REGIONAL CIAC FOOTBALL QUARTERFINAL CAPSULES
ALL GAMES: 6:30 p.m. unless noted
TICKETS FOR ALL GAMES: Adults $10, Students/Senior Citizen $5
CLASS LL NO. 8 GREENWICH AT NO. 1 FAIRFIELD PREP
WHERE: Rafferty Stadium, Fairfield University, Fairfield, 6 p.m.
RECORDS: Greenwich 7-3, Fairfield Prep 9-1
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCE: Greenwich (18-13): lost to Darien in the 2019 Class LL quarterfinals, 26-16. Fairfield Prep (6-6): lost to New Canaan in the 2018 Class LL semifinals, 38-7.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Greenwich: Logan Galletta, Jr., WR/LB; Chason Barber, Sr., WR/DB; Luke Vivier, Sr., OL/DL; Michael Sinisi, Sr. OL/DL; Thomas Foster, Sr., RB. Fairfield Prep: Ryan O’Connell, Sr., LB; Tymaine Smith, Sr., LB/WR; Tim Pearson, Sr., WR; Connor Smith, Sr., QB.
WHAT’S WHAT: It’s a rematch (the first of many this postseason) of a game played at Cardinal Stadium on Oct. 2. Greenwich won a defensive struggle, 14-7 . ... The Jesuits have won six straight games since with their defense, led by Ryan O’Connell and Tymaine Smith, posting three shutouts and allowing just 8.3 points per game. ...Thomas Foster has become the featured back for Greenwich, and his 87 yards and two TDs on Thanksgiving enabled Greenwich to rally to defeat Staples in OT and reach the playoffs for the fifth-straight season . ... Greenwich’s three losses have come against three playoff teams: Shelton (Class LL), New Canaan (LL) and St. Joseph (L) . ... The two programs are no strangers in the LL tournament. They’ve met five times. Greenwich has won the last three, including two semifinals, by a combined score of 96-20. But Fairfield Prep’s won two state titles at Greenwich’s expense: 18-0 in 1982 and their last title, 7-0 in 1988 . ... Greenwich won 27-6 in the only previous quarterfinal game in 2017.
NO. 7 SOUTHINGTON AT NO. 2 NEW CANAAN
WHERE: Dunning Stadium, New Canaan
RECORDS: Southington 8-2, New Canaan 9-1
ON THE AIR/WEB — NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCE: Southington (13-11): lost to Darien, 21-12, in the 2019 Class LL semifinals. New Canaan (34-10): lost to St. Joseph, 42-0, in the 2019 Class L semifinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Southington: Jack Barnum, Sr., QB/K; Javon Thomas, Sr., RB; Ryan DelMonte, Sr., WR/ DB; Jackson Rusiecki, Sr., OL/DL; Austin Pszczolkowski, Sr., DE. New Canaan: Ned Brady, Sr., OL/DL; Vincent Cognetta, Sr., RB/LB; Macklin Seelert, Jr., WR; Henry Cunney, Sr., QB; Chad Russo, Sr., LB.
WHAT’S WHAT: Playoff regular Southington is back in the state playoffs for the third-consecutive season and eighth time over the last nine seasons . ... Since winning the state title in 2013 and 2014, the Blue Knights are 3-4 in the playoffs and haven’t returned to the finals . ... New Canaan knocked off rival Darien for the fourth-consecutive season on Thanksgiving to clinch a home quarterfinal game . ... Both teams feature strong defenses. Led by DL Jackson Rusiecsk, the Blue Knights have allowed 11.7 points per game . ... With linebacker Chad Russo anchoring the defense, the Rams are one of the state’s best on points allowed with a mere 8.6 per game . ... Southington’s losses this year were to Hall and Conard, which cost them the CCC Tier I title . ... New Canaan’s played in a host of close games all year and has won all of them except 17-14 to Wilton on a last-second field goal .. ... Southington has run into a number of FCIAC teams in the postseason in recent
years: it’s had its season ended by Darien three times since 2015: but this is the first time it is facing New Canaan, which fluctuates between Class LL and L.
NO. 6 HAMDEN AT NO. 3 DARIEN
WHERE: Darien High School Stadium
RECORDS: Hamden 8-2, Darien 9-1
PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCE: Hamden (1-5): lost to Cheshire, 28-21, in the 2008 Class LL semifinals. Darien (24-11): lost to Newtown, 13-7, in the 2019 Class LL state championship.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hamden: Sam Doumah, Sr., RB/LB; Tyshaun Davender, Jr., LB/RB; Camyran Winder, Sr., RB/LB. Darien: David Evanchick, Sr., DE; Miles Drake, Sr., QB; Tighe Cummiskey, Sr., RB; Matt Minicus, Sr., WR; Sean Quick, Sr., LB.
WHAT’S WHAT: The duo of Sam Doumah and Camyran Winder have helped Hamden break a couple of streaks this season. On Thanksgiving, they led Hamden to their first Green Bowl victory over Notre DameWest Haven since 2005, which sent Hamden to the Class LL playoffs for the first time since 2008 . ... Doumah and Winder have combined for over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing . ... Winder has added another 350 yard and 6 TDs receiving for 16 total. … The Dragons, whose SCC Tier II and FCIAC crossover opponents like Westhill (0-10) and McMahon (3-7) were a combined 43-57, now face perennial state championship contender Darien . ... Aside from a Thanksgiving loss to archrival New Canaan, Darien has ripped through its opponents 402-139. The Blue Wave have been tough offensively behind RB Tighe Cummiskey (1,200 yards), WR Matt Minicus and smothering on defense behind DE David Evanchick, LB Sean Quick and DB Christian Alliegro. QB Miles Drake has thrown for 1,450 yards and 23 TDs against 3 interceptions. … Easily, it’s Hamden’s toughest opponent this season.
CLASS L NO. 7 MASUK AT NO. 2 NAUGATUCK
WHERE: Veterans Field, Naugatuck
RECORDS: Masuk 8-2, Naugatuck 9-1
ON THE AIR/WEB: Radio:
WATR 1320-AM & 97.7-FM | NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCES: Masuk (15-14): lost to Hand, 35-21, in the 2017 Class L championship game. Naugatuck (2-6): lost to Platt, 12-6, in the 2018 Class L quarterfinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Masuk: Nick Saccu, Sr., RB/ WR/DB; Ryan Saccu, Sr., WR/DB; Dylan Jackson, Jr., QB. Naugatuck: Cayden Martin, Jr., RB; Mike Deitlebaum, Jr., RB/DB; Jibree Bartelle, Sr. QB.
WHAT’S WHAT: Both teams pulled off upsets on the final week of the season. On Thanksgiving Eve, Michael Epifano kicked a 37yard field goal with no time left to lift Masuk over Newtown for the first time in 10 years and it clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2017’s run to the state final. The next morning, Naugatuck defeated Ansonia, 14-7, its first win over it’s Thanksgiving rival since 2010, breaking Ansonia’s 103-game win streak in the NVL . ... The win catapulted Naugatuck to the No. 2 seed in Class L, it’s first playoff appearance since 2018. Naugatuck lost to eventual Class M playoff qualifier Torrington in its second game of the season and since then the Greyhounds’ defense hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game in an eight-game win streak. Masuk started the season with Nick Saccu at quarterback, before moving Saccu to running back and wide receiver and bumping Dylan Jackson to quarterback. Saccu and his twin brother Ryan Saccu have become one of the top WR duos in the state, scoring 34.5 points a game in its final four games.
CLASS S NO. 7 ND-FAIRFIELD AT NO. 2 CROMWELL / PORTLAND
WHERE: Pierson Park, Cromwell
RECORDS: Notre DameFairfield 7-2, Cromwell/Portland 10-0
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCE: Notre Dame-Fairfield (1-1): lost to Ansonia, 44-14, in the 2002 Class S championship.
Cromwell/Portland (6-7 overall, 1-2 as C/P): lost to Stafford/East Windsor/Somers, 41-6, in the 2018 Class S quarterfinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Notre Dame-Fairfield: Tayshawn Dixon, Sr., RB/LB; Jailon Denny, Sr., QB/DB; Jonathan Williamson, Soph., RB/LB. Cromwell/Portland: Owen Brunk Sr., LB; Cole Brisson, Jr., QB; Teddy Williams, Sr., LB/WR; Ryan Rozich, Jr., LB/WR.
WHAT’S WHAT: Notre Dame-Fairfield is making its first playoff appearance since Randy Gress led the Lancers into the Class S championship game 19 years ago. Fourth-year coach John Johnson, who came over from Bullard-Havens, has done it with a strong rushing attack led by Tayshawn Dixon and Jailon Denny (20 TDs combined) and a surprisingly good bend-but-don’t break defense. The Lancers have been competitive against some of region’s best teams, despite a roster devoid of depth. Their only losses were by two TDs to explosive Barlow and by a TD vs. No. 5-seeded New Fairfield. … Cromwell/Portland, on the other hand, revels in playing a two-platoon system as a Class S co-op. The team has virtually rolled through the Pequot league, outscoring opponents 394-64. The Panthers’ linebackers are as good as any, led by playmakers Owen Brunk, Teddy Williams and Ryan Rozich. The 64 points allowed is secondbest in the state.
NO. 5 NEW FAIRFIELD AT NO. 4 HOLY CROSS
WHERE: Municipal Stadium, Waterbury
RECORDS: New Fairfield 8-2, Holy Cross 8-2
PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCE: New Fairfield (2-4): lost to Killingly, 28-0, in the 2019 Class M quarterfinals. Holy Cross (7-6): beat Cromwell, 34-27, in the 2011 Class S championship game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: New Fairfield: Jason Caswell, Sr., RB/DB; Justin McCormack, Sr., Jr.; Thomas Leary, Jr., LB. Holy Cross: Tom Ligi, Jr., RB/DB; Mahkai Wilson, Sr., LB.
WHAT’S WHAT: Like Sheehan two years before, New Fairfield played a schedule more suited to Class M or L, not Class S. In fact, the Rebels have played just two Class S teams this season beating fellow Class S playoff participant Notre DameFairfield a few weeks ago and defending champion Sheehan, 14-13. Their only losses, to fellow SWC playoff contenders Masuk (which qualified in Class L) and Newtown (which didn’t in Class LL). The Rebels have been sparked by senior back Jason Caswell . ... Holy Cross, meanwhile, broke a long playoff drought, reaching its first since winning it all in 2011. The Crusaders might be similarly battle tested for this field. Both of its losses have come against playoff teams, Naugatuck in Class L and Ansonia in Class S. Junior back Thomas Ligi has been a big factor in the team’s success.