A Day For Champions

Championship Saturday is upon us and with it comes the 15th and final FNF show of the season.  Again, Friday Night Football has proven to be the most enjoyable thing I do all year at Channel 3.  Your interaction and your enthusiasm for the program is very meaningful.

Class LL:  #1 Glastonbury vs. #3 Cheshire / 2pm / New Britain

If there’s one to watch above the others, it’s this matchup in Class LL.  The two individual stars alone make it worth the price of admission.  Billy Ragone plays quarterback, defensive back, placekicker, kick returner and punter for the Rams – he is a once in a decade type player for Cheshire.  Glastonbury running back Jordan Brown (he also plays defense) has 670 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns in his last 2 games (wins over New Britain and Newtown).

Prediction: Glastonbury 42 Cheshire 35

Class L: #1 Masuk vs. #3 Newington / 7pm/ West Haven

Masuk is peaking at the right time.  Slowed only by an unfortunate bus accident Thursday afternoon as the Panthers were making their way to West Haven to get a feel for Ken Strong Stadium.  No Masuk players or coaches were hurt in the accident.  Newington is the surprise of Championship Saturday to me.   Having lost All State running back Nate Pagan to graduation and with a first year coach (Clay Hillyer) I never figured Newington would be a state finalist.  Simsbury, their semifinal opponent, probably didn’t either.

Prediction: Masuk 39 Newington 17

Class MM:  #1 New Canaan vs. #3 Darien / 2pm/ Trumbull

Ten days ago these two met on Thanksgiving with state #1 New Canaan winning 28-20.  Darien earned its’ way back for a rematch by holding off the previously undefeated Hillhouse Academics on Tuesday night.  8,000 to 10,000 people may show up to see this border rivalry renewed again.  New Canaan is eyeing a 3-peat in Class MM.

Prediction: New Canaan 27  Darien 14

Class M: #1 Brookfield vs. #2 Ledyard / 2pm / Waterbury

Brookfield may be the home of the Governor, but Ledyard comes in as defending champs and playing as well as anybody in the state.  Colonels first year coach Jim Buonocore had big shoes to fill when he stepped in for the legendary Bill Mignault.  Those shoes will feel as comfortable as an old pair of slippers with a win Saturday.

Prediction: Ledyard 29 Brookfield 27

Class SS:  #1 New London vs. #2 Seymour / 2pm / West Haven

Seymour senior Mike Osiecki was named Gatorade State Player of the Year Thursday.  Had it non been for a midseason ankle injury, New London senior quarterback Jordan Reed would have given Osiecki some stiff competition for that honor.  It doesn’t look like Reed will play Saturday though retiring Seymour Head Coach Paul Sponheimer won’t be convinced until he sees Jordan in street clothes on the sidelines.

Prediction: Seymour 28  New London 20

Class S: #1 Cromwell vs. #2 Ansonia

With a late season loss to Crosby, Ansonia won’t finish #1 in the final State Coaches Poll but a 3rd straight state championship is still within their grasp.  What Cromwell Head Coach Sal Morello has done in the 6 years the Panthers have had a varsity program is remarkable.  The days of a 2003 55-0 state championship blow out loss to Ansonia are ancient history.  It’ll be a lot closer this time around

Prediction: Ansonia 20 Cromwell 13

Why Not Us?

If Curt Schilling has any of his “Why Not Us?” t-shirts leftover from 2004 he may want to ship them to Glastonbury.

Should the Tomahawks finish the season undefeated with a win Saturday over Cheshire, why shouldn’t they get equal consideration as New Canaan for the #1 spot in the final State Coaches Poll?

The two would finish as the only undefeateds in the state. New Canaan is rightly benefiting from state championship wins the last 2 years.  Glastonbury was late to the poll party this season due to no recent history of success.

As for 2008, Glastonbury is outscoring opponents by close to 32 points a game. In 9 of their 12 games, they scored 40 or more points while holding opponents to 8 points of less in 9 of 12 games.

Why not Glastonbury? Or as New Canaan Coach Lou Marinelli suggests why not have the CIAC play one more game:  Glastonbury vs. New Canaan.

See you Saturday at 11:15pm for the FNF finale!

John

Some Extra FNF Stuffing

We offer you an extra edition of Friday Night Football this week, tonight at 11:15pm (with 24 games being played statewide) and then again Friday at 11:15pm as The Day’s Ned Griffen joins us to preview the state playoffs which begin next Tuesday with 12 games

The Juiciest Thanksgiving Games (these games need no extra gravy)

Cheshire at Southington – Wednesday 6pm - Southington Coach Bill Mella never stopped believing the Blue Knights could squeak into the Class LL playoffs – even after a 3-0 loss 2 weeks ago to New Britain. The winner of the Apple Valley Classic tonight at least gives itself a chance to make the postseason – they’ll need a loss from New Britain or Newtown to make it a reality.  Southington no doubt remembers the disappointment on a Thanksgiving Day defeat to Cheshire a year ago.  I personally believe the state playoffs would be more interesting if Cheshire QB Billy Ragone is a part of them.  What a game tonight!

Kennedy at Crosby – Thursday 10:30am – Crosby needs a win to keep alive hopes of its’ first ever state playoff appearance in football. Some are telling me they are the most athletic (and maybe most talented) team in the state.  Win or lose, Crosby quarterback David Gondek can set the single season state record for touchdown passes with 3 more to get to 37.  Kennedy continues to be a program on the rise under tireless coach Chris Sarlo. They were the NVL Copper Division champs this season and want desperately to rule the Brass City on Thursday with a win over their city rival.

East Catholic at Cheney Tech – Wednesday 6pm – These two Manchester schools are so close to each other Mapquest has a tough time telling them apart.  Two years ago their co-op team broke up and this is the first time they have played each other since the split.  Former teammates against each other and a couple grand expected to be in attendance at Cheney’s brand new turf field facility. Oh, did I mention that East has a chance to end Cheney’s perfect season?  Either way, the Beavers will play again next Tuesday night in the Class M playoffs.

Hyde Leadership at North Branford – Wednesday 6:30pm – For everyone (me included) who doubted that North Branford could avoid a 2 game season ending losing streak at the hands of Cromwell and Hyde – last Saturday’s 6-0 win over Cromwell was a shocker!  The Thunderbirds have qualified for the Class S playoffs.  A win tonight gets them the #1 seed.  Hyde has even more to play for.  The Howling Wolves need a win to make the playoffs.  Should Hyde lose, the door is open for Northwest Catholic who will need to win on Turkey Day vs. Plainville.

Answers To Some Mailbag Questions

John:
Is anyone doing any broadcasts of any of the CIAC football Championship games this year or was that a one & done??
Thanks

Hank L

Hank:

The Connecticut Sports Network (launching in December on cable) will do all 6 games again this year.  Unlike last year though, none of them games will be broadcast LIVE.

———

John:

Crosby fan here. What does anyone know about Bloomfield’s chances versus Windsor? What about Wethersfield v. Newington? Do either of these teams have a shot to knock off the favorite?

Crosby Fan:

While anything can happen in emotional Thanksgiving week rivalry games, I’m expecting both Windsor and Newington to win.  That means chances are Crosby gets outpointed for the 4th and final playoff spot in Class L.    The Bulldogs are a great story and they deserve a spot in the postseason.

———–

John:

John, I watch WFSB’s Thanksgiving Week coverage of high school football every year and I always hear you ask victorious players whether the turkey will taste better since their team won. Is that your postgame strategy again this year?

John:

Thanks for writing…all be it to yourself.  The answer is YES!  It’s a slam dunk question that never fails to get a good response.

Ansonia Star Has Plenty To Be Thankful For

Join us Friday night at 11:15pm on FNF when I bring you the story of Ansonia Senior running back Tristan Roberts.  Last year Roberts missed most of the season after an arrest for marijuana possession.  He has earned his way back onto the team and you’ll hear exactly what lessons he is taking to heart on a holiday where he’s thankful to have back what once was lost.

Completely Unrelated Thought of the Week:

Do you think chickens feel especially lonely or especially lucky around Thanksgiving?

See you tonight (and Friday night) at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

One Final Friday

It’s the final Friday of the 2008 high school football season.  Just 9 games are on the schedule as many schools get an off week with the Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Eve games looming next Wednesday & Thursday.  Our own Joe Zone won’t take it easy tonight though.  He’s looking to catch action at 4 different games all in the same night.  From Fermi High School to Enfield High to Tolland High to Stafford High School – It’s Joe’s Excellent (not to mention cold) Adventure.  Find out at 11:15pm just how he makes out.

The Jim Buonocore Era is Officially Underway

Sure it started back in August when Ledyard began life without legendary head coach Bill Mignault but last night it truly started with Buonocore leading the Colonels to a 27-6 win over previously undefeated New London.  I caught the end of the internet radio call from the guys at 104.7 WXLM in New London and they officially pronounced it the start of the Jim Buonocore Era – I agree gentleman.

J.J. Jablonski is a true playmaker on both sides of the ball for Ledyard and he alone gives the Colonels a real chance of repeating as state champs.

What Ned Said (about the playoffs)

If The Day’s Ned Griffen says it about high school football then I tend to take it as gospel.  In an email to yours truly earlier this week Ned indicated that 35 teams still have playoff hopes as of the moment.  21 of those teams control their own destiny and are in with a win.

The most intriguing races are Class LL and Class L.   New Britain and Southington are outside the top 4 right now in Class LL but that all changes with a Southington win over Cheshire (the #4) and a New Britain win over Glastonbury (the #1).    #3 Newtown also faces a stiff test with a Thanksgiving eve home game vs. Masuk – #1 in L.

Masuk and L #2 Simsbury are in great shape to make it to the postseason. L gets interesting with #3 Newington, #4 Windsor and #5 Crosby all alive and rooting against each other. Stay tuned.

What Were You Doing 20 Years Ago?

Some of you weren’t alive, I get that.  I for one was big into Saturday Night Live’s Dennis Miller and I had long hair to match.  “That’s the news and I am outta here” Anyone remember?

20 years ago this Thanksgiving Wallingford’s Bill Gannon was a rising Junior quarterback at Sheehan High School drawing recruiting interest from the likes of Boston College and Arizona State. A couple months later (in January of 1989) Bill was in a serious car accident that forever altered the course of his life.  Nothing has come easy since.  From an amazing comeback that saw him beat the odds to play in 2 games his senior year, to hip fusion surgery right after high school graduation to the sudden death of his young wife Agnes 4 years ago.  Bill Gannon has an unforgettable story  that may soon be a book.  Until then you can learn more in our TV feature about Bill tonight at 11:15pm on FNF.

What’s The Best Turkey Day Tilt?

Not just this year, through the years. What’s the best Connecticut Thanksgiving day rivalry.  NFA – New London?  Ansonia – Naugatuck?  Bristol Central – Bristol Eastern?  Stonington – Westerly, RI?

Sell me  your pick in an email, john.holt@wfsb.com  The best answers get a Property of Friday Night Football T-shirt in time for Christmas.  XL sizes available for those who over induldge at the Turkey Day dinner table.

Games We’ll Be Watching

Avon at Stafford/East Windsor – Friday 6:30pm -  A win and the Falcons are in the playoffs. This also happens to be game 4 in Joe Zone’s Excellent Adventure tonight.  I’m curious to see if he gets there in one piece and leaves in one piece.

Simsbury at Farmington – Friday 7pm – A Trojan win and they go to the postseason.  Hats off to Simsbury fans who keep FNF updated on their team’s progress!  Thank you for the calls and emails.

North Branford at Cromwell – Saturday 1pm-  Pierson Park on a late November Saturday.  Both teams have yet to lose.  Cromwell is a lock for the postseason but should North Branford lose Saturday and then at home 4 days later (Thanksgiving Eve) to Hyde their playoff hopes will come crashing down in one painful 96 hour stretch.

Completely Unrelated Thought of The Week:

Not sure what I’m bothered by more: The fact that young people are wearing less and less belts or wearing less and less watches.

How is a cellphone a suitable substitute for a nice looking wristwatch?

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

7 Days In Lavender Land

Long time fans of the Ansonia football program (Hello Ed Morse) love to remember the pre-Charger days when Ansonia was known as The Lavender.  Like Harvard being The Crimson, Dartmouth being The Big Green.  The last 6 days will be hard to forget for The Lavender.  It started last Friday when its’ 35 game win streak bit the dust at the hands of Crosby.  What followed was 6 days of hand wringing, a 5 to 6 hour practice on Sunday and then, last night, a HUGE bounce back win over previously undefeated Seymour.  The Lavender may not be #1 in the polls anymore but the streak of honoring the name on the front of the jersey lives on. Ed Morse is smiling.

You can see the Ansonia Seymour game on MSG plus Sunday morning at 11.  The broadcast includes a passionate pregame speech from Ansonia Head Coach Tom Brockett.  We’ll share a clip of that speech with you tonight on FNF.

Time to Play The Rent

A memorable experience awaits tonight for the kids from New Britain and Southington.   Their key Week 10 match up goes down at the Home of the Huskies, Rentschler Field.  East Hartford and Manchester will do the same thing the night before Thanksgiving.

This is not the first time the Blue Knights will play a big house.  They opened the season at Giants Stadium.  A loss in tonight’s game almost assuredly ends the playoff hopes for the loser.

I never played in an real game at a big venue, did you?  The closest I’ve come is a media basketball game at The Carrier Dome.  I played for the student radio station against a team of All Americans from the student newspaper, The Daily Orange.  I can’t remember the exact details -  but I’m pretty sure I finished with 4 points (both baskets on dunks).

This Was Local Sports At Its Finest

That was the headline in The Day of New London for Mike DiMauro’s column detailing the reaction to last Friday’s thrilling game between New London and Montville.  Mike was heartened by the response The Day got by posting the video story of the game that included New London’s incredible Hail Mary pass play.   If you haven’t seen the play, go ahead and do it:

Click here to watch the play

In the wake of news that local institutions, The New Britain Herald and The Bristol Press, may cease operation come January it’s wise to remember just how powerful and meaningful the coverage of high school sports can be.  Losing those papers would leave a significant void in Central Connecticut.  I hope a buyer swoops in to save The Herald & The Press.  High school athletes in New Britain and Newington,  Berlin and Southington deserve it.  Just like kids in New London and Montville.

Who you gonna call?  The Bellamo Brothers

House on fire in Cromwell?  Call Deputy Chief Bellamo or his son Chris, a Cromwell firefighter and dispatcher.  Giving of themselves to others is in this family’s DNA.  Ask Cromwell football coach Sal Morello.  For each of the 8 years of his program’s existence he’s had a Bellamo Brother – first Chris and now Josh – as team equipment manager.  The Panthers have been a varstiy program for 6 of those 8 years, losing just a combined 4 regular season games.  Think the Bellamo Brothers have had something to do with it? For sure.  Watch FNF tonight at 11:15pm for a feature story on Josh Bellamo, the kid the Panthers affectionately call “Bells”.

3 Games We’ll Be Watching

Bristol Eastern at Platt Friday 6:30pm -   The host Panthers are currently 7th in the Class MM playoff point standings,  the Lancers 4th.  A win tonight gets the victor a slew of playoff points.

Prince Tech at Cheney Tech Friday 7pm -  The Constitution State Conference Championship is on the line. Cheney is having an undefeated season and fighting the big battle for statewide respect

Berlin at Northwest Catholic Saturday 10:30am -  Anyone notice that the 2 loss Indians have quietly rallied to move into the 4th spot in Class S?  Berlin can’t afford a third loss as they cling to the 5 spot in Class M.

Completely Unrelated Thought of The Week:

I put my blinker on even when I’m the only one on a quiet road turning into my driveway late at night.  Anyone else?

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

A Wonderful Week 9?

Sure looks that way.  This is our 5th season of the Friday Night Football show and I can’t ever remember a week with so many good games spread out across the state.  12 undefeated teams remain headed into the weekend and tonight at least one and perhaps as many as 5 could lose their first game.  We’re guaranteed a first time loser in the New London / Montville showdown while (8-0) Glastonbury gets a big test at Southington,  (8-0) Ansonia needs to slow down Crosby’s offense on the road,  (8-0) Seymour gets a solid test at Watertown and  (7-0) Brookfield goes road tripping to visit (7-1) Newtown.  That’s all in 1 night!

50 Points Of Light

Notice how there’s been very little talk of Connecticut’s 50 Point Rule the last season and a half?  Are you willing to admit that it might have been a good decision by the CIAC all along?  To me it’s like seat belt laws.  You may not have worn your seat belt before the law mandated it, but now that you do, can you ever imagine going back to not wearing it?

A Few Minutes With a New Britain Minuteman

When you have a free 5 minutes, use it to read Friday’s Boston Globe story by Marty Dobrow on former New Britain Golden Hurricane Josh Jennings

Josh is now starring at linebacker for the UMass Minutemen.  He’s overcome a lot to be where he is.  I know people in the Hardware City are very proud of Josh.  They should be.

What Ned Emailed

The Friday after Thanksgiving the plan is to revisit our What Ned Said playoff preview segment on FNF. That’s when we bring in to studio the Day of New London’s incomparable Ned Griffen to get his thoughts and predictions on the state playoffs.  Ned is on top of the state high school football scene like few others.

He emailed a group of us late this week with the Max Preps rankings in a handful of categories.   I share with you now the essentials:

State #1: (8-0) Ansonia

Toughest Schedule: (5-3) Shelton  (with 5 other SCC teams in the Top 10 in this category)

Easiest Schedule: (8-0)  Cheney Tech.  Think Cheney is anxious to prove itself against non tech school competition or what?

Games We’ll Be Watching

It’d be easier this week to list the games we won’t be watching.  Too many good ones to do justice to ‘em all, but here goes…

Montville at New London 7pm Friday - The Whalers are (7-0),  the Indians are (8-0) and this could be the first of 2 meetings with both likely headed to the Class SS playoffs.  Does New London QB Jordan Reed (foot injury) play in this game? That could make all the difference.  We’ll have highlights on FNF at 11:15pm but to listen live online

Glastonbury at Southington 7pm Friday – The host Blue Knights have not lost to an in-state opponent.  The visiting Tomahawks haven’t lost period.   Glastonbury fans are miffed by being no higher than 7th in the State Media Poll and 9th in the State Coaches Poll. Tonight is Glastonbury’s chance to send a loud message.  What ya got Jordan Brown?

Ansonia at Crosby 7pm Friday -  Weaver/Windsor, New Britain/Simsbury, Ledyard/Plainfield, St. Paul/Berlin are all very worthy of watching but Crosby with a chance to end Ansonia’s 35 game winning streak is the pick here.  Can the Bulldogs do it at home?  Their offense is capable, their defense may not be.

Completely Unrelated Thought of the Week:

Does growing old mean you don’t find it necessary to change out of your street clothes to exercise at the gym?  Seems that way at the local JCC I go to.  Then there’s the senior ladies working out complete with make-up and lipstick. That shouldn’t be a problem for me come the golden years.  I made the decision to stop wearing lipstick a good ten years ago.

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

The Suspense of 24

Not the Fox TV show but the 24 teams that are most likely to qualify for the CIAC playoffs – 4 from each of the 6 classes.

Here’s my breakdown heading into Week 8.  As always, I welcome your opinions with an email to john.holt@wfsb.com

Class LL

The Top 4 Right Now: Glastonbury, Hamden, Southington, Xavier

It’ll be different to not have Greenwich in the state playoffs this year.  The reigning LL champs already have 3 losses and check in at #14 in the playoff point standings.

Most Likely Of The Current 4 Not To Qualify: Southington.  The Blue Knights have yet to lose to an in state opponent but Glastonbury, New Britain (in a game played at RentschlerField) & Cheshire all loom on a brutal schedule.  It’s not hard to see the Blue Knights picking up another loss or two. With that said,  I voted Southington 4th in the state this week in the Register poll behind Ansonia, New Canaan and & New London.

Most Likely Team To Vault Into The Top 4: #8 Cheshire.  How impressive is Rams senior quarterback Billy Ragone? He’s already been offered scholarships by Army and Temple and may end up playing in the Ivy League.  Cheshire had 2 early season losses but if they win out – capped off by a second straight Thanksgiving victory over Southington they could squeak in at #4

Class Champion: Glastonbury. No one has come within 18 points of beating the Tomahawks this season.  They are having a state championship type of season.

Class L

The Top 4 Right Now: Masuk, Newington, Bunnell, Simsbury

There’s not an undefeated team left in Class L but there’s plenty of talent.  Simsbury is #4 with 91.43 points but #5 Crosby and #6 Windsor are right on the Trojans’ heels at 90.00.

Most Likely Of The Current 4 Not To Qualify:  Simsbury.  There is very little margin for error. Next Friday’s home game with New Britain is a must win.  A third loss will doom Simsbury’s playoff hopes.

Most Likely Team To Vault Into The Top 4: #6 Windsor. At one point this season I thought the Warriors had a chance to go undefeated. Back to back losses to Simsbury and Wethersfield blew that prediction up.  However, if New Britain does beat Simsbury next week the Warriors are in good shape if they can win out – which would include a victory next Friday night over Class MM #4 Weaver.

Class Champion:It’ll be Masuk vs. Bunnell yet again.  The winner?  Despite the crushing loss last week at home to Masuk I say Bunnell,  provided Rutgers bound wide receiver Mark Harrison is healthy (which he wasn’t for the second half last week).

Class MM

The Top 4 Right Now:  New Canaan, Darien, Hillhouse, Weaver

3 good undefeated teams at the top and all 3 ranked in the top 6 of both the Day of New London State Coaches’ Poll and the New Haven Register State Media Poll.  New Canaan and Darien meet each other on Thanksgiving.  I expect all 3 to make the playoffs. 

Most Likely Of The Current 4 Not To Qualify: Weaver is the only answer that makes any sense here.  The Beavers have no guaranteed wins in its’ 4 remaining games – Wethersfield, Windsor, Hall and Hartford Public.

Most Likely Team To Vault Into The Top 4:   #5 Bristol Eastern or #6 Platt.  If both happen to win this week to move to (6-2), their November 14thgame with each other could prove to be HUGE!

Class Champion: New Canaan.  3 state titles in a row, and 5 in 8 years for the Rams.

Class M

The Top 4 Right Now: Brookfield, Cheney Tech, Berlin, St. Paul/Goodwin Tech/Lewis Mills

Brookfield is the only team to have notched a win over Masuk this season. Cheney is undefeated but the critics will be sure to question their tech-school heavy schedule.

Most Likely Of The Current 4 Not To Qualify: St. Paul.  A game next Friday night at Berlin could mean a second loss not to mention the test St. Paul gets this week against Middletown.

Most Likely Team To Vault Into The Top 4:   Avon.  If St. Paul slips up, Avon could slip in. The Falcons have 2 losses at the moment (Cromwell and Hyde) but a very favorable schedule down the stretch.

Class Champion:  Brookfield.  Bobcats alum Scott Lutrus – currently starring at linebacker at UConn – will be very proud of his alma matr come December 6th.

Class SS

The Top 4 Right Now:   New London, Seymour, Montville, Rocky Hill

Most Likely Of The Current 4 Not To Qualify: Rocky Hill. Not likely. Just can’t risk it with a loss in 2 weeks at Middletown.

Most Likely Team To Vault Into The Top 4: Nobody.  Part of me wants to pick #9 Foran as a dark horse but I won’t.

Class Champion:  Is New London Quarterback Jordan Reed healthy enough to play like the All American he is?  We’ll find out a lot next Friday night when New London hosts Montville in what’s shaping up as a battle of ECC unbeatens.    In the end, it’s Jack coaching his alma matr to a state championship after 2 title game losses in recent years.

Class S

The Top 4 Right Now:   Cromwell, Ansonia, North Branford, Hyde Leadership

34 wins in a row and counting for state #1 Ansonia.  Cromwell is the real deal – with 5 shutouts through 7 games while allowing opponents less than 4 points a game on average. 

Most Likely Of The Current 4 Not To Qualify: North Branford.  The Thunderbirdsstill have games remaining with Cromwell and Hyde. Beating one of them is a must.

Most Likely Team To Vault Into The Top 4:  #5 Northwest Catholic (4-2) is a long shot.  They’re only playing 10 games instead of the 11 most others are playing.  They’d need to win out and that means beating Berlin.

Class Champion:Until proven otherwise Ansonia remains the pick in Class S.

Injury Fatigue

Consider this:  The #1 high school quarterback in the state, Jordan Reed, injured his ankle last Friday night.  The #1 college quarterback in the state, UConn’s Tyler Lorenzen,  is out for 6 weeks. The #1 professional quarterback in the region, Tom Brady, is out for the season.  Are you getting a little tired of all the increased injuries in football?  When the star players are increasingly hurt doesn’t it take some of the fun out of following the sport?  Is football more violent than ever?  That’s not a good thing, is it?

3 Games We’ll Be Watching

Hillhouse at Shelton  Friday 7pm -  Can the undefeated Academics survive the Finn Fanatics (and a solid Shelton team) on Halloween night?  I look forward to finding out.

Platt at Newington Friday 7pm-  Newington has lost just once under first year head coach Clay Hillyer. Streaking Platt (5-2) has won 5 straight, outscoring opponents by an incredible 188 to 18 in that stretch.

Hyde Leadership at Cromwell Saturday 1pm – It seems every season these two play a big regular season game. Nothing has changed this year.

Completely Unrelated Thought of the Week:

What’s the oldest t-shirt in your active rotation?  I got to thinking about this last week when I headed out to the gym in a WPI/Amherst College football camp t-shirt I got from a coach as a freebie back sometime in 1995 or 1996.  Can you beat a 12 to 13 year old t-shirt?

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

Poof! The Magic Dragons

In 2006 Hamden won 1 football game.  In 2007 Hamden won 1 football game.  So far in 2008 The Hamden Green Dragons have won 6 football games and lost none.  They are currently #1 in the Class LL playoff point standings. I had a chance to visit Hamden’s practice on Tuesday and it’s clear to the eye the impact that first year head coach Scott Benoit has had on the program.

You want an intense, focused, efficient practice? You got one on Dixwell Avenue Tuesday afternoon.  Benoit (a West Haven player then later a Blue Devil Assistant Coach) left the head job at Guilford to take over at Hamden.  He also has prior head coaching experience at North Branford.  Benoit says first and foremost he has talented kids. Clearly however the impact from he and his staff has been the defining difference from the last 2 years.

There was a fair amount of yelling at practice – but that seems to be the norm for many (though not all) successful programs.  Benoit even got dropped one time when collided with  by two of the Green Dragons running a play.  To his credit Benoit got treated and returned a few minutes later.  Don’t know if the practice was particularly intense considering Hamden’s Friday night showdown at Xavier this week but I left impressed.  I also left without any player interviews – a first in my time covering high school football.  We stayed at practice for over an hour and a half.  Coach Benoit gave us some of his time for an interview but the players were never made available before my photographer had to head out to his next assignment. Odd, but who can argue with Benoit’s ultra-focused approach considering the turnaround he’s engineered?  Just the same I would love to have gotten the thoughts of Hamden standouts Jason Lassiter, Josh Smart and field goal kicking star Kemuel Lawrence who hit a 42 yarder in a last second win at West Haven.

You can hear parts of my interview with Coach Benoit tonight at 11:15pm on FNF.

A Black Hole For Opponents

Read this week in Ray Curren’s SCC Blog at SportingNewsCT.com that Xavier has won 19 of its’ last 20 home games at Middletown’s Palmer Field.  That’s remarkable and it’s something Hamden will have to overcome if they hope to score a win and stay undefeated.

Xavier’s Black Hole student section is the best in the state in my opinion. What’s your opinion?

All in the Family?

I ran some girls soccer highlights on Channel 3 Wednesday night at 11pm.  Undefeated Cheshire beat Shelton 2-0 with the first goal of the night coming on a penalty kick from Cheshire’s Kylee McIntosh. I figured Kylee has to be the daughter of former Cheshire football star turned Syracuse Orangeman Kyle McIntosh.  Am I right?

Kyle – a 4 year starter at Syracuse – rushed for 5,150 career yards in high school, the 5th best total in state history

Moving Pictures On Newspaper Websites – I like it!

A number of different state papers have added video to the mix in their coverage of high school football.  The Connecticut Post, Day of New London and Waterbury Republican-American do a solid job delivering game highlights from their coverage areas.  In addition the Republican American (Mike Barger & Mark Jaffee ) and the Norwich Bulletin (Brian Girasoli & Marc Allard) offer weekly video prediction segments – both worth checking out.  Then there’s Mike Pucci of the New Haven Register with his weekly sneak peek of the Register’s Statewide Media Poll.

3 Games We’ll Be Watching (In addition to Hamden at Xavier!)

Masuk at Bunnell - 7pm Friday -  A rematch of last year’s Class L state championship game won by Bunnell.  The teams met 3 times last season and Bunnell won all 3 (regular season, Southwest Conference Championship Game, State Championship).  Bunnell is undefeated this year, Masuk has lost just once.   Gotta love the genuine emotion of Bunnell Head Coach Craig Bruno.  He’s the Dick Vermeil of Connecticut high school football coaches – quick to cry but genuine in every possible way.

Norwich Free Academy at Ledyard - 6:30pm Friday -  Two programs with tradition, two with first year coaches (Jemal Davis NFA, Jim Buonocore Ledyard) and two with just one loss apiece. Stonington at Montville is another good one on the ECC schedule Friday night.

St. Paul/Goodwin Tech/Lewis Mills at Rocky Hill – 6:30pm Friday -  St. Paul and UConn bound Marcus Aiken have yet to lose, Rocky Hill has just one loss and is fresh of last Friday’s huge (and controversial) upset over previously unbeaten Berlin.  A great game and a near walk from the Channel 3 studios.

Completely Unrelated Thought of the Week:

After watching the ALCS in great detail,  I’m left with one spitting image.  Literally a spitting image.  Does ALCS MVP Matt Garza ever stop spitting? The one time Rock Cat must have more saliva than any human being on the planet.  By the way, when did it become OK to spit indoors (Tropicana Field)?

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

When Is A Win Not A Win?

When a loss isn’t a loss of course.  Though it had apparently been agreed upon back in January some coaches in the Fairfield County Athletic Association didn’t realize that last week’s 9 league games all did not count towards league standings and qualifying for the FCIAC playoff Championship Game.  The games did however count for the state playoff standings.  With 11 games being allowed this season and the FCIAC having 19 teams – the schedule permitted just 10 of those teams to play a full schedule against conference foes.  9 others are playing only 10 conference games with their 11th game against an opponent outside the FCIAC.  It’s an unbalanced schedule made balanced for league playoff standings by throwing out Week 5.  Do you want 2 or 3 Advils for that headache?

What it means is that Greenwich’s lost last week to Ridgefield  comes off the board for the purposes of the league standings as do 8 other results including Stamford’s win over previously unbeaten St. Joseph and Westhill’s upset win over previously unbeaten Wilton

Tight Spot For A Tight End

Imagine being a teenager facing a decision like New London Senior Anthony Schiavone Is.  The talented tight end has given a verbal commitment to play on scholarship at Temple. However, just recently the Iowa Hawkeyes have offered Schiavone a scholarship.  Without his name yet on a dotted line to play for Temple, Schiavone will be in Iowa this weekend to watch the Hawkeyes meet their Big Ten rivals from Wisconsin.  Temple can’t be pleased with that development, while Schiavone is obviously thrilled to have a Big Ten school showing interest.

Anthony told me this week that the recruiting process was overwhelming at times.  It was a relief to chose Temple.  Now the anxiety is back.  He’ll have a decision to make.  Should he stick by his word and go to Temple?  Is he two-timing Temple with his trip to Iowa or just doing what anyone looking out for their long term best interest would do?

Your thoughts emails to john.holt@wfsb.com

Watching Jordan Soar X2

I was interviewing Schiavone during my trip this week to New London High School to profile Whalers Senior Quarterback Jordan Reed.  This Jordan is headed to the University of Florida to join fellow Nutmegger Aaron Hernandez.  A full feature on Jordan Reed is ahead tonight on Friday Night Football.

The other Jordan? Glastonbury’s Jordan Brown.  The Senior running back has helped the Tomahawks get off to a (5-0) start including last Saturday’s 41-3 romp at Wethersfield.  After being injured a season ago, Brown has returned as one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the state.

The Holt Top 5

I’m still voting Ansonia #1 in the state in The New Haven Register Media Poll.

But I’m also coming clean to offer you an exclusive Top 5 for the schools most under-exposed on FNF.  I admit, we need to show more highlights from these schools that are in or on the edge of our viewing area.

1. Bunnell

2. Masuk

3. Xavier

4. Montville

5. Newington

Games We’ll Be Watching

Manchester at Glastonbury Friday 7pm -  Two (5-0) teams.  Glastonbury ranked #2 in the Class LL playoff standings, Manchester # 3.

Simsbury at Southington Friday 7pm – Both teams are (4-1).  Southington is Southington.  Simsbury put up the shocker of the week last week in my eyes, pounding Windsor 35 to 7.

Rocky Hill at Berlin – We know undefeated Berlin is good.  How good is (4-1) Rocky Hill? Tonight we learn more.

Others to watch this weekend:  St. Bernard/Norwich Tech at Stonington,  North Branford at Haddam-Killingworth (first ever home night game for HK) & New Canaan at St. Joseph (Saturday)

Completely Unrelated Thought of The Week

On October 31st a movie by the name of Zack and Miri Make A Porno will be released.  And intelligent Americans will pay money to see it?  Hope you’re not one of them.

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

Have Camera, Will Travel?

There are so many intriguing games tonight it won’t be possible for our Eyewitness News cameras to get to every one of them.  Know anyone taping footage of the Hamden-Shelton game? The  New London – St. Bernard’s/Norwich Tech game?  If they’re willing to hop in their car and travel to Rocky Hill postgame to get highlights to our studio for 11:15pm -  I’ve get a 6 pack of FNF T-Shirts waiting for them.

With all the great matchups let me get right into it…

Games We’ll Be Watching

Seymour at Crosby 7pm -  Both teams are undefeated,  Seymour is ranked #6 in the state.  Crosby hasn’t had a winning season since 2002.  This is a juicy matchup!

Cromwell at Tolland 6:30pm -  Two more teams without a loss.  Tolland is legit.  Remember how they challenged Seymour in the Class SS state championship game a year ago.  Cromwell is legit.  4 games, 4 shutouts – absolutely 0 points allowed.  118 to nothing.

Hamden at Shelton 7pm - Are the (4-0) Green Dragons for real?  We’ll know after they face the Finn Fanatics in Shelton

New London at St. Bernard’s/Norwich Tech 6:30pm – The Saints are (4-0) the Whalers are (4-0). I don’t see a St. Bernard’s upset win here but it would be the story of the night wouldn’t it?

Also of note:  Windsor at Simsbury tonight,  Wolcott at Ansonia tonight &  Glastonbury at Wethersfield (high noon Saturday)

Is this Offense For Real or Just Plain Offensive

National Public Radio (yeah…I occasionally listen) recently had a fascinating story on something called the A-11 offense being used out in California.  That’s A-11 as in All 11 players potentially eligible.

Thanks to WFSB photographer Mike Kopelman for bringing this to my attention.

Check it out:NPR’s Story On The A-11 Offense

What do you think?

Billy Ball

In a moment that suggests I might be completely losing my mind before I reach my 37th birthday next month, I forgot to include Cheshire’s Billy Ragone in WFSB.COM’s recent poll asking who is the best high school quarterback in Connecticut.  Did  you catch Ragone’s stat line last week in a win over previously unbeaten Wilbur Cross?

20/27 passing for 208 Yards & 1 TD

131 yards rushing, 2 TDs

5 tackles, 1 Intereception on defense

Wow!

Billy alone makes Cheshire the best (2-2) team in the state.

Retiring at 29

29 years of coaching that is.  Seymour legend Paul Sponheimer will call it a career after this season ends.  Coach already has brought 4 State Championships to the NVL school and this year could mean a 5th – How’s a Seymour/New London Class SS final sound to you?

Tonight on FNF, we have a feature story on Coach Sponheimer.  It will run around a minute and a half. The truth is, it could be well over 5 minutes and still keep your attention. I was at Seymour practice on Tuesday and Coach proved a terrific interview.

A few of the nuggets I learned:

* Sponheimer was drafted by the Montreal Expos before heading to the University of Kentucky to play football

* He looks forward to watching some college football once his high school coaching days are done.  In 29 years,  his Seymour schedule has only allowed him to see 2 of his former players in person playing in a college game.

* Sponheimer won’t make the ultimate call on his successor, but he’s intent on impressing upon the powers that be that the program is best served by hiring from within the current staff

Completely Unrelated Thought of The Week

One sure sign I’m becoming an old fart?  Every time I hear Kid Rock’s song, “All Summer Long” I’m momentarily excited believing Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” is on my radio.  Silly me….fooled again by the Kid’s sampling.

See You Tonight at 11:15pm for FNF!

John

P.S. We’re still looking for an “artist” to carve us an FNF themed pumpkin for our Halloween show.  Emails to john.holt@wfsb.com

A White Out In The FNF Poll

Foran’s Jake White: One To Watch

With rain causing the games to be all spread out over last weekend (the last game wasn’t until Tuesday afternoon) we opted to do something other than our typical Athlete of the Week poll on the FNF home page.  We ran a poll asking you to vote on the best high school quarterback in the State of Connecticut.  Is it New London’s Jordan Reed (headed to play at Florida )? Maybe it’s Bunnell’s Chris Sloat. He of the Sloat & Harrison combo that is sure to post big numbers in the SWC all season.  Well, according to those who visted the website to vote it’s Foran High Senior Jake White.  As of 11:15 this morning the polling went like this:

Choice	Votes	Percentage of 1903 Votes
Griswold’s Sean Brackett	49	3%
Foran’s Jake White	990	52%
New London’s Jordan Reed	59	3%
Windsor’s Pierre Narcisse	703	37%
Bunnell’s Chris Sloat	10	1%
Windham’s Spencer Beaudreault	69	4%

Way to get out the vote Milford and way to support your record setting QB!  In a game last season vs. North Haven Jake completed a state record 38 passes while throwing for 516 yards and 5 touchdowns.  A property of Friday Night Football T-shirt is on its’ way to Milford.

I was sent a few emails suggesting other top QBs that should have been part of the survey including Crosby’s Dave Gondek,  Cheshire’s Billy Ragone (major oversight on my part) and Ansonia’s Ron Bilodeau.  Thanks to everybody who offered their opinion.

4 Weeks To Halloween

28 days from tonight it’ll be football and trick or treating all on the same night.  If you’re thinking about wearing your costume to the game that night, do it!  Our Channel 3 cameras will be out looking for you.

Can you carve a mean pumpkin?  Want to have it appear on our set for the Halloween edition of FNF?  How about carving a football and the letters F-N-F into one of the big orange beatuies?  How about the handsome faces of myself and Joe Zone?

If you’re interested send me an email at john.holt@wfsb.com.

Games We’ll Be Watching

Wethersfield at Manchester - Friday 7pm -   Both teams are undefated at (3-0).  Manchester has outscored opponents 63 to 13,  Wethersfield 116 to 22.  Now after some softer competition to start the season, the Eagles and the Indians get each other.  A Holt prediction:  Wethersfield 35  Manchester 19

Plainfield at Bacon Academy - Friday 6:3opm -  The  push to get permanent lights in Colchester (just like they’re doing at Haddam-Killingworth) delivers a sneak peak of the possibilities tonight.  A big night of events is planned but after playing New London closer than expected last week, Plainfield may be a tougher opponent than Bacon planned on.

Maloney at Windsor – Friday 7pm -  The host Warriors moved to (3-0) with a dominating 42-12 win on Monday over Bristol Central.  I’m starting to think that Windsor could make an undefated run in the regular season.   Crazy?

If you’re looking for the coolest halftime show of the night tonight head to Seymour. During halftime of the 6th ranked Wildcats game with Naugatuck there will be a freestyle motocross show!  Hope the band has cleared the field in time!

Completely Unrelated Thought of The Week:

The word exclusive is being overused and used in correctly in television news.  When you have an “Exclusive” interview with Sarah Palin one night and she sits down with your competition the next night it’s really not all that exclusive.

The word is even more misused on the local level.  Exclusivity suggests that a newsworthy person is talking to you while declining to talk to others.  If I were to offer you an “Exclusive” interview this afternoon with my 6 year old daughter Rilee it would not fit the definition since Rilee is not currently making news or refusing interview requests from media outlets her father doesn’t work at.

If you’d like your own Property of Friday Night Football T-Shirt.  Drop me an email (john.holt@wfsb.com) and describe your loyalty to our little 11:15pm Friday night show.

See you tonight!

John