CIAC FOOTBALL CLASS LL AND CLASS L SEMIFINALS PREVIEW CAPSULES
All games today, 12:30 p.m., except noted.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, senior citizens. All tickets must be purchased digitally at ciacsports.com
CLASS LL
NO. 5 SHELTON AT NO. 1 FAIRFIELD PREP
WHERE — Rafferty Stadium, Fairfield University, Fairfield
RECORDS — Shelton 9-2, Fairfield Prep 10-1
ON THE AIR/WEB — WELI 960-AM & 96.9-FM | FAIRFIELD PREP ATHLETIC YOUTUBE | NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/ LAST APPEARANCES — Shelton (13-7): beat Hall 42-28. Fairfield Prep (7-6): beat Greenwich 21-14.
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Shelton: Matt Weiner, Sr., OL/DL; Matt Lockavitch, Sr., LB; Shane Santiago, Sr., RB/DB; Tyler Rich, 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 — Fairfield Prep plays host to SCC rival Shelton in a rematch of a 54-0 blowout victory on Nov. 5. The Jesuits allowed just one first down, 21 total yards and forced two fumbles that led to touchdowns (one directly) in a 23-point first quarter. The victory was Prep’s largest margin of victory since beating East Haven 75-0 in 2003 and, easily, the worst loss by either team in 20 meetings dating back to 1994. ...The Jesuits made five sacks and three fumble recoveries and rallied to beat Greenwich 21-14 in the quarterfinals. They’re playing in their first semifinal since 2018, looking to reach their first state final since 2013 . ... Tyler Rich ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns in Shelton’s victory over Hall, putting the Gaels in their first state semifinal since 2016. They’re looking to reach their first state final since 2015. Shelton has owned the all-time series 16-5.
NO. 3 DARIEN AT NO. 2 NEW CANAAN
WHERE — Dunning Field, New Canaan
RECORDS — Darien 10-1, New Canaan 10-1
ON THE AIR/WEB — DAF MEDIA AND NCTV 78 | NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/ LAST APPEARANCES — Darien (25-11): beat Hamden 46-19. New Canaan (35-10): beat Southington 38-14.
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Darien: David Evanchick, Sr., DE; Miles Drake, Sr., QB; Tighe Cummiskey, Sr., RB; Matt Minicus, Sr., WR; Sean Quick, Sr., LB. New Canaan: Ned Brady, Sr., OL/DL; Vincent Cognetta, Sr., RB/LB; Macklin Seelert, Jr., WR; Henry Cunney, Sr., QB.
WHAT’S WHAT — Just 11 days ago, New Canaan defeated arch-rival Darien on Thanksgiving Day for the fourth-consecutive season. It cost Darien the GameTimeCT No. 1 ranking and, worse, dropped it to the No. 3 seed heading into the playoffs. That meant a rematch was assured if both teams won their quarterfinal games. So here we are, but this is nothing new. The rivals have met in the state playoffs four time, including three times in the state championship game over the last 13 years. This is only the second time they’re meeting in the semifinals, a 1999 Class M meeting won by Darien. New Canaan has won the last three postseason meetings, all for title: The 2008 Class MM championship, the 2013 Class L championship and the 2014 Class L-Large championship. Fun fact: The only time any team swept the Thanksgiving and playoff games was New Canaan in 2008. New Canaan leads the all-time series 54-38-2.
CLASS L
NO. 5 WINDSOR AT NO. 1 ST. JOSEPH
WHERE — Dalling Field, St. Joseph HS, Trumbull, Noon
RECORDS — Windsor (10-1), St. Joseph (10-1)
ON THE AIR/WEB — NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/ LAST APPEARANCES — Windsor (11-10): beat Cheney Tech 62-0. St. Joseph (30-5): beat Hand 21-20 (OT).
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Windsor: Shawn Bell, Sr., RB/DB; Prince Samuels, Sr., DE; Elijah Cromartie, Jr., QB. St. Joseph: Maxwell Warren, Sr., WR/DB; Matt Morrissey, Sr., QB; Mark Morrissey, Sr., LB; Tyler daSilva, Jr., LB; Ethan Long, Soph., DB.
WHAT’S WHAT — It’s a rematch of a 45-22 St. Joseph victory in an Alliance game back on Sept. 24. St. Joseph’s Maxwell Warren caught five passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns while the Hogs’ defense sacked Windsor’s Elijah Cromartie six times and intercepted him twice. It remains Windsor’s only loss of the season . ... St. Joseph comes in having won 10-consecutive playoff games (including three state championships) dating back to 2017. The Hogs’ last loss was against Hillhouse in the 2016 Class M final . ... St. Joseph’s only loss this season was 42-14 to No. 1-ranked Darien. The 22 points allowed to Windsor were the second-most the Hogs have allowed this season . ... Windsor, which torched Cheney Tech in the quarterfinals behind six
Cromartie touchdown passes, are playing in their eighth postseason in 10 seasons and have reached the semifinals in four-consecutive appearances. Windsor hasn’t won a semifinal since 2016.
NO. 7 MASUK AT NO. 3 MALONEY
WHERE — Falcon Field, Meriden
RECORDS — Masuk (9-2), Maloney (10-1)
ON THE AIR/WEB — NFHS Network
PLAYOFF HISTORY/ LAST APPEARANCES — Masuk (16-14): beat Naugatuck 20-17. Maloney (5-6): beat Bristol Central 49-14.
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Masuk: Nick Saccu, Sr., RB/WR/DB; Ryan Saccu, Sr., WR/DB; Dylan Jackson, Jr., QB. Maloney: Angel Arce, Sr., QB; Josh Boganski, Jr., RB; Michael Reddick, Sr., LB/OL; Tylee Flowers, Sr., DB/WR.
WHAT’S WHAT — Maloney is playing in its fourthconsecutive postseason and has reached the semifinals for the third-consecutive season. The Spartans are looking to reach the state final for the second time in three seasons. Maloney has won 10-consecutive games dating back to a 13-7 season-opening loss to Southington. In the quarterfinals, Angel Arce threw four touchdown passes and Maloney picked off Bristol Central’s Victor Rosa three times, bringing its season total to 19, as the Spartans won the fifth playoff game in program history. All five of those wins, however, have come vs. fellow CCC opponents . ... Masuk, out of the SWC, rode Nick Saccu’s 192 yards and two touchdowns to beat No. 2-seeded Naugatuck. This is Masuk’s fifth state semifinal appearance since the expanded playoffs began in 2010 and first since 2017, when the Panthers last reached the state final. Masuk coach Steve Christy is one of three new coaches taking teams into the semifinals.