The second week of the state high school football season featured a momentous upset as Seymour stunned the state by beating Ansonia, then ranked 10th in The Hartford Courant state football coaches’ poll, 21-14 Thursday.
It was the first time the Wildcats beat the defending CIAC Class S champions since Oct. 16, 2004. They also knocked the Chargers out of the Top 10.
As for this week, wow. It’s absolutely loaded. A good portion of the schedule are interleague games scheduled by the Connecticut High School Football Alliance, and there’s so many doozies.
Start with No. 4 Hand at No. 8 Brookfield.
Then unbeaten Bunnell, a 2024 Class MM semifinalist, at three-time defending CIAC Class L champion New Canaan. No. 3 Killingly, the defending Class SS champ, at Law, a Class SS contender and No. 4 Darien at defending MM champ Masuk.
How about unbeaten West Haven at No. 6 Staples. Newtown, the perennial powerhouse from the South-West Conference, travels to No. 9 Windsor, and 2-0 New Britain plays at No. 10 Fairfield Prep.
There are other intriguing games this week, so get out and go.
The Hartford Courant’s 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, 2-0, 380 (10), No. 1, Class L
Know this: Junior Maddox Hoffman, a first-year starter, completed 10-of-15 passes for 169 yards and four touchdowns in the Rams’ 47-0 romp over Ridgefield. Next: vs. Bunnell (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
2. Greenwich, 2-0, 364 (3), No. 2, Class LL
Know this: Cardinals’ head coach Anthony Morello wasn’t pleased with his team’s play in Saturday’s 27-18 win over Norwalk, but it’s obviously better than a loss. Senior Hector Lopez ran 23 times for 234 yards and a score for the defending CIAC Class LL champs. Next: at Notre Dame-West Haven (0-2), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Killingly, 2-0, 308, No. 3, Class SS
Know this: The defending CIAC Class SS champs mowed down East Lyme, 42-0, Friday. That’s going to happen in a lot in games involving Killingly and its fellow Eastern Connecticut Conference members. Often. Next: at Law (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
4. Hand, 2-0, 298, No. 4, Class SS
Know this: Senior Conor Casagrande had 11 tackles, and scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, as the Tigers pulled away from North Haven in the second half of a 24-10 win. Next: at No. 8 Brookfield (2-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
5. Darien, 2-0, 257, No. 5, Class L
Know this: The Blue Wave thumped McMahon Friday, 44-0, their second straight shutout. Next: at Masuk (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
6. Staples, 2-0, 232, No. 6, Class LL
Know this: The Wreckers bowled through Stamford, 49-6, with senior Justin Halky catching four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown as well as scoring on a 40-yard interception return. Next: vs. West Haven (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
7. St. Joseph, 1-1, 217, No. 7, Class M
Know this: The Cadets trounced Danbury, 41-0, the 400th win in the program’s long, successful history. They’ve won 16 CIAC state titles, second to only Ansonia (22). Next: at Southington (1-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
8. Brookfield, 2-0, 193, No. 9, Class M
Know this: Senior Tyler Buttendorf had 11 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns as the Bobcats ran down Pomperaug, 40-7. Next: vs. No. 4 Hand, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
9. Windsor, 2-0, 185, No. 8, Class MM
Know this: The Warriors pulled away from South Windsor in the fourth quarter of last week’s 41-26 win.
Next: vs. Newtown (1-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
10. Fairfield Prep, 1-1, 133, NR, Class LL
Know this: The Jesuits move into the Top 10 after blanking Sheehan, 45-0. They lost their season opener to Greenwich (31-14), but the latter is gonna’ beat a whole lot of teams before the year is through.
Next: vs. New Britain (2-0), Friday, 6 p.m.
Dropped out: Ansonia (10).
Also receiving votes: Newtown (1-1), 98; West Haven (2-0), 96; Bunnell (2-0), 95; Berlin (2-0), 77; Woodland (2-0), 71; Maloney (2-0), 69; Fairfield Ludlowe (2-0), 48; Tie, Cheshire (2-0) and Wilton (2-0), 46; Seymour (2-0), 28; Glastonbury (1-1), 17; North Haven (1-1), 16; Masuk (1-1), 15; New Britain (2-0), 12; Tie, Amity (1-1) and Southington (1-1), 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.
