DERBY VS. NO. 4 ANSONIA 

When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Nolan Field, Ansonia
Team records: Derby 2-0; Ansonia 2-0
Players to watch: Derby — Dillon McMahon, Sr., WR/DB; Tyrae Small, Jr., RB/LB; Duane Jones, Sr., OL/DL; Ansonia — Arkeel Newsome, Jr., RB/DB; Andrew Matos, Sr., WR/LB; Jh’Mel Trammell, Sr., OL/DL.
You should know: This game marks the 90th meeting between these two storied programs. Ansonia holds a 53-28-8 series lead. The Chargers have won the last five meetings (2002-2003, 2009-2011). The teams did not play from 2004-2008. Derby’s last win was a 14-12 victory in 2001. The last time the Red Raiders won the first two games in a season was in 1999. This contest is the first Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division title of the season for each team. Derby earned a hard-fought 21-20 victory over Naugatuck last week. Naugatuck scored late in the fourth quarter but Small blocked the extra point attempt and the Red Raiders survived. Derby’s defense was stingy, allowing just two touchdowns. The Greyhounds scored on a kickoff return on the game’s opening play. The Red Raiders will need to play nearly flawlessly to pull the upset here. Emotions should be high, and in a rivalry game, anything can happen. Ansonia, though, might be too skilled for Derby to contain for four quarters and is favored here.
Register’s pick: Ansonia.

OTHER GAMES

CSC
Prince Tech at O'Brien Tech, 7:00 p.m. Pick: Prince Tech

NVL BRASS
Watertown at Wilby, 6:00 p.m. Pick: Watertown

SCC DIVISION II EAST
East Haven at North Haven, 7:00 p.m. Pick: North Haven

Took a few weeks off this summer but now, as my fifth grade teacher used to remind  us during the first few weeks back that school year, it's time to clean the sand from my ears, put away the flip flops and get back to work.

The 2012 High School Football Season officially begins with the start of conditioning this week.

Per CIAC rules:
 
For schools that DO NOT CONDUCT SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE:
Conditioning: Aug. 15
First practice: Aug. 21
For schools that CONDUCT SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE:
Conditioning: Aug. 20
First practice: Aug. 25

Here's what I learned this summer on the state high school football scene:

HAND RB/LB Matt Walsh committed to UCONN 

Ansonia's Nolan Athletic Complex vandalized

UCONN's Casey Cochran sidelined with broken thumb

Rico Brogna resigns after one season at Notre Dame-Fairfield

Hyde coach Melvin Wells returns to position after being cleared of wrongdoing in alleged incident with student

Our friends from the NVL blog reported that Sacred Heart WR David Coggins, who committed to play at Boston College, transferred to Naugatuck, and that Pat Russo is OUT as head coach at Wilby. Read about these stories here.

Starting on Tuesday at this blog, I'll begin to preview the 2012 season with my What To Look For (W2L4) feature. I'll give you some information about teams, leagues, players and games to watch this year.

Wilby is still seeking a head football coach after Chris Eckert stepped down earlier this year.

There was speculation that former Bloomfield, New Britain and New London coach Jack Cochran was offered the job with the Wildcats. Cochran did apply and interview.

Wilby AD Steve Baldwin, however, said Cochran "pulled his name out of the running" for the job.

Baldwin added that they will probably conduct a second round of interviews soon.

Jack Cochran has won eight state titles as coach with three schools.Cochran's son Casey led Masuk to the Class L state title in 2010 as a junior. As a freshman, Casey Cochran was quarterback at New London when the Whalers captured the Class M state title.

There is also still an opening at Southington, after former UConn standout D.J. Hernandez stepped down after one season to become the quarterbacks coach at Brown.

Ansonia 46, Wilby 6: Freshman Arkeel Newsome rushed 25 times for 268 yards and six touchdowns to lead the visiting Chargers to this Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division win at Waterbury.

Newsome scored on runs of 16, 1, 5, 3, 35 and 95 yards. Rayshawn Pender added a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown for Ansonia (4-0, 2-0).