Copyright Hartford Courant
It’s time for the Game of the Year (So Far) — No. 1 New Canaan vs. No. 2 Greenwich on Friday night. It’s the three-time defending CIAC Class L champion (New Canaan) vs. the defending LL champion Cardinals. Greenwich and the Rams, both 5-0, have been the only teams receiving first-place votes in the Hartford Courant coaches’ poll this season with the latter receiving the majority each week. That could obviously change drastically depending on the result of the game. No. 3 Killingly (5-0) stands to gain no matter the result as it would likely move up to No. 2 provided it beats Fitch (3-2) on Thursday night. As it is, the Trailblazers took a first-place vote away from Greenwich this week after smashing Masuk on Friday, 42-7. Killingly led 35-0 at the half and by as much as 42 points. What the Trailblazers did was impressive even if one might balk at Masuk’s record (2-3). Its first loss, however, was to Bunnell (3-2), 21-14, on Sept. 19. It lost again seven days later to No. 10 Darien, 28-21. It’s not often that Masuk gets so thoroughly beaten, either, has it’s consistently been one of the South-West Conference’s best teams and won four CIAC state titles. The last time it lost that badly was to Maloney, 56-21, in the 2021 Class L semifinals (Dec. 5). The week’s other big game is Darien at No. 8 St. Joseph (3-2) on Saturday afternoon. There are three other noteworthy games on Friday in which both teams are receiving Top 10 votes — Ansonia (3-2) at Woodland (5-0), Brookfield (4-1) at Newtown (3-2) and West Haven (3-2) at Cheshire (3-2). Top 10 Coaches’ Poll Listing record, total points with first-place votes in parentheses, previous ranking and CIAC class. Points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis: 1. New Canaan, 5-0, 384 (11), No. 1, Class L KNOW THIS: Here are the directions to New Canaan’s Dunning Field. Take I-95 South. As you drive through Milford, take Exit 38 towards the Merritt Parkway (Route 15)…. NEXT: vs. No. 2 Greenwich (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m. 2. Greenwich, 5-0, 362 (1), No. 2, Class LL KNOW THIS: ….Take Exit 14 off the Merritt onto Route 124 towards New Canaan. Turn left onto South Avenue. Turn left onto Farm Road. New Canaan High is on your left. NEXT: at No. 1 New Canaan (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m. 3. Killingly (1), 5-0, 338, No. 3, Class SS KNOW THIS: Senior Hayden Allard isn’t just the Trailblazers’ offensive catalyst at running back — he’s a gifted cornerback. He had his fourth Pick Six of the year in Friday’s win, tying the state record for the most in a season according to the Connecticut High School Football Record Book. NEXT: vs. Fitch (3-2), Friday, 6:30 p.m. 4. Wilton, 5-0, 274, No. 4, Class MM KNOW THIS: Senior Charlie Calabrese moved back to quarterback this season after playing as a running back last season. He’s still leading the team in rushing, though, with 626 yards and 14 touchdowns. NEXT: at Stamford (0-5), Friday, 5 p.m. 5. Windsor, 5-0, 270, No. 5, Class MM KNOW THIS: Senior AJ Robinson has averaged 327.7 yards passing. That’s better than anyone on the Jets. NEXT: vs. Conard (2-3), Thursday, 6:30 p.m. 6. Fairfield Prep, 5-1, 242, No. 6, Class LL KNOW THIS: The Jesuits downed Maloney on Friday, 24-6, with the latter scoring as time expired. NEXT: at North Haven (3-2), Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. 7. Hand, 5-1, 239, No. 7, Class SS KNOW THIS: Senior Bobby Reh completed 11-of-14 passes for 213 yards with four touchdowns as the Tigers maimed Xavier on Saturday, 65-16. They led 58-0 at the half, which, believe it or not, isn’t enough first-half points to make the top 12 in the Connecticut High School Record Book (four teams are tied for the state-record with 69 points). NEXT: vs. Shelton (1-4), Friday, 7 p.m. 8. St. Joseph, 3-2, 179, No. 8, Class M KNOW THIS: Greenwich at New Canaan on Friday night. Darien at St. Joseph the next afternoon. Just book a hotel room in Fairfield Country this weekend and cut down on travel. NEXT: vs. No. 10 Darien (4-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. 9. Staples, 4-1, 158, No. 9, Class LL KNOW THIS: Not to look ahead but the Wreckers final four opponents are, in order, St. Joseph, New Canaan, Fairfield Ludlowe (4-1) and Greenwich. Your favorite school’s schedule is weak. NEXT: at Fairfield Warde (4-1), Friday, 5 p.m. 10. Darien, 4-1, 147, 10, Class L KNOW THIS: We’ll let you use your GPS to get to St. Joseph because the directions are wordier than those for New Canaan High. Sorry. NEXT: at No. 8 St. Joseph (3-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Also receiving votes: Cheshire (3-2), 102 points; New Britain (4-1), 87; Newtown (3-2), 86; Woodland (5-0), 84; West Haven (3-2), 81; Maloney (4-1), 71; Brookfield (4-1), 63; Berlin (5-0), 59; Fairfield Ludlowe (4-1), 24; Bunnell (3-2), 16; Waterbury Career Academy (5-0), 10; Ansonia (3-2), 9; Tie, Law (4-1), Middletown (5-0) and Sheehan (4-1), 7. Voters: Erik Becker, Hand; Jason Bruenn, Platt; Joe Della Vecchia; St. Joseph; Mike Ellis; Fitch; Kevin Frederick, Maloney; Tanner Grove; Montville; Keith Hellstern, Fairfield Prep; Erick Knickerbocker, Rockville; Joe Lato; Woodland; John Mihalko, Ansonia; Bryan Muller; Brookfield; Marce Petroccio; Trumbull; Nathan Tyler, Stratford. Ned Griffen has obsessively covered state high school football since the mid-nineties, back when Dan Orlovsky was just a wiry teenager at Shelton High School. He was genetically hardwired to love the sport having been born in Texas. He enjoys heavy metal, pro wrestling, the wit and wisdom of Jennifer Walters and being adored by cats and dogs everywhere.
