High School: Ryan Murphy
New England Roundup: Connecticut
February, 10, 2012
Feb 10
1:52
PM ET
By Roger Brown | ESPNBoston.com
Paula Hagopian's talent on the soccer field is so obvious she was named Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year even though her Kingswood Oxford team finished with a record below .500 last season.
Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.
Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).
Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.
Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).
New England Roundup: Connecticut
December, 31, 2011
12/31/11
3:45
PM ET
By Roger Brown | ESPNBoston.com
Masuk High School quarterback Casey Cochran made it official Thursday when he signed a national letter of intent to play football at the University of Connecticut.
Cochran, Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011, gave a verbal commitment to Connecticut in August, and said it's a honor to be able to play college football in his home state.
“Not that many college players get to stay at home and play for the state school,” Cochran said. “I believe Coach Pasqualoni (Connecticut coach Paul Pasqualoni) is a very good coach. I really like the coaching staff and everyone on it. I got closer with them during the offseason, so it was a very easy choice once the [scholarship] offer came.”
Cochran completed his high school career as Connecticut's career leader in passing yards, completions and passing touchdowns. He is scheduled to graduate from Masuk in early January and will begin college classes on Jan. 17.
His early enrollment will allow Cochran to participate in spring practice.
Cochran chose Connecticut over several Ivy League schools. His first scholarship offer came from Boston College, but BC pulled that offer last year after it changed offensive coordinators.
Cochran's father Jack has coached high school football at Bloomfield, New Britain and New London. He guided his teams to 14 state championship games and won eight state titles during his 16-year coaching career.
He coached Casey during his freshman season at New London. Casey transferred to Masuk for his final three years of high school.
“UConn became a very good option for him once Pasqualoni took over,” Jack said. “We have a relationship that goes back to his days as the coach at Syracuse. I think Casey felt very comfortable with his decision. Looking forward to watching him play in college.”
STAR POWER
Cochran was one of 26 players named to the 2011 Connecticut High School Coaches' Association All-Star Football Team. Here is the complete team:
OFFENSE
QB — CASEY COCHRAN, Masuk
WR — AARON BERARDINO, Windsor
WR — NICK VITALE, Hand
WR — THOMAS MILONE, Masuk
RB — ARKEEL NEWSOME, Ansonia
RB — MIKE MASTROIANNI, Xavier
RB — ALEX MANWARING, Ledyard
RB — BRENDAN LYTTON, Torrington
RB — KYLE McKINNON, New London
RB — DAVE DiGIORGI, Holy Cross
OL — AUSTIN WEZENSKI, Xavier
OL — DYLAN VANO, Ansonia
OL — RENNICK BRYAN, Hillhouse
DEFENSE
DL — SEAN MARINAN, Xavier
DL — JOE DeMICHELE, Hand
DL — LUDOVIC RICHARDSON, Notre Dame-West Haven
DL — COLE ORMSBY, Windsor
LB – TYLER WOOD, Ansonia
LB — SHANE NASTAHOWSKI, Greenwich
LB — AUSTIN CALITRO, Danbury
LB — KEVIN McDONOUGH, New Canaan
LB — MARK ZURLIS, North Haven
DB — DELSHAWN WILSON, Norwalk
DB — RYAN MURPHY, Xavier
DB — TOMMY UNDERCUFFLER, Berlin
DB — RYAN JACOBUCCI, Xavier
NEW LONDON'S STREAK HALTED
Richard Bronson scored a team-high 21 points to lead the Hillhouse boys basketball team to a 64-61 triumph over New London in the Doc Hurley Classic at Weaver High School.
The loss ended New London's 28-game winning streak. The Whalers were 27-0 last season, when they won the Class L title.
Providence-bound guard Kris Dunn scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss.
New London led 49-45 entering the fourth quarter, but missed seven of its nine free throw attempts in the final eight minutes. The Whalers missed 15 of 36 free throw attempts in the game.
BROOKFIELD COACH STEPS DOWN
Brookfield girls basketball coach Tom Marks handed in his letter of resignation last week, days after the season began. Marks cited personal reasons.
Lisa Schang has been named Brookfield's interim coach. Brookfield is off to a 1-5 start this season.
Marks has also coached the cross country team at New Milford for the last 15 seasons.
Roger Brown has covered high school sports in New England since 1992. He currently covers high school and college football in the Northeast for ESPN/Scouts Inc.
Cochran, Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011, gave a verbal commitment to Connecticut in August, and said it's a honor to be able to play college football in his home state.
“Not that many college players get to stay at home and play for the state school,” Cochran said. “I believe Coach Pasqualoni (Connecticut coach Paul Pasqualoni) is a very good coach. I really like the coaching staff and everyone on it. I got closer with them during the offseason, so it was a very easy choice once the [scholarship] offer came.”
Cochran completed his high school career as Connecticut's career leader in passing yards, completions and passing touchdowns. He is scheduled to graduate from Masuk in early January and will begin college classes on Jan. 17.
His early enrollment will allow Cochran to participate in spring practice.
Cochran chose Connecticut over several Ivy League schools. His first scholarship offer came from Boston College, but BC pulled that offer last year after it changed offensive coordinators.
Cochran's father Jack has coached high school football at Bloomfield, New Britain and New London. He guided his teams to 14 state championship games and won eight state titles during his 16-year coaching career.
He coached Casey during his freshman season at New London. Casey transferred to Masuk for his final three years of high school.
“UConn became a very good option for him once Pasqualoni took over,” Jack said. “We have a relationship that goes back to his days as the coach at Syracuse. I think Casey felt very comfortable with his decision. Looking forward to watching him play in college.”
STAR POWER
Cochran was one of 26 players named to the 2011 Connecticut High School Coaches' Association All-Star Football Team. Here is the complete team:
OFFENSE
QB — CASEY COCHRAN, Masuk
WR — AARON BERARDINO, Windsor
WR — NICK VITALE, Hand
WR — THOMAS MILONE, Masuk
RB — ARKEEL NEWSOME, Ansonia
RB — MIKE MASTROIANNI, Xavier
RB — ALEX MANWARING, Ledyard
RB — BRENDAN LYTTON, Torrington
RB — KYLE McKINNON, New London
RB — DAVE DiGIORGI, Holy Cross
OL — AUSTIN WEZENSKI, Xavier
OL — DYLAN VANO, Ansonia
OL — RENNICK BRYAN, Hillhouse
DEFENSE
DL — SEAN MARINAN, Xavier
DL — JOE DeMICHELE, Hand
DL — LUDOVIC RICHARDSON, Notre Dame-West Haven
DL — COLE ORMSBY, Windsor
LB – TYLER WOOD, Ansonia
LB — SHANE NASTAHOWSKI, Greenwich
LB — AUSTIN CALITRO, Danbury
LB — KEVIN McDONOUGH, New Canaan
LB — MARK ZURLIS, North Haven
DB — DELSHAWN WILSON, Norwalk
DB — RYAN MURPHY, Xavier
DB — TOMMY UNDERCUFFLER, Berlin
DB — RYAN JACOBUCCI, Xavier
NEW LONDON'S STREAK HALTED
Richard Bronson scored a team-high 21 points to lead the Hillhouse boys basketball team to a 64-61 triumph over New London in the Doc Hurley Classic at Weaver High School.
The loss ended New London's 28-game winning streak. The Whalers were 27-0 last season, when they won the Class L title.
Providence-bound guard Kris Dunn scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss.
New London led 49-45 entering the fourth quarter, but missed seven of its nine free throw attempts in the final eight minutes. The Whalers missed 15 of 36 free throw attempts in the game.
BROOKFIELD COACH STEPS DOWN
Brookfield girls basketball coach Tom Marks handed in his letter of resignation last week, days after the season began. Marks cited personal reasons.
Lisa Schang has been named Brookfield's interim coach. Brookfield is off to a 1-5 start this season.
Marks has also coached the cross country team at New Milford for the last 15 seasons.
Roger Brown has covered high school sports in New England since 1992. He currently covers high school and college football in the Northeast for ESPN/Scouts Inc.
Recap: No. 5 B-R 28, No. 6 Xaverian 22 (2 OT)
October, 22, 2011
10/22/11
10:54
PM ET
By Bruce Lerch | ESPNBoston.com
WESTWOOD, Mass. -- After the game that Bridgewater-Raynham's Branden Morin had Saturday afternoon, it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that he drove the Trojans bus home from Westwood, too.
The 5-10, 190-pound senior captain picked off two passes, one which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown, the other basically ensuring his team would get a shot at overtime. He also added 49 yards on seven carries and scored what would end up as the game-winning touchdown as No. 5 B-R survived yet another epic battle against No. 6 Xaverian with a 28-22 victory in double overtime.
This was the third straight meeting between the two powerhouse programs to require more than just 44 minutes to determine a winner. Two years ago, Xaverian won in the triple overtime; last year, B-R took it in the first OT.
Maybe next year they'll shoot for four.
"It's ridiculous," Morin said afterward with a smile. "We're always going to OT with them. It never gets easier."
Defenses controlled the first quarter, and it was Xaverian (4-3) who broke through first when Austin DeCarr connected with Mike Warren (4 receptions, 84 yards) for a 58-yard touchdown strike less than three minutes into the second.
The Trojans (5-1) came storming back, pounding the ball with 6-2, 200-pound wrecking ball Nick Schlatz (33 carries, 158 yards, two TDs) powering his way behind a determined offensive line. Schlatz carried nine times on a 14-play drive and finished it off with a four-yard TD with 2:18 left in the half.
Then Morin came through with the first of several clutch plays, stepping in front of a DeCarr pass and racing 45 yards to the end zone to put B-R ahead, 14-7.
Morin related how he saw the play develop, "The QB was dropping back, I saw him looking at the receiver and I just read it the whole way and took it to the house."
Undeterred, the Hawks put together a terrific drive, showing tremendous balance between the pass and the run on a 17-play possession that ended with a six-yard touchdown run on an option keeper by Chris Calvanese. Jules Murphy's extra point tied the game at 14-14.
Both Kevin Wadsworth and Morin each had crucial, fourth-quarter interceptions with the Hawks broaching B-R territory, while Xaverian's defense held firm as the Trojans gambled a couple of times simply to keep the Hawks explosive offense on the sidelines.
In the first overtime, Calvanese picked up nine yards on first down and Taute Hunter bulled his way in from the 1 for the Hawks. DeCarr hit Warren on the conversion pass and Xaverian held a 22-14 advantage.
B-R needed just one play to respond as Schlatz took a pitch and cut back through the middle for a 10-yard score, and Morin threw an option pass to Joe Noviello to send it to a second OT.
The Trojans went first, and two Schlatz runs set up a three-yard TD by Morin, but Xaverian's Aiden Desrosiers stuffed Schlatz in front of the goal line on a shovel pass for a failed conversion.
Those missed points ended up not not mattering, as Eric Wabrek picked off DeCarr on 3rd-and-goal from the 16 to lock up the win.
BLUE COLLAR WORKERS
Schlatz is the type of back you can picture grabbing his lunch pail and putting on his hard hat before each game. His longest carry went for 27 yards, but it was the steady dose of positive yardage he made that kept the Hawks on the defensive.
Facing Xaverian's big defensive line and linebackers, the Trojans offensive line of Joe MacInnis, Pat Whooley, Eric DeMoura, Brian Pope and Nick Falconeiri, along with tight end Ryan Murphy, showed they are group with heart and toughness in paving the way to a 254-yard ground attack. In addition to Schlatz and Morin, Wabrek also chipped in with 35 tough yards and good blocking.
"We worked all week long and said, we have to come off flat backs, low and hard technique will win the game," B-R coach Dan Buron explained. "They're big but we thought if we stayed lower than them, it would neutralize their size. We went with a little bit of an unbalanced and tried to pick places to run and were able to get some double teams. That number 11 (Maurice Hurst Jr.) in particular is a pretty good player. We tried to run away from him but sometimes that's worse because he's so quick."
ONE MAN DOWN, ANOTHER STEPS UP
Trojans quarterback Brad Deluliis left the game with a bad ankle after being tackled on a running play in the first quarter. What could have become a disastrous situation was tempered by the poise of backup quaterback David Miller, who stepped right in without allowing the offense to miss a beat.
"He threw a couple good passes," praised Buron. "He was a little nervous and the timing was off a little bit but I thought he did a great job leading the offense and he was very poised."
SEARCHING FOR AN IDENTITY
While B-R makes no bones about who it is and what it does, Xaverian appears to be still trying to find ways to fit the right pieces into the right spots, Chris Calvanese among others.
The senior had a terrific all-around performance, seeing time at quarterback, running back, receiver and also on defense. Calvanese completed 5-of-7 passes for 37 yards, caught two more for 43 yards, added 79 yards and a TD on six carries. Defensively, he was in on four tackles and had an interception.
"I think that we're still trying to get ourselves to be more consistent on both sides of the football," said Hawks coach Charlie Stevenson. "Clearly today was not a good game defensively for us against the run. We didn't sustain our offense the way we should have either."
He continued, "I think Chris Cal had a great game on both sides of the ball. In my opinion, he was the best athlete on the field on both sides of the ball. I wish we had more guys to go around him right now. We're looking for them and hopefully we will get more guys to put around him so that we can really highlight his athletic ability as we go down the stretch."
BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM 28, XAVERIAN 22 (2 OT)
BR (5-1) 0 14 0 0 8 6 - 28
Xaverian (4-3) 0 7 7 0 8 0 - 22
X - Mike Warren 58 pass from Austin DeCarr (Jules Murphy kick)
BR - Nick Schlatz 4 run (Kevin Wadsworth kick)
BR - Branden Morin 45 interception return (Wadsworth kick)
X - Chris Calvanese 6 run (Murphy kick)
X - Taute Hunter 1 run (Warren pass from DeCarr)
BR - Schlatz 10 run (Dan Noviello pass from Morin)
BR - Morin 3 run (rush failed)
The 5-10, 190-pound senior captain picked off two passes, one which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown, the other basically ensuring his team would get a shot at overtime. He also added 49 yards on seven carries and scored what would end up as the game-winning touchdown as No. 5 B-R survived yet another epic battle against No. 6 Xaverian with a 28-22 victory in double overtime.
This was the third straight meeting between the two powerhouse programs to require more than just 44 minutes to determine a winner. Two years ago, Xaverian won in the triple overtime; last year, B-R took it in the first OT.
Maybe next year they'll shoot for four.
"It's ridiculous," Morin said afterward with a smile. "We're always going to OT with them. It never gets easier."
Defenses controlled the first quarter, and it was Xaverian (4-3) who broke through first when Austin DeCarr connected with Mike Warren (4 receptions, 84 yards) for a 58-yard touchdown strike less than three minutes into the second.
The Trojans (5-1) came storming back, pounding the ball with 6-2, 200-pound wrecking ball Nick Schlatz (33 carries, 158 yards, two TDs) powering his way behind a determined offensive line. Schlatz carried nine times on a 14-play drive and finished it off with a four-yard TD with 2:18 left in the half.
Then Morin came through with the first of several clutch plays, stepping in front of a DeCarr pass and racing 45 yards to the end zone to put B-R ahead, 14-7.
Morin related how he saw the play develop, "The QB was dropping back, I saw him looking at the receiver and I just read it the whole way and took it to the house."
Undeterred, the Hawks put together a terrific drive, showing tremendous balance between the pass and the run on a 17-play possession that ended with a six-yard touchdown run on an option keeper by Chris Calvanese. Jules Murphy's extra point tied the game at 14-14.
Both Kevin Wadsworth and Morin each had crucial, fourth-quarter interceptions with the Hawks broaching B-R territory, while Xaverian's defense held firm as the Trojans gambled a couple of times simply to keep the Hawks explosive offense on the sidelines.
In the first overtime, Calvanese picked up nine yards on first down and Taute Hunter bulled his way in from the 1 for the Hawks. DeCarr hit Warren on the conversion pass and Xaverian held a 22-14 advantage.
B-R needed just one play to respond as Schlatz took a pitch and cut back through the middle for a 10-yard score, and Morin threw an option pass to Joe Noviello to send it to a second OT.
The Trojans went first, and two Schlatz runs set up a three-yard TD by Morin, but Xaverian's Aiden Desrosiers stuffed Schlatz in front of the goal line on a shovel pass for a failed conversion.
Those missed points ended up not not mattering, as Eric Wabrek picked off DeCarr on 3rd-and-goal from the 16 to lock up the win.
BLUE COLLAR WORKERS
Schlatz is the type of back you can picture grabbing his lunch pail and putting on his hard hat before each game. His longest carry went for 27 yards, but it was the steady dose of positive yardage he made that kept the Hawks on the defensive.
Facing Xaverian's big defensive line and linebackers, the Trojans offensive line of Joe MacInnis, Pat Whooley, Eric DeMoura, Brian Pope and Nick Falconeiri, along with tight end Ryan Murphy, showed they are group with heart and toughness in paving the way to a 254-yard ground attack. In addition to Schlatz and Morin, Wabrek also chipped in with 35 tough yards and good blocking.
"We worked all week long and said, we have to come off flat backs, low and hard technique will win the game," B-R coach Dan Buron explained. "They're big but we thought if we stayed lower than them, it would neutralize their size. We went with a little bit of an unbalanced and tried to pick places to run and were able to get some double teams. That number 11 (Maurice Hurst Jr.) in particular is a pretty good player. We tried to run away from him but sometimes that's worse because he's so quick."
ONE MAN DOWN, ANOTHER STEPS UP
Trojans quarterback Brad Deluliis left the game with a bad ankle after being tackled on a running play in the first quarter. What could have become a disastrous situation was tempered by the poise of backup quaterback David Miller, who stepped right in without allowing the offense to miss a beat.
"He threw a couple good passes," praised Buron. "He was a little nervous and the timing was off a little bit but I thought he did a great job leading the offense and he was very poised."
SEARCHING FOR AN IDENTITY
While B-R makes no bones about who it is and what it does, Xaverian appears to be still trying to find ways to fit the right pieces into the right spots, Chris Calvanese among others.
The senior had a terrific all-around performance, seeing time at quarterback, running back, receiver and also on defense. Calvanese completed 5-of-7 passes for 37 yards, caught two more for 43 yards, added 79 yards and a TD on six carries. Defensively, he was in on four tackles and had an interception.
"I think that we're still trying to get ourselves to be more consistent on both sides of the football," said Hawks coach Charlie Stevenson. "Clearly today was not a good game defensively for us against the run. We didn't sustain our offense the way we should have either."
He continued, "I think Chris Cal had a great game on both sides of the ball. In my opinion, he was the best athlete on the field on both sides of the ball. I wish we had more guys to go around him right now. We're looking for them and hopefully we will get more guys to put around him so that we can really highlight his athletic ability as we go down the stretch."
BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM 28, XAVERIAN 22 (2 OT)
BR (5-1) 0 14 0 0 8 6 - 28
Xaverian (4-3) 0 7 7 0 8 0 - 22
X - Mike Warren 58 pass from Austin DeCarr (Jules Murphy kick)
BR - Nick Schlatz 4 run (Kevin Wadsworth kick)
BR - Branden Morin 45 interception return (Wadsworth kick)
X - Chris Calvanese 6 run (Murphy kick)
X - Taute Hunter 1 run (Warren pass from DeCarr)
BR - Schlatz 10 run (Dan Noviello pass from Morin)
BR - Morin 3 run (rush failed)
New England Roundup: Connecticut
September, 14, 2011
9/14/11
2:30
PM ET
By Roger Brown | ESPNBoston.com
Xavier High School proved to be the wrecking ball in Connecticut high school football last season, when the Falcons went 13-0 en route to the Class LL championship.
Xavier may have an even better team this season.
The Connecticut Sportswriters Alliance picked the Falcons as the state's No. 1 team in its preseason poll. Xavier edged Masuk by one point.
“You have to worry about complacency,” Xavier coach Sean Marinan said. “We haven't played a game yet. Pretty much everything they say at this point in the season is based on last year.”
It's based on returning talent as well, and the Falcons have plenty of it. On offense Xavier has two Division I quarterbacks in junior Tim Boyle and senior Pat D'Amato. Boyle has scholarship offers from Boston College and Syracuse, and D'Amato recently committed to Stony Brook.
The QBs split time last season. D'Amato will play wide receiver when Boyle is the team's quarterback.
“Tim's got a very strong arm and he's 6-4,” Marinan said. “He chose not to do too much this summer. If he had I'm sure he'd have more offers. He's what everybody's looking for in a quarterback.
“Pat's a faster kid, and a little more elusive. Basically we have two No. 1 quarterbacks.”
The offense also returns senior running back Mike Mastroianni, who rushed for 1,889 yards last season. In addition, wide receiver Ryan Murphy is drawing interest from several FBS schools.
The defense must replace linebacker Graham Stewart, who was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year and is now playing for the University of Florida, but returns seven starters. Linebacker Jovan Santos is among the returnees. Santos has committed to the University of Massachusetts.
The Falcons also have three linemen – Ryan Jacobucci, Austin Wezenski and Sean Marinan Jr. (coach's son) – who are being recruited by FBS programs.
“I think our defense will be strong again,” Marinan said. “I don't know if it will be as strong as it was the year before. Replacing Graham Stewart is virtually impossible. We do have some holes to fill and he's obviously one of them.”
Xavier, which beat Trumbull to win last year's LL title, will open its season Friday against Notre Dame-West Haven.
Xavier may have an even better team this season.
The Connecticut Sportswriters Alliance picked the Falcons as the state's No. 1 team in its preseason poll. Xavier edged Masuk by one point.
“You have to worry about complacency,” Xavier coach Sean Marinan said. “We haven't played a game yet. Pretty much everything they say at this point in the season is based on last year.”
It's based on returning talent as well, and the Falcons have plenty of it. On offense Xavier has two Division I quarterbacks in junior Tim Boyle and senior Pat D'Amato. Boyle has scholarship offers from Boston College and Syracuse, and D'Amato recently committed to Stony Brook.
The QBs split time last season. D'Amato will play wide receiver when Boyle is the team's quarterback.
“Tim's got a very strong arm and he's 6-4,” Marinan said. “He chose not to do too much this summer. If he had I'm sure he'd have more offers. He's what everybody's looking for in a quarterback.
“Pat's a faster kid, and a little more elusive. Basically we have two No. 1 quarterbacks.”
The offense also returns senior running back Mike Mastroianni, who rushed for 1,889 yards last season. In addition, wide receiver Ryan Murphy is drawing interest from several FBS schools.
The defense must replace linebacker Graham Stewart, who was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year and is now playing for the University of Florida, but returns seven starters. Linebacker Jovan Santos is among the returnees. Santos has committed to the University of Massachusetts.
The Falcons also have three linemen – Ryan Jacobucci, Austin Wezenski and Sean Marinan Jr. (coach's son) – who are being recruited by FBS programs.
“I think our defense will be strong again,” Marinan said. “I don't know if it will be as strong as it was the year before. Replacing Graham Stewart is virtually impossible. We do have some holes to fill and he's obviously one of them.”
Xavier, which beat Trumbull to win last year's LL title, will open its season Friday against Notre Dame-West Haven.
Connecticut football Week 4 roundup
October, 11, 2010
10/11/10
10:06
AM ET
By Matt Stout | ESPNBoston.com
Connecticut’s best high school football teams cruised in Week 4, with the top four teams in the New Haven Register top 10 poll outscoring their opponents, 162-27, over the weekend.
Some of their counterparts could have used the extra points.
Five of the state’s ranked teams fell over the weekend, likely making for a revamped look of the polls when they are released Monday.
Notre Dame-West Haven (28-27 to West Haven), Cheshire (14-13 to Hand-Madison) and Windsor (20-17) — three teams ranked in at least one statewide poll since the start of the season — are in danger of falling out, with Notre Dame and Cheshire each suffering their second loss.
The Green Knights — ranked No. 6 in the state and seventh in the ESPNBoston.com New England top 10 — have to endure losing city bragging rights to the Westies (4-0). Notre Dame hosts Hand this weekend, just another possible knockout blow in the uber-competitive Southern Connecticut Conference.
Cheshire, meanwhile, has a matchup with Wilbur Cross — ranked No. 10 but likely not after a 21-12 loss to Ridgefield — awaiting it on Friday.
Windsor threw three interceptions in a 20-17 CCC loss to Glastonbury, and No. 5 Bridgeport Central fell, 34-12, to Trumbull.
In other games:
Some of their counterparts could have used the extra points.
Five of the state’s ranked teams fell over the weekend, likely making for a revamped look of the polls when they are released Monday.
Notre Dame-West Haven (28-27 to West Haven), Cheshire (14-13 to Hand-Madison) and Windsor (20-17) — three teams ranked in at least one statewide poll since the start of the season — are in danger of falling out, with Notre Dame and Cheshire each suffering their second loss.
The Green Knights — ranked No. 6 in the state and seventh in the ESPNBoston.com New England top 10 — have to endure losing city bragging rights to the Westies (4-0). Notre Dame hosts Hand this weekend, just another possible knockout blow in the uber-competitive Southern Connecticut Conference.
Cheshire, meanwhile, has a matchup with Wilbur Cross — ranked No. 10 but likely not after a 21-12 loss to Ridgefield — awaiting it on Friday.
Windsor threw three interceptions in a 20-17 CCC loss to Glastonbury, and No. 5 Bridgeport Central fell, 34-12, to Trumbull.
In other games:
- Pat D’Amato got the passing games going for top-ranked Xavier — ranked No. 3 in the ESPNBoston.com New England poll — tossing two touchdown passes to Ryan Murphy in a 41-7 victory over Amity on Friday.
- Masuk-Monroe’s offense continued rolling in a 49-7 rout of Brookfield on Friday, with Casey Cochran throwing four touchdown passes. But its defense is starting to get noticed, too. The Panthers (4-0 and No. 7 in the ESPNBoston.com New England rankings) have outscored opponents, 187-14, and haven’t allowed more than a single score in any game.
“In all honesty, I’ve seen a lot of good defenses and I’ve had a lot of good defenses,” Brookfield coach Rich Angarano told the Connecticut Post. “That Masuk defense is one of the best defenses I’ve ever seen around here.” - Joe Della Vecchia ignited the St. Joseph offense and the once-ranked team finally got another win in a 55-50 shootout victory over Trinity Catholic. Della Vecchia had a hand in six touchdowns, throwing four and running two in, to stop a two-game slide.
- And he wasn’t the only one. Ansonia’s (4-0) Arkeel Newsome scored six times on his own and rushed for 268 yards in a 46-6 blowout of Wilby.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Scott Barboza
Scott Barboza joined ESPNBoston.com as a high schools editor/reporter in May 2010. He spent the previous three seasons working in the New England Patriots media relations department after a stint at the Taunton Daily Gazette, where he covered everything from Little League baseball to the Boston Red Sox. The Fall River native is a graduate of Emerson College. He can be reached at sbarboza@espnboston.com.
Brendan Hall
Brendan Hall joined ESPNBoston.com as a high schools reporter/editor in May 2010, after four years covering high schools for The Boston Globe. The Westminster, Mass. native also served on the Globe's Bruins beat last season. Hall is a graduate of UMass Amherst. He can be reached at bhall@espnboston.com.
TWITTER: ESPN BOSTON HIGH SCHOOLS
