Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 11. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.
My Top 10 ballot stays the same from last week.

1. Hand
2. Staples
3. Ansonia
4. Xavier
5. Windsor
6. Newtown
7. Southington
8. Norwich Free Academy
9. Greenwich
10. Masuk
11. Hillhouse
12. West Haven
13. North Branford
14. Glastonbury
15. St. Joseph

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

CCC INTER
Berlin 32, New Britain 28  
South Windsor 42, Rockville 14  

CSC
Wilcox Tech 47, Whitney Tech 20  

ECC INTER
Montville 43, St. Bernard/Norwich Tech 0  

FCIAC INTER
Ridgefield 42, Danbury 6  
St. Joseph 55, Trumbull 20  

NVL INTER
Wilby 52, Sacred Heart 28  
Woodland 62, Seymour 26  

PEQUOT SASSACUS
North Branford 32, Hyde Leadership 28  
Morgan 20, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 7  
Valley Regional/Old Lyme 42, Haddam-Killingworth 12  

PEQUOT UNCAS
Stafford/East Windsor 50, Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby 20  

SCC INTER
Daniel Hand 34, Guilford 13  

SWC COLONIAL
Newtown 21, Masuk 14  

SWC PATRIOT
Notre Dame-Fairfield 26, Immaculate 22  

SWC YANKEE
Bunnell 57, Stratford 26  

SWC INTER
Oxford 42, Pomperaug 22  

OTHERS
East Catholic 50, Cheney Tech 8  

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