West Haven defeats Prep, earns Class LL state berth

WEST HAVEN – After suffering a complete thumping at the hands of Xavier 10 days earlier, West Haven coach Ed McCarthy was not sure how his team would respond. Up until kickoff against Fairfield Prep, McCarthy still was not sure.

It took the Westies just three series into the game to ease the concerns of McCarthy. Scoring the first three times they touched the ball, the Westies defeated Fairfield Prep 24-7 at Ken Strong Stadium Thanksgiving morning.

With the victory, West Haven improved to 8-2 and clinched the No. 8 seed in the Class LL state playoffs. The Westies will face top-seeded Staples in the quarterfinals Tuesday evening in Westport at 6:30 p.m.






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PHOTOS: West Haven defeats Fairfield Prep

 










 

Cooper, Anderson lead Hillhouse over Cross in Elm City Bowl 

NEW HAVEN – The objective was clear and concise for the Hillhouse football team on Thursday.

Beat city rival Wilbur Cross and make a return trip to the CIAC Class M tournament, a division it won two years ago. Lose and, most likely, pack up the equipment.

It took some time to shake the cobwebs of nearly two weeks off, but the Academics left little to doubt. Junior Harold Cooper scored four touchdowns in a 42-0 win in the annual Elm City Bowl at Wilbur Cross.

Hillhouse (8-2) not only clinched a playoff spot, but earns a home game. As the No. 4 seed in the division, thanks to a tiebreaker over St. Joseph, the No. 5 Cadets will make the trip up I-95 from Trumbull.

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OTHER ACTION

FOOTBALL: Jalon White leads North Haven over Amity
PHOTOS: North Haven defeats Amity

FOOTBALL: Inspired Cadrin leads Foran past Law
FOOTBALL: Ansonia coaching legend Jack Hunt dies
FOOTBALL: Ansonia tops Naugatuck as Chargers mourn passing of Jack HuntFOOTBALL: Shelton comes from behind to beat DerbyFOOTBALL: Notre Dame-West Haven tops Hamden in Green Bowl
FOOTBALL: Branford blanks East Haven
FOOTBALL: Southington defeats CheshireFOOTBALL: Dominguez dominant in Sheehan win over Lyman HallFOOTBALL: Boyle, Berry lead Xavier over MiddletownFOOTBALL: Graham leads Platt Tech over O'Brien Tech
FOOTBALL: Zelkowitz breaks FCIAC record as Staples defeats Greenwich
FOOTBALL: Justin Potts, Platt rout Maloney in battle of Meriden

CIAC Playoff Pairings

Our Thanksgiving Football Special Section was included in Wednesday's print editions. 

It features a story on Seymour statistician John Commune, who is retiring after 44 years on the sidelines.

ANSONIA — With his pen and notebook in hand, John Commune will walk the Seymour sideline tonight for the final time.

He will record every pass, every run and every touchdown in his shorthand style just as he always has. He’s been doing so since 1968, his junior year at Seymour High. Commune has missed just two games in his 44 seasons as the Wildcats statistician.

Now, he says, it’s time to retire that pen and notebook that’s been a staple in the Valley for so long.

“I’m getting old,” said the 62-year-old Commune, a lifelong Seymour resident. “The cold weather, it’s no fun. But I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. There’s been a lot of good memories. The coaches and kids have been great.”

There's also capsules on every area game.

Capsule: Hillhouse vs. Cross
Capsule: West Haven vs. Fairfield Prep
Capsule: Hand vs. Guilford
Capsule: Ansonia vs. Naugatuck
Capsule: Xavier vs. Middletown
Capsule: Cheshire vs. Southington
Capsule: Derby vs. Shelton
Capsule: Hamden vs. ND-WH
Capsule: Amity vs. North Haven
Capsule: Branford vs. East Haven
Capsule: Law vs. Foran
Capsule: Seymour vs. Woodland
Capsule: Old Saybrook/Westbrook vs. Morgan
Capsule: H-K vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme
Capsule: Stratford vs. Bunnell
Capsule: Oxford vs. Pomperaug
Capsule: Platt Tech vs. O'Brien Tech

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.