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, 2616. 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 Dame-West 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 arch-rival 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.

NO. 5 SHELTON AT NO. 4 HALL

WHERE: Robert S. Chalmers Stadium, West Hartford RECORDS: Shelton 8-2, Hall 9-1

PLAYOFF HISTORY/LAST APPEARANCE: Shelton (12-7): lost to New Canaan, 42-34, in 2018 Class LL quarterfinals. Hall (0-7): lost to Shelton, 42-14 in the 2014 Class LL Small semifinals.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Shelton: Matt Weiner, Sr., OL/DL; Matt Lockavitch, Sr., LB; Shane Santiago, Sr., RB/DB; Tyler Rich, Sr., RB. Hall: Leo Perreira, Sr., RB; Matt Farber, Sr., WR/ DB; Charlie Dowd, Sr., LB.

WHAT’S WHAT: Hall returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Awaiting the Warriors in the quarterfinals is Shelton, the same school to knock them off seven years ago. Led by an opportunistic offense, Hall is enjoying its best season since going 8-3 in 2010 and has been living on the edge all year. Six of its wins have been by just one score and its only loss was a rout by CCC Tier I champion Maloney. Hall rallied to win the final two games of the season. Leo Perreira has rushed for 19 touchdowns and Matt Farber has 650 receiving yards on just 45 catches. By the time this game kicks off, it will have been 18 days since Shelton has played in a game: a 13-0 win over Cheshire on Nov. 12: due to Derby forfeiting the rest of its season. The running attack of Tyler Rich and Shane Santiago has accounted for 1,217 of the Gaels’ 1,547 rushing yards and 13 of the team’s 17 rushing touchdowns . ... Hall went to three state finals in the early 80s and to four state quarterfinals over the last 10 years, but the Warriors have never won a state playoff game. Shelton, meanwhile, is looking to reach its first final since 2015 and win its first title since 2003.