HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Torrington Raiders hit the field for first practice of the season with new head coach Gaitan Rodriguez

Torrington head coach, Gaitan Rodriguez talks to his team during their first practice of the season. Laurie Gabordi - Register Citizen

By Pete Paguaga
ppaguaga@registercitizen.com
@PetePaguaga on Twitter

TORRINGTON >> “Raiders, Raiders!” echoed throughout the athletic fields in the back of Torrington High School as Gaitan Rodriguez closed out his first practice as head coach of Torrington.

“We’re very excited to get back on the field,” said Rodriguez. “The kids just want to get on the field.”

The Raiders program went through a tumultuous offseason overshadowed by a scandal that rocked Torrington.

Rodriguez graduated from Torrington in 1997 and was a member of the Raiders football program where he was an All-Naugatuck Valley League player. He took over the program in March after Dan Dunaj resigned in January, citing “family reasons.”

“It’s a dream come true,” said Rodriguez of being able to coach on the field he once played on. “It’s something I set out to do after I graduated from college.”

Rodriguez had players spread out across the field throughout the practice, making his rounds to the different groups of players.

“It’s all about evaluation,” said Rodriguez. “I thought it was a good day.”

He also wasn’t nervous about getting on the field for the first time with the team.

“I’ve been doing this for a while now,” he said. “I was anxious to get this day under way.”

Last season the Raiders went 6-4 and they lost a majority of their starters, but that isn’t going to stop the leaders of this year’s team.

From the Register Citizen: 

UPDATED




Two Torrington High School football players stand accused of sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. Four others were suspended in a hazing scandal last fall that is still under investigation. One player, the team’s second-highest scorer last fall, was allowed to play even though the team’s coach knew he had been charged with felony robbery and assault.

School officials claim that the sexual assault charges against 18-year-olds Edgar Gonzalez and Joan Toribio, the hazing and other incidents are isolated problems and don’t signal a deeper issue with the culture of Torrington High School, its athletic programs or football team.

But on social media in recent weeks, dozens of athletes and Torrington High School students, male and female, have taunted the 13-year-old victim, calling her a “whore,” criticizing her for “snitching” and “ruining the lives” of the 18-year-old football players, and bullying students who defend her.

VICIOUS TWEETS

Dozens of Torrington High School students have been discussing the case on Facebook and Twitter.

“I wanna know why there’s no punishment for young hoes,” asked “@asmedick.” That comment was reposted three times.








 Posts included graphic and vulgar language and, at times, photographs. Affiliations were determined by followers, posts of photographs and references.





A PREVIOUS ARREST
Before the sex assault charges against Gonzalez, the team’s Most Valuable Player, was charged in a March 2012 alleged felony robbery. He’s accused of jumping three juveniles, 14-years-old, in search of money. Three other teens are alleged co-conspirators.

Two of the teens were not identified because of their age. Jeffrey Holder, 19, a former Torrington High School football player, was the other person charged.

Both were charged with three felonies, including robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery and two misdemeanor, assault and attempt to commit larceny. Although 2011 was Holder’s final season, Gonzalez went on to play in 2012.

Former Head Coach Dan Dunaj said when he became aware of the pending robbery charges against Gonzalez, “I reeled the kid in after that, and he walked the line. As a coach I was doing something right.”

Dunaj resigned from his position as head coach in January, following a 6-4 season marred by the hazing scandal.

The school district is currently in the process of hiring a new coach, Torrington High School alumnus Gaitan Rodriguez, a social worker and assistant coach at Wallingford’s Sheehan High School.

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.

The 2012 High School Football Record book has not yet been released (you can view the 2011 edition here), but here are the records that were broken in 2011 (courtesy of stat guru Bob Barton and Gerry deSimas, Jr.)

RUSHING

Most yards rushing, season – 3,763, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (old record 3,596, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

           

Highest average gain per rush, season – 12.0 by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (old record 10.6, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

Highest average gain per rush, career -- 11.9*,  by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2010-11 (old record 10.2, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2004-07).

 * Player remains active.

Most consecutive 300-yard games (record tied): 3, by Brenden Lytton, Torrington, 2011, and by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (twice), 2011 (original record 3, by Montrell Dobbs, Ansonia, 2010).

Most touchdowns by rushing, season – 59, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record 47, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

           

FORWARD PASSING

Most passes completed, game (record tied) --  38 by Matthew Milano, New Canaan, vs Hand, Dec. 10, 2011 (original record 38, by Jake White, Foran, vs. North Haven, Nov. 2, 2007).

Most passes completed, season --  257, by Matthew Milano, New Canaan, 2011 (old record 236 by Eian Bain, Stafford, 2003).

Most passes completed, career -- 635, by Casey Cochran, New London-Masuk, 2008-11 (old record 477 by Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph, 2007-10).

Most yards by passing, season -- 3,688, by Anthony Morales, Cromwell, 2011 (old record  3,558, by Matt Kelleher, Southington, 2005).

Most yards by passing, career -- 10,767, by Casey Cochran, New London-Masuk, 2008-11 (old record 7,710, by Joe Della Vecchia, St. Joseph, 2007-10).

Most touchdown passes, season -- 43, by Anthony Morales, Cromwell, 2011 (old record 42, by Matthew Milano, New Canaan, 2010).

Most touchdown passes, career -- 112 by Casey Cochran, New London-Masuk, 2008-11 (old record 85 by Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph, 2007-10).

PUNTING

Highest average distance, season: (minimum 25 punts) – 48.0, by Ardian Sahinovic, New Fairfield, 2011 (old record 47.5, by Jason Mawicke, Staples, 2010).

           

SCORING

Most points scored, season -- 388, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record  294, by Tim Washington, Bristol Central, 2000).

 Most touchdowns scored, season -- 62, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record 47, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

Most points for which responsible, all methods (rushing, passing, receiving, kicking), season -- 394, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record  350, by Tim Washington, Bristol Central, 2000).

By JOHN NESTOR
Register Citizen Correspondent

Hungry for wins, Dunaj, Torrington football open practice

TORRINGTON — Torrington High football coach Dan Dunaj is looking to build a championship-caliber program and got to work on that goal with the current edition of Red Raiders on Monday at Torrington High School.

Entering his fifth season as head coach at Torrington, Dunaj has guided the Red Raiders to 14 wins over the past two seasons but is not content.

The Naugatuck Valley League had three playoff teams last season and two — Ansonia and Holy Cross — won state titles. Torrington has been competitive in the league of late and has gone 7-3 the past two seasons. Dunaj wants more.

“We’ve been moving forward as a program, but I’d like us to move forward faster,” he said. “We want to build a championship program, not just a team that is good for a year here and there. We’ve been 7-3 the last two seasons — that’s a nice record, but we want to get better.”

For more, click here.

Guilford, Torrington highlight Tuesday's notebook

WEEK 7 HIGHLIGHTS

Top offensive players of the week

Cromwell Jr. RB Derrick Villard: Accounted for all five touchdowns in a 41-33 loss to North Branford. Villard rushed 25 times for 129 yards and four scores, and returned an interception 54 yards for another touchdown.

Hand Sr. WR Nick Vitale: Caught eight passes for 117 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 win over West Haven.

Notre Dame-West Haven Sr. RB Javon Grey: Rushed 27 times for 204 yards and four touchdowns in a 27-12 win over Wilbur Cross.

Valley Regional/Old Lyme Sr. RB Jordan Saintil: Rushed 18 times for 254 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-0 win over previously unbeaten Coginchaug.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Haddam-Killingworth Jr. LB Nate Cruz: Returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown in a 40-6 victory over Morgan. Cruz also scored two rushing touchdowns.

Hillhouse Jr. DB Andre Anderson: Scored on a 100-yard interception return in a 35-7 loss to No. 1 Xavier.

North Haven Sr. LB Jason Cancel: Made 10 tackles and a sack in a 53-28 win over Bridgeport Central.

Shelton So. DB Eddie Kochiss: Returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown in a 28-17 win over Amity.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Pomperaug Sr. Matt Paola: Kicked a 54-yard field goal, which tied a state-record, in a 58-20 win over Notre Dame-Fairfield. Current Notre Dame-Fairfield coach Rico Brogna, and Fermi’s Tyler Timion, each kicked a field goal from that distance in 1987.

Ridgefield So. Griffin Jones: Kicked two extra points, including the eventual game-winner in the fourth quarter, in a 14-13 win over McMahon.

Sheehan So. Jeremy Gannon: Scored on an 81-yard kickoff return in a 37-12 win over East Haven.

Stamford Sr. Jake Demetros: Returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in a 45-0 win over Fairfield Ludlowe.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Bethel: Defeated previously unbeaten, and then No. 9, Bunnell 56-46.

Fitch: Defeated then No. 6, and previously unbeaten, New London 14-0 to earn its first win over the Whalers since 2001.

Kennedy: Defeated St. Paul 29-14 to earn its first win of the season.

North Branford: Defeated previously unbeaten Cromwell 41-33 to improve to 5-1.

GET OUT AND GO

Fairfield Prep (5-2) at Shelton (5-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: These two teams are likely playing for second place in the Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West. Division leader Xavier plays Hamden on the same night and a victory by the Falcons would clinch the division. Still, Fairfield Prep and Shelton can continue successful seasons with a victory here.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST TOP 10 POLL

No. 4 Hand stays unbeaten, defeats West Haven

North Branford knocks off Cromwell

No. 1 Xavier rolls past Hillhouse

Torrington runs past Derby

Valley Regional/Old Lyme shuts out Coginchaug

Roundup/Box Scores

Torrington RB Brenden Lytton carried 25 times for 427 yards and six touchdowns, and he also threw a touchdown pass, in a 66-28 win over Wolcott.

Northwest Catholic defeated Weaver 52-0. The Indians won by more than 50 points, which is against CIAC rules. According to the rules any team that wins by more than 50 points, the winning team's head coach will be suspended for one game. Hopefully, we'll get a ruling soon as to whether or not the CIAC will suspend NWC coach Mike Tyler for next game against Bloomfield on Friday.


We will keep you posted.

Ansonia knocked off Torrington in a big NVL clash. Read the story here.

Read Torrington Register Citizen's Dan Podheiser's column on Ansonia-Torrington here.

Billy Gannon led Sheehan past Law.

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE
CCC INTER
Hartford Public at Maloney, 6:30 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Rockville, 6:30 p.m.
Bristol Central at Bulkeley, 7:00 p.m.
East Catholic at Berlin, 7:00 p.m.
East Hartford at Southington, 7:00 p.m.
Glastonbury at New Britain, 7:00 p.m.
Newington at Simsbury, 7:00 p.m.
Plainville at Bloomfield, 7:00 p.m.
Platt at Northwest Catholic, 7:00 p.m.
RHAM at Bristol Eastern, 7:00 p.m.
Wethersfield at Windsor, 7:00 p.m.

CSC
Wilcox Tech at Cheney Tech, 6:00 p.m.
Bullard Havens Tech at Platt Tech, 7:00 p.m.

ECC LARGE
Woodstock Academy at New London, 6:30 p.m.

ECC INTER
Bacon Academy at Griswold, 6:30 p.m.
Fitch at Plainfield, 6:30 p.m.
Ledyard at Killingly, 6:30 p.m.
Waterford at Stonington, 6:30 p.m.

FCIAC CENTRAL
Harding at Stamford, 6:00 p.m.

FCIAC INTER
Brien McMahon at Fairfield Warde, 7:00 p.m.
Norwalk at Danbury, 7:00 p.m.
Ridgefield at Greenwich, 7:00 p.m.

NVL INTER
Crosby at Holy Cross, 7:00 p.m.
Kennedy at Wolcott, 7:00 p.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Derby, 7:00 p.m.

PEQUOT SASSACUS
North Branford at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 6:30 p.m.

PEQUOT UNCAS
Avon at Stafford/East Windsor, 6:30 p.m.
Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at Housatonic/Wamogo, 6:30 p.m.
Coventry/Windham Tech at Gilbert/NW Regional, 7:00 p.m.

SCC INTER
North Haven at Hillhouse, 3:30 p.m.
Shelton at Wilbur Cross, 4:00 p.m.
Amity at West Haven, 7:00 p.m.
East Haven at Guilford, 7:00 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Daniel Hand, 7:00 p.m.
Foran at Branford, 7:00 p.m.
Hamden at Cheshire, 7:00 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Xavier, 7:00 p.m.

SWC COLONIAL
Bethel at New Milford, 7:00 p.m.
Pomperaug at Brookfield, 7:00 p.m.

SWC PATRIOT
Notre Dame-Fairfield at New Fairfield, 7:00 p.m.
Weston at Stratford, 7:00 p.m.

SWC INTER
Newtown at Joel Barlow, 7:00 p.m.

OTHERS
Naugatuck at East Longmeadow (MA), 7:00 p.m.
St. Bernard/Norwich Tech at Lowell Catholic (MA), 7:00 p.m.
Trumbull at Catholic Memorial (MA), 7:00 p.m.

Sophomore running back Arkeel Newsome rushed 24 times for 332 yards and six touchdowns as No. 5 Ansonia defeated Torrington 49-20 in a Naugatuck Valley League interdivision win at Ansonia.

Newsome scored on touchdown runs of 4, 2, 16, 8, 66 and 31 yards.

Tyler Lester added a 13-yard touchdown run for the Chargers (1-0).

Brenden Lytton rushed 32 times for 124 yards and two scores for the Red Raiders (0-1).

By DAN PODHEISER
Torrington Register Citizen

TORRINGTON — It’s been 24 long years, but tonight, the Torrington High School football program will have a shot at once again beating one of the state’s best.

The Red Raiders take on the Ansonia Chargers, rated No. 5 in the New Haven Register’s preseason top-10 poll, at historic Jarvis Stadium at 6 p.m. in front of what should be a frenzy of media and football fans.

Anyone and everyone who follows high school football in Connecticut — and whose rooting interest isn’t also playing Thursday — will be there, or at least following along in live blogs and through social media. It’s the game of the week, no doubt, but also an early-season chance for both teams to make a statement.

This is, for all intents and purposes, the biggest game the Raiders have played in a long, long time.

Read the full story here.

Here's a Q&A session between the Torrington Register Citizen and a representative from the NVL football blog.

Register Citizen: Torrington has not beaten Ansonia since 1987, so it’s safe to say there’s some pressure on the Raiders this Thursday. Are they feeling the same kind of pressure down in the Valley?

NVL Football Blog: There’s always pressure on the Ansonia Chargers. It comes with the territory mainly due to the fact that this program has been so successful over the course of several decades. In my opinion, I don’t sense any jitters down here thus far. This game is bigger for Torrington’s program than it is for Ansonia. But I expect both teams to come out and give it their all. It’s just a Week 1 matchup, but it has the potential to be the biggest game of the year between two NVL teams (keep in mind this is technically an out-of-league game).

Read the complete session here.

Torrington's Dean Tsopanides headed to Iowa.
Here's the story from the Torrington Register Citizen.

By DAN PODHEISER
Register Citizen Sports Editor
TORRINGTON — Growing up as a University of Michigan fan, Dean Tsopanides dreamed of playing college football in the Big 10.
That dream has finally come true, as the recently graduated Red Raiders star has committed to play defensive end for the University of Iowa next fall.
Tsopanides, who had intended to play a year of prep ball at Milford Academy in order to get better exposure from Division I scouts, got his wish early. Last week, Tsopanides participated at a four-day combine in Milford, where he was noticed by Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe.
“I did really well there,” Tsopanides said. “[O’Keefe] saw me play, asked for my highlight tape and then I got an invitation to go visit the campus.”
The university flew Tsopanides and his family out to Iowa City Tuesday, where they toured the campus, met with the coaching staff and a few players and got the on-field experience at Kinnick Stadium.
“It was overwhelming,” Tsopanides said. “Any Big 10 stadium is pretty special, but this was one of the best I’ve seen in my life.”
A day later, Tsopanides committed to the Hawkeyes and signed on for a full scholarship.
“It’s an honor,” Tsopanides softly exclaimed. “Simply put, one word; it’s an honor.”
Torrington head football coach Dan Dunaj said he had received a call from O’Keefe — a Milford resident who is also Iowa’s Connecticut recruiter — on Thursday. The call was intended to find out things about Tsopanides that the coaching staff couldn’t see in his game film.
“[O’Keefe] wanted to know what kind of person he was, whether he had ever gotten into any trouble,” said Dunaj. “I told him the truth. He’s one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached.”
Tsopanides will report to Iowa City on Aug. 3 to begin summer workouts with his team and start classes. In the meantime, he’s staying in shape by working out everyday and will even participate in the Red Raiders’ summer practices starting in a few weeks.
When asked if he’d be ready to step onto the field for the Hawkeyes come September, Tsopanides didn’t hesitate.
“I’m not one of those guys who likes to sit on the bench for too long,” he said. “I’m pretty much always ready to go.”
In high school, Tsopanides was a force on both the Red Raiders’ offensive and defensive lines. He was recognized as one of the greatest football players in Torrington history when he was inducted into the 1929 Club — a tribute to the Raiders’ 1929 state championship — in January.
Tsopanides was also named to the New Haven Register’s All-State Team and got to play for Team Connecticut in the 13th Annual Governors’ Cup last Saturday.
He was also a star wrestler for the Raiders, winning the Class L state championship in the 215-pound division this past winter. The year before, he finished third in Class L at 285 pounds.

Via NVL football blog.
Team scores:

1. Wolcott: 12,800 lbs.
2. Torrington: 12,465 lbs.
3. Ansonia
4. Woodland
5. Holy Cross

To view the NVL football blog's entry, click here.

Torrington running back Brenden Lytton scored a state-record nine touchdowns in the Red Raiders' 61-28 victory over Wilby on Friday.

The previous record for touchdowns in a single-game was 8, which was shared by Weaver's John Weaver (1999) and New Britain's Mike McLeod (2004).

Read the game story from the Torrington Register Citizen here.