High School: Tyler Girard-Floyd
Xavier-Middletown’s defense was relentless in topping Notre Dame-West Haven, 22-15, on Friday, forcing four turnovers before a Veteran’s Stadium crowd the New Haven Register estimated at 4,000 fans.
Just how good were the Falcons defensively? They intercepted Notre Dame quarterback Sean Goldrich three times. One of the top signal callers in the state, he had thrown just one all of last season — also against Xavier. Both teams began the season ranked in the top six in ESPNBoston.com's New England Top 10 poll.
In the state’s other marquee game of the first week, Montville followed Tyler Girard-Floyd (121 yards rushing, two touchdowns) to a 21-19 victory over New London on Saturday at the Coast Guard Academy.
Playing without head coach Tanner Grove, who was suspended by the school for the first game after an August DUI charge, the Indians ran downhill against the Whalers, also getting 115 rushing yards from Skyler McNair and a 10-yard scoring run by Bobby Johnson. Entering the season, Girard-Floyd and McNair were touted as perhaps the best backfield duo in Connecticut. Their performance should only further the argument.
Just how good were the Falcons defensively? They intercepted Notre Dame quarterback Sean Goldrich three times. One of the top signal callers in the state, he had thrown just one all of last season — also against Xavier. Both teams began the season ranked in the top six in ESPNBoston.com's New England Top 10 poll.
In the state’s other marquee game of the first week, Montville followed Tyler Girard-Floyd (121 yards rushing, two touchdowns) to a 21-19 victory over New London on Saturday at the Coast Guard Academy.
Playing without head coach Tanner Grove, who was suspended by the school for the first game after an August DUI charge, the Indians ran downhill against the Whalers, also getting 115 rushing yards from Skyler McNair and a 10-yard scoring run by Bobby Johnson. Entering the season, Girard-Floyd and McNair were touted as perhaps the best backfield duo in Connecticut. Their performance should only further the argument.
New England Roundup: Connecticut
August, 18, 2010
8/18/10
6:14
AM ET
By Matthew Stout | ESPNBoston.com
Kevin Callahan is entering his 11th year as head football coach at Ridgefield High School this fall. Since 2001, his Tigers have never endured a losing season. They’ve won nine games four times, and six or more every year but one.
And yet, they’ve been to the CIAC playoffs twice, playing for -- and winning -- their only state championship in 2002.
Callahan thought something was wrong with that.
“It’s nice when kids understand how to win,” he said, “but you have to reward winning.”
Others thought so, too.
In a change met with sweeping applause from the Connecticut high school football community, the CIAC is implementing a new playoff system this fall that features fewer divisions, more teams and a venue that many feel finally fits the bill.
In recent years, the football playoffs featured four teams earning postseason berths in six divisions. This season, there are only four divisions (LL, L, M, S) but with eight teams qualifying in each, the number of playoff competitors jumps from 24 to 32. The hope is to reward the larger schools who play in more difficult divisions. Last season, three 9-1 teams (two in Class LL, one in L) didn’t make the playoffs, and the seasons of four 8-2 teams ended on or around Thanksgiving. In 2008, 14 teams with eight or more wins didn’t qualify.
“All other CIAC sports, you win 40 percent of your games, you’re in the playoffs,” said Berlin coach John Capodice, a member of the CIAC football committee. “I felt the football kids were shortchanged.”
It’s difficult to find any detractors of the decision, aside from those who would have welcomed further expansion to include as many as 48 teams. Some, such as St. Joseph coach Joe Della Vecchia, believe the system will still keep some deserving schools out only because they’re playing tougher schedules.
And yet, they’ve been to the CIAC playoffs twice, playing for -- and winning -- their only state championship in 2002.
Callahan thought something was wrong with that.
“It’s nice when kids understand how to win,” he said, “but you have to reward winning.”
Others thought so, too.
In a change met with sweeping applause from the Connecticut high school football community, the CIAC is implementing a new playoff system this fall that features fewer divisions, more teams and a venue that many feel finally fits the bill.
In recent years, the football playoffs featured four teams earning postseason berths in six divisions. This season, there are only four divisions (LL, L, M, S) but with eight teams qualifying in each, the number of playoff competitors jumps from 24 to 32. The hope is to reward the larger schools who play in more difficult divisions. Last season, three 9-1 teams (two in Class LL, one in L) didn’t make the playoffs, and the seasons of four 8-2 teams ended on or around Thanksgiving. In 2008, 14 teams with eight or more wins didn’t qualify.
“All other CIAC sports, you win 40 percent of your games, you’re in the playoffs,” said Berlin coach John Capodice, a member of the CIAC football committee. “I felt the football kids were shortchanged.”
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Courtesy of Dave ChoateMasuk-Monroe (Conn.) quarterback Casey Cochran is looking for a repeat performance of last year's state-best 2,968 passing yards in 2010.
Courtesy of Dave ChoateMasuk-Monroe (Conn.) quarterback Casey Cochran is looking for a repeat performance of last year's state-best 2,968 passing yards in 2010.
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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.
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