HAND remains No. 1 in Top 10 Poll




FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: New offense helping Old Saybrook co-op program


Entering his second year as coach at Old Saybrook/Westbrook, Rudy Bagos stressed to his players the need to perform better against the better teams in the Pequot Conference.

It’s something the Rams struggled with last season. The co-op, which finished 5-5, suffered losses to Valley Regional/Old Lyme, North Branford, Coginchaug, Cromwell and Haddam-Killingworth. All but Coginchaug qualified for the Class S state playoffs.

In those games, the Rams were shut out three times and combined to score just 12 points. Old Saybrook/Westbrook, though, did defeat perennial league power Hyde, which had a subpar year in 2011.

So there was cause for celebration this past week when the Rams knocked off Coginchaug, earning a hard-fought 22-14 victory at home on Saturday. Coginchaug had allowed just 13 points in its four previous games.

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CIAC PLAYOFF RATINGS
Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Week 6 Highlights
POLL: Who will win Xavier-Hillhouse game? VOTE NOW

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 6. 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.


Some interesting games last week:

No. 1 Hand survived against No. 8 West Haven
No. 10 Southington edged No. 9 Glastonbury
No. 5 Windsor rallied past previously unbeaten Middletown

With that being said, this week's ballot:

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

NO. 1 HAND SURVIVES AGAINST NO. 8 WEST HAVEN

MADISON — Down by one following an Ervin Philips touchdown run, eighth-ranked West Haven decided to attempt a two-point conversion in the closing minutes of its contest with No. 1 Hand.

The call was gutsy, but fitting for the type of performance the Westies delivered on the road Saturday at the Surf Club.

West Haven executed the play exactly as it was drawn up, with senior quarterback Javon Taylor rolling right and two receivers emerging from the backfield and getting open in the flat.

The ball was thrown, hit Philips’ fingertips and fell incomplete.

Hand took over, proceeded to run out the clock and escaped with a thrilling 21-20 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I East victory.

PHOTOS: Check out the action from Hand's one-point win over West Haven.


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 BRANFORD has been nominated for the TEAM OF THE WEEK! VOTE!

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Foran tops ND-West Haven

Quarterback Jake Kasuba completed 20 of 28 passes for 298 yards including two touchdown passes to lead the Foran football team to a 50-35 victory over Notre Dame-West Haven Saturday in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision game at Milford.

Nick Weissauer had nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown and added two touchdown runs for the Lions (4-2). Sean Deegan added four catches for 146 yards and two touchdown receptions and Niko DeRosa had 132 yards on 18 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run for Foran.

Cameran Tucker led the Green Knights (1-5) with two touchdown runs.

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 CHESHIRE edges WILBUR CROSS

 FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP 

THURSDAY'S ROUNDUP 

Here are Friday's postponements as of 1:30 p.m.
CCC DIV. I WEST
Hall at Simsbury, 7 p.m.
CCC DIV. II EAST
E.O. Smith at Bulkeley, ppd. to Saturday, 2 p.m. (at Weaver)
CCC DIV. II WEST
Windsor at Middletown, 7 p.m.
CCC DIV. III EAST
Tolland at Platt, 6:30 p.m.
Rockville at Berlin, 7 p.m.
CCC DIV. III WEST
Weaver at East Catholic, 7 p.m.
CCC INTER
Northwest Catholic at Plainville, 5 p.m.
CSC
Abbott Tech at Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech, 6:30 p.m.
ECC MEDIUM
Montville at Waterford, 6:30 p.m.
ECC SMALL
St. Bernard/Norwich Tech at Stonington, 6:30 p.m.
ECC INTER
Griswold at Fitch, ppd. to Saturday, 7 p.m.
New London at Plainfield, 6:30 p.m.
Woodstock Academy at Killingly, ppd. to Saturday, 4 p.m.
Ledyard at East Lyme, 7:30 p.m. (at Coast Guard Academy)
FCIAC CENTRAL
Fairfield Ludlowe at McMahon, 7 p.m.
Ridgefield at Norwalk, 7 p.m.
FCIAC EAST
Darien at Wilton, 6 p.m.
FCIAC WEST
Trumbull at Staples, 7 p.m.
NVL BRASS
Derby at Wolcott, 7 p.m.
Seymour at Crosby, ppd. to Saturday, 10 a.m.
NVL COPPER
Holy Cross at Naugatuck, ppd. to Saturday, 2 p.m.
Woodland at Torrington, ppd. to Saturday, 6 p.m.
NVL INTER
St. Paul at Wilby, 7 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Nonnewaug at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to Saturday, 6 p.m.
North Branford at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, ppd. to Saturday, 5 p.m.
SCC DIVISION I EAST
West Haven at Hand, ppd. to Saturday, 1 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II WEST
Branford at Law, ppd. to Saturday, 4 p.m.
SCC INTER
Notre Dame-West Haven at Foran, ppd. to Saturday, 6 p.m.
SWC INTER
Immaculate at Pomperaug, 7 p.m.
Notre Dame-Fairfield at Newtown, 7 p.m.
Oxford at New Milford, ppd. to Monday, 6 p.m.
Weston at Notre Dame-Fairfield, 7 p.m.
SWC YANKEE
Stratford at Bethel, ppd. to Saturday, 1 p.m.
Barlow at Bunnell, 7 p.m.

Here is the updated Week 6 Sked. Several changes have been made due to the potential for inclement weather on Friday.

THURSDAY

CCC DIV. II WEST
Bristol Eastern at Farmington, 7:00 p.m.
Maloney at Bristol Central, 7:00 p.m.

CSC
O'Brien Tech at Cheney Tech, 6:00 p.m.

NVL BRASS
Ansonia at Watertown, 6:00 p.m.

SCC DIVISION I WEST
Xavier at Amity, 6:30 p.m.

SCC DIVISION II WEST
Guilford at Hillhouse, 3:30 p.m.

SCC INTER
Lyman Hall at Shelton, 6:30 p.m. 

FRIDAY 

CCC DIV. I WEST
Hall at Simsbury, 7:00 p.m.

CCC DIV. II EAST
E.O. Smith at Bulkeley, 6:00 p.m.

CCC DIV. II WEST
Windsor at Middletown, 7:00 p.m.

CCC DIV. III EAST
Tolland at Platt, 6:30 p.m.
Rockville at Berlin, 7:00 p.m.

CCC DIV. III WEST
Weaver at East Catholic, 7:00 p.m.

CCC INTER
Northwest Catholic at Plainville, 7:00 p.m.

CSC
Abbott Tech at Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech, 6:30 p.m.

ECC MEDIUM
Montville at Waterford, 6:30 p.m.

ECC SMALL
St. Bernard/Norwich Tech at Stonington, 6:30 p.m.

ECC INTER
Griswold at Fitch, 6:30 p.m.
New London at Plainfield, 6:30 p.m.
Woodstock Academy at Killingly, 6:30 p.m.
Ledyard at East Lyme, 7:30 p.m. (At Coast Guard Academy)

FCIAC CENTRAL
Fairfield Ludlowe at Brien McMahon, 7:00 p.m.
Ridgefield at Norwalk, 7:00 p.m.

FCIAC EAST
Darien at Wilton, 6:00 p.m.

FCIAC WEST
Trumbull at Staples, 7:00 p.m.

NVL BRASS
Derby at Wolcott, 7:00 p.m.
Seymour at Crosby, 7:00 p.m.

NVL COPPER
Holy Cross at Naugatuck, 7:00 p.m.
Woodland at Torrington, 7:00 p.m.

NVL INTER
St. Paul Catholic at Wilby, 7:00 p.m.

PEQUOT SASSACUS
Nonnewaug at Haddam-Killingworth, 6:30 p.m.
North Branford at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, 6:30 p.m.

SCC DIVISION I EAST
West Haven at Daniel Hand, 7:00 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Cheshire, 7:00 p.m.

SCC DIVISION II WEST
Branford at Jonathan Law, 7:00 p.m.

SCC INTER
Notre Dame-West Haven at Foran, 7:00 p.m.

SWC YANKEE
Joel Barlow at Bunnell, 7:00 p.m.
Stratford at Bethel, 7:00 p.m.

SWC INTER
Immaculate at Pomperaug, 7:00 p.m.
Oxford at New Milford, 7:00 p.m.
Weston at New Fairfield, 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY

CCC DIV. I EAST
Manchester at Newington, 12:00 p.m.
East Hartford at South Windsor, 1:00 p.m.

CCC DIV. I WEST
New Britain at Conard, 1:00 p.m.

CCC DIV. II EAST
Fermi at RHAM, 1:00 p.m.
Wethersfield at Hartford Public, 6:30 p.m.

CCC INTER
Glastonbury at Southington, 7:00 p.m.

CSC
Bullard Havens Tech at Prince Tech, 11:00 a.m.
Capital/Classical/Achieve. 1st at Platt Tech, 1:00 p.m.
Whitney Tech at Wolcott Tech, 1:30 p.m.

ECC MEDIUM
Windham at Bacon Academy, 10:30 a.m.

FCIAC EAST
Fairfield Warde at Trinity Catholic, 2:30 p.m.
New Canaan at St. Joseph, 2:30 p.m.

FCIAC WEST
Westhill at Danbury, 1:30 p.m.
Bridgeport Central at Greenwich, 2:00 p.m.

FCIAC INTER
Bassick at Harding, 2:30 p.m.

NVL COPPER
Sacred Heart at Kennedy, 11:00 a.m.

PEQUOT SASSACUS
Coginchaug at Old Saybrook/Westbrook, 1:00 p.m.
Morgan at Cromwell, 1:30 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at Lewis Mills, 2:00 p.m.

PEQUOT UNCAS
Stafford/East Windsor at SMSA/University, 12:00 p.m.
Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton at Canton, 1:00 p.m.
Ellington/Somers at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby, 1:00 p.m.
Enfield at Housatonic/Wamogo, 1:00 p.m.
Avon at Granby Memorial, 2:00 p.m.

SCC DIVISION I WEST
Hamden at Fairfield Prep, 5:00 p.m.

SCC DIVISION II EAST
North Haven at Sheehan, 6:00 p.m.

SWC INTER
Notre Dame-Fairfield at Newtown, 3:30 p.m.
Masuk at Brookfield, 7:00 p.m.

OTHERS
Stamford at Norwich Free Academy, 1:00 p.m. 

MONDAY 

CCC DIV. III WEST
Rocky Hill at Bloomfield, 6:00 p.m.

Here is the updated schedule for Thursday. Some games were moved up from Friday due to the threat of inclement weather.


CCC DIV. II WEST
Maloney at Bristol Central, 7:00 p.m.
Bristol Eastern at Farmington, 7:00 p.m. 
CSC
O'Brien Tech at Cheney Tech, 6:00 p.m.
NVL BRASS
Ansonia at Watertown, 6:00 p.m.
SCC DIVISION I WEST
Xavier at Amity, 6:30 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II WEST
Guilford at Hillhouse, 3:30 p.m.
SCC INTER
Lyman Hall at Shelton, 7:00 p.m.

The CIAC released 2012 football schedules on Thursday. Here are some interesting non-league games worth checking out. Times, dates and sites subject to change.

Week 2
Sept. 21
Hamden at Danbury, 7 p.m.: Hamden won just one game last season.

Week 3
Sept. 28
Whitney Tech at Sacred Heart, 7 p.m.: Whitney Tech fields first varsity team this fall.

Week 4
Oct. 5
North Haven at New London, 6:30 p.m.: Both teams qualified for state playoffs last season. 

Week 6
Oct. 20
Stamford at Norwich Free Academy, 1 p.m.: Stamford makes the long journey east to take on the Wildcats, one of the most consistent programs in the ECC.

Week 10
Nov. 15
Plainfield vs. Law at Sheehan, 6 p.m.:Law didn't win a game in 2011.

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

Shelton football captains Frank Camerino left and Joe Ortoli right. Photo by Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 10/18/11

SHELTON — After being shut out by Notre Dame-West Haven on Sept. 30, Shelton football coach Jeff Roy decided the Gaels’ offense needed a new approach.

The Shelton offense wasn’t exactly anemic in two victories to open the season, in which the Gaels averaged 25.5 points, but Roy wasn’t completely satisfied with that unit’s performance.

“We needed a spark offensively,” Roy said. “The offense really wasn’t moving the ball well so we thought we needed a spark, especially throwing the ball.”

Entering Shelton’s contest with Hamden on Oct. 6, Roy decided to insert junior Ed Groth under center and move former starter Frank Camerino to tailback. Camerino, though, still sees time at quarterback.

Read the full story here.

Week 6 Predictions

Check out the Scout Team, the Register's Weekly Football Show.