to be tough.

From the CIAC:

CIAC has received numerous calls from member schools and the media questioning if the requirement to complete 14 days of mandatory practices prior to first day of competition will be waived or altered.

The mandatory practice day requirement has been in existence for over 30 years and CIAC believes these days of practice are necessary to prepare teams for competition. Consequently, the only adjustment that will be making to the regulation is to allow schools to count practices held on Sundays toward the required 14 days. Schools may count both both Sunday practices held previously and those to be held from this point forward toward reaching the 14-day requirement. Sunday practices have always been allowed, but could not be counted towards the requirement. As always, the holding of Sunday practices will be at the discretion of the local school district.

Any team that has not conducted 14 days of practice prior to its first scheduled game must postpone and reschedule all games until it has satisfied the requirement. Schools are reminded that rescheduling of postponed games are not subject to weekly limitation rules.

School districts are encouraged to allow teams to continue to practice when it is safe to do so, even if school is not in session. We will continue to monitor the situation and assist member schools in their effort to meet the requirement.

By Mike Pucci and Joe Morelli, Register Staff
mpucci@nhregister.com; jmorelli@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrfootball; Twitter: @jmorelli44

With the regular season less three weeks away, there’s a real possibility that some area high school teams will lose this entire week of practice due to the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Irene.

The shoreline towns were hit particularly hard. Hand football coach Steve Filippone says there’s uncertainty as to when his team can take the field again.

“We’re prohibited from practicing, arguably, until next Tuesday,” said Filippone Monday.

Filippone said he was directed by school officials not to practice because of poor road conditions due to fallen trees and down power lines. The electrical power in Madison has yet to be restored.

“It’s still pretty bad down here,” Filippone said.

Read the full story here.

I e-mailed Matt Fischer, the director of information services at the CIAC, earlier today and asked him a few questions regarding the postponement of practices. His answers, which were delivered with a prompt response (as always with him), are below.

Q: Does the cancellation or postponement of practices come from the CIAC or from the school/towns?

A: The CIAC has not directed any school to cancel/postpone practices. Determinations as to if facilities are available, and/or policies such as if schools can practice (or play games) on days when school is cancelled, would be local board decisions.

Q: Will the CIAC allow for any extra practice sessions, say three-a-days? And is the football season going to begin as scheduled?

A: No decision has been made to alter either the number of practices allowed or the start of the season. We will continue to monitor the situation in all sports. No changes are expected at the present time, however if any changes were considered the first concern would be ensuring the health and safety of the participating student-athletes.

There’s a real possibility that some high school football teams will lose this entire week of practice due to the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Irene.

Although Masuk High had electrical power Monday, 90 percent of the town did not. But that wasn't the biggest concern.

"It's a safety issue," Masuk coach John Murphy said. "They (school officials) don't want the kids driving around Monroe with the trees and wires down."

Masuk did not practice Monday and will not be allowed to again on Tuesday. The Panthers are scheduled to face host Shelton in a 6 p.m. scrimmage on Wednesday. The fate of that scrimmage has yet to be determined.

"We usually take the day before to prepare for a scrimmage," Murphy said. "That (not having practice) is certainly going to impact us. But it's impacting everybody. Most people are in the same boat."

Look for updates on this blog and in print editions of the Register about weather-related issues affecting schools.

By Mike Pucci, Register Staff
mpucci@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrfootball

The impending threat from Hurricane Irene has forced high school football teams to adjust their preseason practice schedules.

Branford cut short a double session Saturday and cancelled a double scheduled for Sunday.

Hornets’ coach Mike Tracy hopes to resume practice Monday at 3 p.m.

“We’re losing (Sunday),” Tracy said, “and then we’ll play it by ear after that. We had a mini-double (Saturday), so we didn’t have to lose that.”

Read the full story here.

Below is a list of scrimmages from state teams, as listed on CIAC.
Times, dates and sites are subject to change.

Aug. 25
Canton at Haddam-Killingworth, 9 a.m.

Aug. 26
Joel Barlow at Ridgefield, 5 p.m.

Aug. 27
East Haven at Derby, 10 a.m.
Housatonic/Wamogo at Pine Plains (NY), 10 a.m.
Northwest Catholic at Middletown, 10 a.m.
Torrington at Norwich Free Academy, 10 a.m.
Wilcox Tech at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, 10 a.m.
Woodstock Academy at Putnam, 10 a.m.
Granby at Capital Prep/Classical Magnet, 10:30 a.m.
Lewis Mills at Wolcott, 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart at Pomperaug, 6 p.m.
Morgan at Guilford, TBA

Aug. 28
Newington at Wolcott, 12 p.m.
Daniel Hand at Berlin, 12:30 p.m.
Fairfield Ludlowe at Bunnell, 4 p.m.
Seymour at Shelton, TBA

Aug. 29
Platt Tech at Seymour, TBA

Aug. 30
East Catholic at RHAM, 3:30 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Ansonia, 3:30 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Guilford, 3:30 p.m.
Branford at Fitch, 3:45 p.m.
Griswold at Windham, 3:45 p.m.
Manchestser at Wethersfield, 3:45 p.m.
Bethel at Danbury, 4 p.m.
Immaculate at Westhill, 4 p.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Canton, 4 p.m.
New Fairfield at Newtown, 5 p.m.
Enfield at Longmeadow, TBA
Putnam at West Warwick (RI), TBA
Seymour at Platt Tech, TBA

Aug. 31
Bristol Eastern at Berlin, 2:45 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at North Haven, 3 p.m.
Naugatuck at Amity, 3:30 p.m.
Derby at Fairfield Warde, 3:45 p.m.
Lewis Mills at Watertown, 3:45 p.m.
Rockville at Cromwell, 3:45 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Daniel Hand, 3:45 p.m.
Fairfield Warde at Fairfield Prep, 4 p.m.
Hartford Public at Hall, 4 p.m.
Jonathan Law at Coginchaug, 4 p.m.
Middletown at Southington, 4 p.m.
Staples at Bunnell, 4 p.m.
Tolland at Simsbury, 4 p.m.
Weston at Wilton, 4:15 p.m.
St. Joseph at Joel Barlow, 4:30 p.m.
Brookfield at Ridgefield, 5 p.m.
Cheney Tech at Morgan, 5 p.m.
Ledyard at Platt, 5 p.m.
West Haven at Norwalk, 6 p.m.
Glastonbury at Berlin, TBA
Hamden at Coginchaug, TBA

Sept. 1
Oxford at Woodland, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 2
Plainfield at Griswold, 3:45 p.m.
Manchester at Windsor, 4 p.m.
Ansonia at West Haven, 6 p.m.
Newtown at Seymour, TBA

Sept. 3
Darien at Branford, 9 a.m.
Derby at Bacon Academy, 9 a.m.
Northwest Catholic at Hall, 9 a.m.
South Windsor at Daniel Hand, 9 a.m.
Trumbull at Bunnell, 9 a.m.
RHAM at Windham, 9 a.m.
Rockville at Stafford/East Windsor, 9:30 a.m.
Amity at Pomperaug, 10 a.m.
Bethel at New Canaan, 10 a.m.
Canton at Rocky Hill, 10 a.m.
Coventry/Windham Tech at Cheney Tech, 10 a.m.
Danbury at Lyman Hall, 10 a.m.
East Hartford at Enfield, 10 a.m.
Fairfield Warde at Hillhouse, 10 a.m.
Farmington at Torrington, 10 a.m.
Hamden Hall at East Haven, 10 a.m.
Granby at Nonnewaug, 10 a.m.
Guilford at Woodland, 10 a.m.
Immaculate at New Fairfield, 10 a.m.
Immaculate at Jonathan Law, 10 a.m.
Jonathan Law at Westhill, 10 a.m.
Morgan at Rocky Hill, 10 a.m.
Shelton at St. Joesph, 10 a.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Gilbert/NW Regional, 10 a.m.
Tolland at Enfield, 10 a.m.
Trinity Catholic at Wilton, 10 a.m.
Wilbur Cross at Hamden, 10 a.m.
SMSA at Woodstock Academy, 10:30 a.m.
Cromwell at Hillhouse, 11 a.m.
Platt Tech at Wilcox Tech, 3 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Fairfield Ludlowe, TBA
Glastonbury at New London, TBA

Sept. 5
Ridgefield at Staples, 9 a.m.
Torrington at Seymour, 10 a.m.

Sept. 6
Manchester at Berlin, 2:45 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Rocky Hill, 3:30 p.m.
Cromwell at Platt, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 7
East Hartford at Coventry/Windham Tech, 3 p.m.
Trinity Catholic at King & Low-Heywood Thomas, 3:30 p.m.
Lewis Mills at Gilbert/NW Regional, 3:45 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Trumbull, 4 p.m.
New Milford at Danbury, 4 p.m.
Woodstock Academy at South Windsor, 4 p.m.
Norwalk at Newtown, 5 p.m.
Oxford at Seymour, 6 p.m.
Bassick at Jonathan Law, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8
Westhill at Joel Barlow, 5 p.m.
Bethel at Watertown, 6 p.m.
Enfield at Fermi, 6 p.m.
Greenwich at Hamden, 6 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at Torrington, 6 p.m.
Naugatuck at Wolcott, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Amity, 6 p.m.
White Plains (NY) at Fairfield Warde, 6 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Middletown, 6:30 p.m.
Wilton at Bunnell, 6:30 p.m.
Branford at Derby, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Bridgeport Central, TBA

Sept. 9
Woodland at Bristol Eastern, 3:30 p.m.
Staples at Fairfield Prep, 4 p.m.
E.O. Smith at Killingly, 4 p.m.
Manchester at Northwest Catholic, 4 p.m.
Wethersfield at Glastonbury, 4 p.m.
Abbot Tech at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, 4:30 p.m.
Simsbury at Platt, 4:30 p.m.
Strarford at Ridgefield, 5 p.m.
Ansonia at Shelton, 6 p.m.
Conard at Daniel Hand, 6 p.m.
Cromwell at Berlin, 6 p.m.
Tolland at Cheney Tech, 6 p.m.
Ellington/Somers at Rockville, 6:30 p.m.
Old Saybrook/Westbrook at East Haven, 7 p.m.
Pomperaug at Rocky Hill, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Foran, 7 p.m.
Griswold at Montville, TBA
Morgan at Notre Dame-Fairfield, TBA

Sept. 10
Guilford at Hall, 9 a.m.
East Hartford at Plainville, 10 a.m.
Trinity Catholic at Rye Country Day (NY), 10 a.m.
Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at Tolland, 10 a.m.
Wolcott Tech at Granby, 11 a.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Haddam-Killingworth, 11:30 a.m.
Putnam at Pomfret, TBA