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
