11-Game Scholastic Grid Spices Schedule
Attractive non-league games added this season
By Larry Kelley
Special to the Times
An early Labor Day (Sept. 1) and relatively late Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) offer a holiday of sorts for state high school football.
For the first time since 2002, state teams will play an 11-game regular season schedule because the calendar will allow for the extra game. Many Eastern Connecticut Conference teams took advantage of the found real estate to embellish their schedules with attractive non-league matchups.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity to open your season against a quality opponent from another part of the state,” Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore said. “It’s a chance to test yourself against the state’s best and reap the benefits of gaining valuable playoff points.”
Let’s rate the opening matchups with a movie rating of one to four stars (highest).
Four Stars
New London at Daniel Hand, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
New London kicks off the season in a battle of preseason Top 10-ranked teams and 2007 state championship finalists. Hand has won the second most state titles (nine) of any school behind Ansonia’s 16. New London features perhaps the state’s best player in quarterback Jordan Reed, who intends to accept a scholarship to Florida, and at least one other Division I scholarship player in wide receiver Anthony Schiavone, who committed to Temple.
Ledyard at Berlin, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
A rematch of Ledyard’s thrilling 20-13 win in the Class M state championship. What more can you ask? Buonocore deserves credit for taking this game, because Berlin will own major atonement overtones, looking for redemption. The Colonels graduated numerous starters, but Buonocore will have the team fired up in the first year after Bill Mignault.
Masuk at Fitch, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
If there was not enough anticipation for Mike Emery’s return as Fitch coach, a terrific matchup awaits with an expected strong opponent that is part of Emery’s past during Fitch’s glory days in the late 1990s.
Masuk beat Fitch in the 1998 Class L title game, and Fitch returned the favor, knocking off the Monroe school in the 1999 semis en route to Emery’s first of two state titles. Masuk returns top running back Niko Guerrera from a Class L finalist last year. Junior Bobby Johnson, who gained nearly 900 yards last year, heads Fitch’s cast of returnees.
Three Stars
Stonington at Rocky Hill, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
The Bears graduated key starters from fifth-year coach A.J. Massengale’s best team (7-3, ECC Small champs), but running back-linebacker Zach Wheeler will be one of the ECC’s best and will be showcased against a quality opponent. Rocky Hill posted an 8-2 record last year and reached the Class S state playoffs in 2006. Kudos for Stonington stepping out and taking a chance to schedule a tough, non-league team.
Pomperaug at Windham, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
Windham has established itself as one of the ECC’s best since joining the conference this decade. Pomperaug was 8-2 last year. This is another example of a good matchup that never would have happened in a 10-game regular season because of conference scheduling commitments.
Two Stars
Immaculate at St. Bernard, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
The Danbury school boasts a strong athletic program, but not in football recently, 1-9 in 2006 and 2-8 last year. Still, it’s a representative game between inter-state Catholic schools that never meet.
East Lyme at East Haven, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
The East Bowl? Sounds like a good game, but East Haven went 0-10 last year, albeit in the strong Southwest Conference. East Haven also features a synthetic turf field, another home-field advantage.
Waterford at Montville, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
With all the cross-state, intriguing possibilities that could have transpired, Waterford vs. Montville draws a few yawns for an opening game. Nonetheless, this is a backyard brawl that apparently wouldn’t have taken place if not for the 11th game this year. Waterford, an ECC Medium team, and Montville, an ECC Small team, weren’t slated to play.
One Star
Killingly at Bacon, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
Griswold at Woodstock, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
These games are big in “the quiet corner.” Two teams will remain undefeated after week one.
50-Point Check-List
With New London High expected to field another strong team, discussions of the 50-point rule will pop up periodically. Dubbed by some the “Jack Cochran rule,” in honor of NLHS’ coach Jack Cochran’s past penchant for winning by more than 50, any team that wins by 50 or more points will see its coach disqualified from the next game.
Here is what the appeals committee considers if an offending coach pleads his case for reinstatement (courtesy of the CIAC Web site):
1. Was a running block used and when did it start?
2. Did the coach start subbing skill players when it was evident the game was in hand?
3. Did the coach sub “wholesale” early in the game when it was evident the game was in hand?
4. Did the coach modify the game plan on offense and defense?
5. Did the coach control the kicking game? Punt on 4th and short, fair catch returns, no field goals attempts, go for one on a conversion.
6. Did the coach control down and distance situations with conservative play calls?
7. Did the coach keep the play going by having runners stay in bounds, not using timeouts, limiting passing game?
Wow! If the coach could manage his own team this well in addition to dominating his opponent, he could use a week off to rest.