NOTEBOOK: North Branford putting it all together





North Branford coach Mark Basil knew he had the goods entering this season, and the Thunderbirds have certainly lived up to expectations.

With games remaining against Nonnewaug (1-6), Lewis Mills (0-7) and Hyde (8-0), North Branford (7-0) is all but certain to qualify for the Class S state playoffs, where they will be considered one of the favorites in that division.

“Obviously I knew going in what we had,” Basil said. “We were confident. I don’t normally say too much about what I have, but this is the best team, position by position, that I’ve had in a long time.”

Basil’s offense, led by his son, senior quarterback Brandan Basil, senior receiver Joe DeLucia and senior tailback Dale Hausman, has clicked on all cylinders. But the most impressive cog in the machine has been the offensive line.

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HAND, STAPLES, ANSONIA remain 1-2-3 in Register Top 10 POLL

HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Ansonia junior RB Arkeel Newsome: Newsome carried 33 times for 250 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-12 win over Wolcott on Friday.

♦Hamden Hall junior WR Mike Whalen: Whalen caught seven passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns in a 69-37 win over Kingswood-Oxford on Saturday.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Guilford junior Ford Linell: Linell scored on a 35-yard fumble recovery in a 48-0 win over Law on Saturday.

♦West Haven senior Kadialy Toure: Toure returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown in a 47-12 victory over Wilbur Cross on Saturday.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

♦Ansonia: Senior Andrew Matos caught two touchdown passes, scored on a rushing touchdown and had an interception in a 41-12 victory over Wolcott on Friday that clinched the Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division title.

♦Fitch: The Falcons rallied from a 20-7 deficit and emerged with a 39-27 victory over New London on Saturday. Fitch improved to 6-1 and stayed alive in the Class L state playoff race.

MORE HIGHLIGHTS

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 8. 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.


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

FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP

 Je'Vaughn Moore had a 99-yard touchdown run, recovered a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown amd Harold Cooper had three touchdowns as Hillhouse routed Lyman Hall 46-0 in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division II game in Wallingford.

Andre Anderson added a 30-yard touchdown of his own for Hillhouse (6-2) in the win over Lyman Hall (0-8).

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SATURDAY'S ROUNDUP

No. 9 West Haven 47, Wilbur Cross 12: Eddy Williams carried 14 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Westies to this SCC Division I East victory.

Ervin Philips scored on an 11-yard run, on a 3-yard run and on a 57-yard pass from Javon Taylor for West Haven (7-1).

Kadialy Toure returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown for the Westies.

Marshont Little and Stevie Swinson each had rushing touchdowns for the Governors (1-6).

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 41, Lewis Mills 7: Phil Cohen completed 12-of-14 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns for the visiting Warriors in this Pequot Conference Sassacus Division win at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

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HOW THE TOP 10 FARED


No. 3 Ansonia wallops Wolcott to win NVL Brass Division

ANSONIA — For a few fleeing moments, the Wolcott football team seemed on the verge of making a contest out of its meeting with fellow unbeaten Ansonia despite being down by two touchdowns.

But the Chargers responded to every rally attempt, led mainly by senior Andrew Matos and junior Arkeel Newsome.

Matos and Newsome each scored three times as Ansonia, ranked third in the Register Top 10 Poll, earned a 41-12 Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division victory Friday at Jarvis Stadium.

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FRIDAY

 
CCC DIV. I EAST:
South Windsor at Glastonbury, 6 p.m.
CCC DIV. II EAST
E.O. Smith at Fermi, 7 p.m.
CCC DIV. II WEST
Windsor at Maloney, 6:30 p.m.
CCC DIV. III EAST
Platt at Berlin, 7 p.m.
Rockville at Plainville, 7 p.m.
CCC INTER
Conard at East Hartford, 7 p.m.
Manchester at New Britain, 7 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Bristol Central, 7 p.m.
CSC
Cheney Tech at Capital Prep/Classical/Achievement First, 6:30 p.m.
Prince Tech at Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech, 6:30 p.m.
ECC MEDIUM
Bacon Academy at Ledyard, 6:30 p.m.
ECC SMALL
Killingly at St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, 6:30 p.m.
ECC INTER
Norwich Free Academy at Griswold, 6:30 p.m.
FCIAC EAST
Bassick at St. Joseph, 3:30 p.m.
FCIAC INTER
Trumbull at Bridgeport Central, 7 p.m.
NVL BRASS
Crosby at Wilby, 7 p.m.
Wolcott at Ansonia, 7 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Hyde at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, 6:30 p.m.
PEQUOT UNCAS
Canton at Stafford/East Windsor, 6:30 p.m.
Avon at Enfield, 7 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II WEST
Hillhouse at Lyman Hall, 7 p.m.
SCC INTER
East Haven at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
SWC INTER
New Fairfield at Pomperaug, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

CCC DIV. I WEST
Southington at Simsbury, 4 p.m.
CCC DIV. II EAST
Wethersfield at RHAM, 2:15 p.m.
Bulkeley at Hartford Public, 6:30 p.m.
CCC DIV. II WEST
Middletown at Farmington, 6 p.m.
CCC DIV. III WEST
Bloomfield at Weaver, 2 p.m.
CCC INTER
Bristol Eastern at Northwest Catholic, 3 p.m.
East Catholic at Tolland, 3 p.m.
Newington at Hall, 2 p.m.
CSC
Bullard-Havens at O’Brien Tech, 3 p.m.
Abbott Tech at Whitney Tech, 3 p.m.
Platt Tech at Wilcox Tech, 6 p.m.
ECC LARGE
Fitch at New London, 7 p.m.
ECC INTER
Montville at Stonington, 2 p.m.
NVL COPPER
Torrington at Kennedy, 11 a.m.
Sacred Heart at St. Paul, 5 p.m.
Holy Cross at Woodland, 6 p.m.
NVL INTER
Watertown at Naugatuck, 7 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
North Branford at Coginchaug, 2 p.m.
Valley Regional/Old Lyme at Lewis Mills, 3:30 p.m.
PEQUOT UNCAS
Gilbert/NW Regional at Granby, 2 p.m.
SMSA/University at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby, 2 p.m.
Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton at Housatonic/Wamogo, 2 p.m.
SCC DIVISION I EAST
Xavier at Shelton, 7 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at West Haven, 6 p.m.
SWC YANKEE
Barlow at Brookfield, 7 p.m.
SWC INTER
Bunnell at Oxford, noon
Preps
Hopkins at Brunswick, 6 p.m.
Kingswood-Oxford at Hamden Hall, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY

ECC LARGE
Woodstock Academy at East Lyme, 2 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Morgan at Nonnewaug, 2 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II EAST
North Haven at Foran, 6 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II WEST
Law at Guilford, 4 p.m.

MONDAY

ECC MEDIUM
Waterford at Windham, 6:30 p.m.
NVL BRASS
Derby at Seymour, 6 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Cromwell at Old Saybrook/Westbrook, 2 p.m.

Xavier remains No. 1 in latest Top 10 Poll

Hopkins gears up for big game against Hamden Hall

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Ansonia So. RB Arkeel Newsome: Ran for 221 yards and five touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in a 48-14 win over Wolcott.

Derby Sr. QB Ray Kreiger: Ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 321 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-27 win over Seymour.

Masuk Sr. RB Colin Markus: Rushed 19 times for 202 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-3 win over Pomperaug.

North Branford Jr. QB Brandon Basil: Completed 20-of-35 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-16 win over Coginchaug.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Cheney Tech Sr. CB D.J. Dawkins: Recovered a fumble and had an interception in a 41-0 win over Wolcott Tech. Dawkins also rushed for 109 yards and scored twice.

Hyde Jr. LB Akeem Berry: Had nine tackles and two sacks in a 32-6 victory over East Hampton/Vinal Tech.

Notre Dame-West Haven Sr. LB Mike Palmieri: Scored on a 75-yard fumble recovery and had a sack in a 28-7 win over Cheshire.

North Haven Sr. LB Joe Schwab: Scored on a 53-yard interception return in a 49-20 win over Foran. Schwab also ran for two touchdowns and threw one touchdown pass.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Hillhouse So. Harold Cooper: Scored on an 80-yard kickoff return in a 41-20 win over Branford. Cooper also rushed 11 times for 144 yards and one touchdown.

Law Sr. Connor Falaguerra: Scored on an 80-yard kickoff return in a 42-17 loss to Guilford.

Shelton Jr. K Ed Groth: Kicked field goals of 27 and 37 yards in a 20-13 win over Fairfield Prep.

Pomperaug Sr. K Matt Paola: Kicked a 48-yard field goal in a 49-3 loss to Masuk.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Ledyard: Defeated Waterford 15-7 to capture the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division title.

Masuk: Defeated Pomperaug 49-3 to earn its third straight berth in the South-West Conference title game.

O’Brien Tech: Defeated Wilcox Tech 44-30 to earn its second win of the season.

Stamford: Defeated previously unbeaten New Canaan 36-29 to earn its first win over the Rams since 1977.

ON THE AIR

Xavier at West Haven, Friday, 7 p.m.: 960-WELI

GET OUT AND GO

Hamden Hall (3-3) at Hopkins (3-3), Saturday, noon: No. 1 Xavier at West Haven is arguably the state’s best game on tap Friday night, but this prep school clash between area teams could be just as exciting on Saturday. Hamden Hall, led by coach, and NFL agent, Joe Linta, has an explosive player in senior running back Curtis Antrum. Hopkins counters with senior Jashon DeSenna and quarterback Greg Volpe, whose father, Greg, is the head coach at East Haven.

Senior Javon Grey rushed 24 times for 173 yards and three touchdowns for the Green Knights in this SCC Division I East victory over Cheshire at Veteran's Stadium in West Haven.

Grey scored on runs of 1, 21 and 4 yards all in the first half as Notre Dame led 21-7 at halftime.

Mike Palmieri had a sack and returned a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown for the Green Knights (6-2).

Mike Ecke (17 carries, 128 yards) scored on a 65-yard run for the Rams (4-4).

Notre Dame-West Haven still has shot at playoffs.

Check out THE SCOUT TEAM, the Register's weekly football show.

Check out my Predictions for Week 8.

West Haven coach Ed McCarthy to return to sideline after heart procedure.

Here is the Week 8 schedule with the latest postponement information.

THURSDAY
NVL COPPER
St. Paul Catholic at Sacred Heart, 6:00 p.m.

FRIDAY
CCC DIV. II EAST
Hartford Public at Bulkeley, 7:00 p.m.
RHAM at Wethersfield, 7:00 p.m.
CCC DIV. II WEST
Farmington at Middletown (Ppd. to date TBA)
Maloney at Windsor (Ppd. to date TBA)
CCC DIV. III EAST
Berlin at Platt, 6:30 p.m.
CCC INTER
Northwest Catholic at Bristol Eastern, 7:00 p.m.
CSC
Platt Tech at Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech, 6:30 p.m.
ECC LARGE
Norwich Free Academy at Fitch, 6:30 p.m.
ECC MEDIUM
Bacon Academy at Windham, 6:30 p.m.
Waterford at Ledyard, 6:30 p.m.
ECC SMALL
Griswold at Stonington, 6:30 p.m.
St. Bernard/Norwich Tech at Killingly, 6:30 p.m.
ECC INTER
New London at Montville, 6:30 p.m.
FCIAC WEST
Bridgeport Central at Trumbull, 7:00 p.m.
FCIAC INTER
Fairfield Ludlowe at Danbury, 6:00 p.m.
NVL BRASS
Ansonia at Wolcott, 7:00 p.m.
Seymour at Derby, 7:00 p.m.
Wilby at Crosby, 7:00 p.m.
NVL INTER
Naugatuck at Watertown, 7:00 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Coginchaug at North Branford, 7:00 p.m.
SCC DIVISION I EAST
Cheshire at Notre Dame-West Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at West Haven, 7:00 p.m.
SCC DIVISION I WEST
Fairfield Prep at Shelton, 7:00 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II EAST
Foran at North Haven, 7:00 p.m.
SCC DIVISION II WEST
Hillhouse at Branford, 7:00 p.m.
Jonathan Law at Guilford, 7:00 p.m.
SCC INTER
East Haven at Daniel Hand, 7:00 p.m.
SWC COLONIAL
Bethel at Newtown, 7:00 p.m.
SWC PATRIOT
Oxford at New Fairfield, 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY
CCC DIV. I EAST
Glastonbury at South Windsor (Ppd. to date TBA)
CCC DIV. II EAST
Fermi at E.O. Smith (Ppd. to date TBA)
CCC DIV. III WEST
Weaver at Bloomfield, 2:00 p.m.
CSC
Bullard Havens Tech at Abbott Tech, 1:00 p.m.
Wolcott Tech at Cheney Tech, 3:00 p.m.
Wilcox Tech at O'Brien Tech, 6:00 p.m.
ECC LARGE
East Lyme at Woodstock Academy, 2:00 p.m.
FCIAC CENTRAL
Ridgefield at Harding, 3:00 p.m.
FCIAC EAST
Bassick at St. Joseph, 2:00 p.m.
Trinity Catholic at Darien, 2:00 p.m.
FCIAC INTER
Brien McMahon at Greenwich, 2:00 p.m.
Fairfield Warde at Staples, 2:00 p.m.
Westhill at Wilton, 2:00 p.m.
New Canaan at Stamford, 5:00 p.m.
NVL COPPER
Kennedy at Torrington, 1 p.m. at Kennedy Stadium, Bridgeport
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Old Saybrook/Westbrook at Cromwell, 1:00 p.m.
East Hampton/Vinal Tech at Hyde Leadership, 2:00 p.m.
PEQUOT UNCAS
Granby Memorial at Gilbert/NW Regional, 1:00 p.m.
Housatonic/Wamogo at Coventry/Windham Tech, 2:15 p.m.
Enfield at Avon (Ppd. to date TBA)
Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at SMSA/University, 6:30 p.m.
SCC DIVISION I WEST
Xavier at Hamden, 3:00 p.m.
SCC INTER
Lyman Hall at Amity, 2:00 p.m.
SWC COLONIAL
Masuk at Pomperaug, 7:00 p.m.
SWC PATRIOT
Weston at Notre Dame-Fairfield, 2:30 p.m.
SWC INTER
Brookfield at Immaculate, 2:30 p.m.
Stratford at New Milford, 7:00 p.m.
OTHERS
Stamford Academy at Capital Prep/Classical Magnet, 11:00 a.m.

SUNDAY
NON-LEAGUE
Plainfield at Prince Tech, 2:00 p.m.

MONDAY
CCC INTER
Hall at Newington, 6:00 p.m.
NVL COPPER
Woodland at Holy Cross, 7:00 p.m.
PEQUOT SASSACUS
Lewis Mills at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 5:30 p.m.
Nonnewaug at Morgan, 6:30 p.m.
SWC INTER
Bunnell at Joel Barlow, TBA

TUESDAY
CCC INTER
East Hartford at Conard, 1:30 p.m.
PEQUOT UNCAS
Stafford/East Windsor at Canton, 3:00 p.m.