New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Conference play proves just as fun as Alliance play
Compared to the the thrills, chills and frills of the interconference scheduling arrangement known as The Alliance, Week 4 of Connecticut’s high school football season seemed to offer little more than routine as teams resumed their regularly-scheduled conference programming.
If the Alliance delivered on its promise of glitz and glamour of heavyweight showdowns between the state’s top programs, Week 4 appeared to offer little more than routine conference play — precisely the kind of doldrums from which the Alliance offered escape.
There were good games, surely — Berlin-Bloomfield, Staples-Trumbull and Cromwell/Portland-North Branford were obvious headliners. But considering the recent history of most, there wasn’t much cause to be excited for underdogs.
Well, about that. Week 4 proved to be anything but predicable and, in terms of eye-popping results, proved every bit as spectacular as the heralded Alliance slate of Week 3.
All hail good ol’ ordinary league play!
North Haven was 2-1 but hadn’t beaten Shelton since celebrated and recentlyretired baseball coach Bob DeMayo stalked the sidelines as head football coach in 1994. The Gaels, meanwhile, were ranked No. 3.
Final score: North Haven 18, No. 3 Shelton 10, won with typical North Haven aplomb: Long, clock killing touchdown drives and a gang-tackled fourthdown stop with a minute remaining.
Hamden was 3-0 and playing a mildly intriguing game vs. 2-1 Fairfield Prep, an SCC Tier I team which played in last year’s Class LL final and was ranked as high as No. 6 to start the year.
The Green Dragons, meanwhile, were 3-0 and coming off their first playoff appearance since 2008. But their opponents’ combined records coming into Friday night was a tepid 1-8. Worse, Hamden hadn’t beaten Fairfield Prep since Scott Benoit was their head coach in 2009.
Final score: Hamden 42, Fairfield Prep 27, won with some clutch, seasondefining plays like junior Camren Kemp’s 97-yard touchdown run to start the game and senior Anthony Bolden’s game-killing catches to stop any Prep chances for a rally.
As good a program as Waterford has been over the years, it hadn’t beaten New London in 11 tries since 2003.
Final score: Waterford 34, New London 13.
Even when the typical outcome prevailed, how we got there was anything but. To wit:
NVL newcomer Gilbert/ Northwestern/Housatonic was 2-1 heading down to play No. 9-ranked Ansonia at Jarvis Stadium, the place where most great NVL teams typically go to die. Ansonia hadn’t lost to a league opponent other than Naugatuck since 2009.
Final score: Ansonia 30, Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic 20. The Yellowjackets took a rare lead, 20-14, on a 94-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Risedorf to Greyson Ursone in the third quarter — when most opponents are getting PT for their reserves. But Ansonia’s David Cassetti was unstoppable and the Chargers pulled away in the fourth quarter.
New Milford was 2-1, playing host to 1-2 Masuk. But Masuk hadn’t lost to New Milford in 19-consecutive games since 2001 and had lost this matchup by an average score of 50-3 the last five years.
Final score: Masuk 36, New Milford 28. The Green Wave had a 21-20 lead through three before Masuk started to run the rock and made a key defensive stop late. Nevertheless, it was the closest game between the two SWC rivals since 2015.
Danbury was 3-0 for the first time since Glenn Mourning played QB for the Hatters in 2003. But they were facing No. 8ranked and unbeaten St. Joseph, which beat the Hatters 49-0 the previous year and had lost five straight meetings dating back to 2007.
Final score: St. Joseph 24, Danbury 7. The Hatters were within 10-7 late in the third quarter before the Hogs pulled away.
We could go on: Fitch winning a 44-32 Ping Pong match with NFA or Windsor using an accidental fake punt to beat back a challenge from Middletown, 26-14, on Thursday night.
If nothing else, the only thing predictable about the 2022 season so far is, well... just how ridiculously unpredictable it’s been.
FRIDAY-NIGHT NOTABLES
A look back at Friday night in Week 4 of CIAC football around Connecticut:
Jacob Bourgoin, Northwest United: Ran for two touchdowns in a 26-14 win over defending CTC champion Cheney Tech.
Talan Bunsie, Seymour: Caught a touchdown pass and returned a blocked punt 34 yards for a score in a 27-6 win at Oxford.
Lincoln Cardillo, Southington: Ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns for the No. 1 Blue Knights in a 37-9 win over Simsbury.
Dante DiNuzzo, Sheehan: Had touchdown catches of 21 and 47 yards in the Titans’ 47-6 win over Wilbur Cross.
Jeremiah Febus, Crosby: Threw for touchdowns of 70, 31 and 34 yards in a 42-6 win over Torrington.
Darren Gasparri, Woodland: Threw five touchdown passes in the first quarter of a 57-0 victory over Derby.
Riley Jordan, St. Joseph: Scored two rushing touchdowns, his team’s first and last, in a 24-7 win at Danbury.
Camren Kemp, Hamden: Ran for a 97-yard touchdown five minutes into the game, finishing with 193 yards on 29 carries in a 42-27 win over Fairfield
Prep, the Green Dragons’ first since 2009.
Melakai Maddox, Fitch: Ran for 257 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in a 44-32 win over NFA.
Will Migliaccio, Granby/Canton: Quarterback was 22-for-29 for 364 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-0 win over the Windsor Locks Co-op.
Jack Petrone, Glastonbury: Ran for 245 yards in a 34-29 win over Newington, keeping the Guardians unbeaten.
Bryson Razor, Notre Dame-Fairfield: Was 20-for-28 for 319 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-27 loss to Barlow.
Avery Robinson, Platt: Completed 15 of 19 passes for 229 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-7 win at Plainville.
Hunter Telesco, New Canaan: Ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries in a 37-0 win over Bridgeport Central.
Shane Walker, Masuk:
Caught 13 passes for 181 yards in Masuk’s 36-28 win over New Milford.
Jake Wilson, Darien:
Ran 28 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the Blue Wave’s 55-14 victory over Fairfield Warde.
VERSATILITY
Darnell Bronson, New Milford: Was 9-for-13 for 170 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for 153 yards and a score on 17 carries in a 36-28 loss to Masuk.
Daniel Hernandez, SMSA: Ran 38 times for 304 yards and three touchdowns, and he was 6-for-10 passing for 38 yards and a touchdown in a 34-12 win over Ellington.
John Neider, Law: Ran for 175 yards and two touchdowns and threw three touchdown passes in a 45-21 win over Branford.
Cam Righi, Wethersfield: Ran for 177 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries and threw for 61 yards in a 35-8 win over New Britain.
Danny Shaban, Barlow: Ran for touchdowns of 20, 29 and 49 yards and threw for scores of 15 and 41 yards in a 41-27 win over Notre Dame-Fairfield.
Michael Simeone, Cheshire: Ran for a touchdown and threw for his team’s last in a 28-0 victory over Hand.
Emeka Yearwood, Cromwell/Portland: Ran for 81 yards and a touchdown and caught passes for 42 yards, including a touchdown, in a 27-13 win over North Branford.
DEFENSE NEVER RESTS
Tyler Holcomb, E.O. Smith: Credited with a sack among his 16 solo tackles and eight assisted tackles in a 23-21 loss to Rocky Hill.
Nate Palmer, Rockville: Forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had an interception in a 32-0 win over CREC Co-op.
Andrew Sielski, Avon: Had four tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery in a 24-8 win over Bristol Eastern.
BUT WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO
Thomas Dreibholz, Killingly: Threw three touchdown passes and was 7-for-7 on extra points in a 49-6 win over Griswold/ Wheeler.
Yankura Faburay, Waterford: Two tackles for a loss, including a sack, and field goals of 34 and 30 yards in a 34-13 win over New London, the Lancers’ first over the Whalers since 2003.
Joziah Gonzalez, Maloney: Caught two long touchdown passes, returned a punt for a touchdown and had an interception in a 41-14 win over Hall.
Frank Guerrera, Rocky Hill: Ran 19 times for 120 yards and a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and kicked the game-winning 31-yard field goal as Rocky Hill came from behind to beat E.O. Smith 23-21.
Michael Trovarelli, Bunnell: Ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries, was 4-for-5 passing for 48 yards and a touchdown, caught a 27-yard pass and was in on 10 tackles in a 46-0 win over Brookfield.
BABY, COME BACK
David Cassetti, Ansonia: Ran for 226 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 30-20 comefrom-behind win over Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic.
Adam Pandolfi, North Haven: Scored the goahead touchdown and teamed up with Jake McCreven for the gameclinching tackle in an 18-10 win over No. 3 Shelton.
THAT’S A WINNER
Tyler Clark, Staples:
Caught second-half touchdowns for 78 and 70 yards, the second with 1:15 remainig to break a tie, in a 36-29 win at Trumbull.
Josh Grimm, Berlin:
Kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the Redcoats a 37-34 win over Bloomfield.
Tristen Pena, Stratford: Caught Joe Booska’s game-winning 9-yard touchdown pass with 4:25 to go, lifting the Red Devils past Weston 26-24.
HERE YA GO, COACH
Matt LaMontagne, Wolcott: Scored three rushing touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Wilby, the first victory for coach Tony Bell.
NOT-FRIDAY STANDOUTS
Christian Benvenuto, Enfield: Quarterback was 10-for-14 for 243 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-7 win at Bristol Central, ending a 12-game losing streak.
Gavin Mills, Stafford Co-op: Eight catches, 116 yards, two touchdowns, seven tackles, two for a loss including a sack (deep breath), an interception and a forced fumble in a 30-6 win over the Coventry Coop, coach Brian Mazzone’s 50th victory.
Chilli White, Windsor: Ran 21 times for 230 yards – including a 25-yard gain on fourth-and-20 to help seal the game – and three touchdowns in a 26-14 win over Middletown.
Coaches/stat folks, next week send us your Thursday and Friday stars by Saturday morning at info@gametimect.com. Email us your Saturday stars at the same address on Saturday.
LOOKING AHEAD
On to Week 5:
Naugatuck (4-0) at Holy Cross (3-0 pending WCA on Saturday) (Municipal Stadium), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.: All the “why are the Greyhounds behind Ansonia in the poll” folks, meet in the north parking lot; the “don’t sleep on the Crusaders, gang” gang, assemble at Kaynor Tech. Winner buys at Carvel?
Sheehan (2-2) at Hillhouse (0-4), Friday, 6 p.m.: Two respected programs reach the midpoint of their “yikes, really?” schedules.
Capital Prep/Achievement First (3-1) at Ellington (3-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Ellington was 3-0 before Friday’s loss to SMSA. Cap Prep has scored at least 35 points in its three wins, though none in ts loss to Cromwell/ Portland.
Cromwell/Portland (4-0) at Granby/Canton (3-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.:
Two playoff teams last year, two teams near the top of their Pequot divisions.
SMSA (4-0) at North Branford (2-2), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: The Tigerhawks are off to their best start ever, though with that nickname they were already winners. North Branford is in a muck of a bunch of 2-2 teams in Class S.
Glastonbury (4-0) at Hall (0-4), Friday, 7 p.m.:
Hall scored 21 points in each of its first three games... all losses. It dipped to 14 on Friday. Glastonbury allowed 34 points in its first three games, all wins, but allowed nearly that many in Game 4.
East Haven (1-2 pending Bassick on Saturday) at Foran (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: This and SheehanHillhouse are the only two purely SCC games on the schedule this weekend. Foran looks to continue a perfect start after a week off; East Haven could be looking for three in a row.
Bullard/Kolbe (1-2) at ATI (2-1) (Immaculate), Saturday, 1 p.m.: Only three years ago this was a battle for the top of the CTC. There’s still plenty to play for both ways.
Wilton (3-0 pending McMahon on Saturday) at Tolland (2-1 pending East Catholic on Saturday), Saturday, 1 p.m.:
One of two Connecticut High School Football Alliance games this weekend as Wilton, last 4-0 in 2008, could be looking to continue its best start in a long time.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK
All of the FCIAC, SWC, SCC and ECC teams who received votes in the most recent GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll have Week 5 off. (From those four leagues, only six teams are on the schedule.)