Ned Griffen: The Lonesome Polecat: BRACKETOLOGY~!
Nov. 9—Howdy,
This was a bad idea.
We got it stuck in our fool head late last week that we should forgo the usual Polecat hi-jinks from here-on-out and instead dive headfirst into looking at the six CIAC playoff races and conducting BRACKETOLOGY~!
We took a dive alright. Into a world of pain.
Going through the playoff points was certainly challenging in the past but nonetheless doable even if one bombed out on the math portion of the SAT (and we did).
That all changed last year after the CIAC adopted "schedule strength" points. It gives a team an extra five points per win by an opponent, even if it lost to said foe.
We're all for teams being rewarded for playing a tougher schedule. The downside is that it makes mathing so much harder because it's added an almost infinite number of possibilities and permutations.
The process is even more time-consuming this season because two more divisions have been added. The Connecticut High School Coaches Association had pushed for expansion, the CIAC's Board of Control okayed it last November, so now there's six eight-team divisions.
You think figuring out tax codes is difficult? HAH. We laugh in your general direction.
After the better part of two days (what are we doing with our life?), and several instances where we nearly gave up for fear that the combination of frustration and stress would lead to a medical episode, we pushed through and ran the numbers all for YOU.
A couple of things first:
1. We attempted to figure out who unofficially qualified in each division. Don't take it as gospel.
There's a chance we could be wrong about one of them but those teams are so far ahead of the rest of the field that they'll inevitably qualify as long as they don't disband.
Moreover, NO ONE officially qualifies until the CIAC football committee says so. They'll rubber stamp everything the day after the end of the regular season, whenever that is.
2. We had to predict the winners of 146 games to do this. That's obviously the crappiest of crap-shoots.
We used Ned Freeman's computer model at CalPreps' to help with some of the more difficult games to pick. The model has an 80.9% accuracy rate this year and has an uncanny way at times of recognizing quality teams and ranking them higher before voters do in both The Day coaches' or GameTimeCT media polls.
An 80.9% rate is very good and would make one lots of $$$$ in Vegas. .... but it's one of CalPreps' lowest success rates among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It's yet another example of how unpredictable this season has been.
We also went with our gut (and The Voices) when picking winners in some of those tougher games.
3. We're going to be wrong about some of these predictions.
Like, really, really wrong. That's because things get exponentially more bonkers the closer we get to Thanksgiving week. Then things really sail off a cliff.
Factor in, too, that it's been a very confusing season because there's no dominant team(s) as there have been in past years.
One wise, state championship-winning coach recently opined that the state's 18th best team could beat the No. 1 team on the right day this year. Who are we to argue.
And, hey, surprises are FUN (usually).
4. Just because we didn't pick your team to qualify doesn't mean we hate you.
Hell, we don't even know you, man.
5. This is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. Please, no wagering.
6. A team receives 10 bonus points for any win by a team it beat. That, and the schedule strength points, means that programs that play winning teams gain more playoff points than programs that don't.
7. Double-check the Week 10 schedule HERE at the CIAC's website should you be interested in going to any of Friday's scheduled games. There are (alleged) heavy rains forecast for that day and games are rapidly being moved to either Thursday or Saturday.
(We wrote "alleged" in regards to the rain because never trust a forecast more than 24 hours before the next day.)
The state quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 29) and semifinals (Sunday, Dec. 4) are hosted by the higher seeds. The finals are on Saturday, Dec. 10 at both Arute Field at Central Connecticut State and Rentschler Field. Both will host three games at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
HEY, HO — LET'S GO!
CLASS LL
UM-MMMM. .... WE THINK THEY'VE (UNOFFICIALLY) QUALIFIED
No. 1 Greenwich (7-1)
Games left: at Stamford (3-5), Saturday; at Staples (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
The Cardinals have a loss but are still ahead of unbeaten West Haven and Hamden because of their schedule. They've beaten four winning teams, two that are 4-4 and still have the WRECKERS on Thanksgrabbing.
No. 2 West Haven (8-0)
Games left: vs. Hamden (8-0), Saturday; at Fairfield Prep (5-3), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
This is one of the state's most hellacious closing schedules.
No. 3 Southington (7-1)
Games left: vs. Conard (3-5), Thursday; at Cheshire (5-3), Thanksgrabbing.
We have nothing to add other than we wouldn't want to be Conard this week.
No. 4 Hamden (8-0)
Games left: at West Haven (8-0), Saturday; vs. Notre Dame-West Haven (5-3), Thanksgrabbing.
What we wrote about West Haven applies here. Notre Dame is the only team to beat North Haven (14-7), ranked eighth in The Day poll, too.
SAFE BET
No. 5 Staples (7-1)
Games left: at Ridgefield (4-4), Saturday; vs. Greenwich (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
We labeled the WRECKERS a safe bet because Ridgefield quarterback Justin Keller suffered a season-ending injury last week. That stinks.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 6 Trumbull (6-2)
Games left: at Danbury (4-4), Friday; at St. Joseph (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
We're wavering on our pick for the St. Joseph game.
No. 7 Fairfield Prep (5-3)
Games left: vs. North Haven (7-1), Thursday; vs. West Haven (8-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
What we wrote about both West Haven and Hamden REALLY applies to the Jesuits. And they've already played (arguably) the state's most vicious schedule, too. Their losses were to Belen Jesuit of Miami (15-14), New Canaan (14-7) and Hamden (42-27). The latter is ranked seventh in The Day coaches' poll and the former is sixth. The Jesuits also held New Canaan to under 100 yards and still somehow lost because football, like life, is weird. The Jesuits, then, may be able to absorb one more loss because its accumulated so many bonuses with more on the way.
No. 8 Glastonbury (6-2)
Games left: at Maloney (8-0), Thursday; at Simsbury (3-5), Nov. 19.
Don't like its odds at Maloney. It should be safe with three losses, though.
SEND HELP
No. 9 Ridgefield (4-4)
Games left: vs. Staples (7-1), Saturday; vs. Danbury (4-4), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The loss of Keller is obviously devastating.
No. 10 Danbury (4-4)
Games left: vs. Trumbull (6-2), Friday; at Ridgefield (4-4), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Plays Trumbull. Next
No. 11 New Britain (4-4)
Games left: at Bristol Central (1-7), Thursday; vs. Hartford Public (4-3), Nov. 18.
Its new season-ending rivalry game with Public will affect this division and Class M.
No. 12 Crosby (4-4)
Games left: vs. Oxford (4-4), Saturday; at Kennedy (2-6), Thanksgrabbing.
It's got a shot if it gets past Oxford because it'll be favored vs. Kennedy.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Greenwich (9-1) vs. No. 8 Glastonbury (7-3); No. 2 West Haven (10-0) vs. No. 7 Trumbull (8-2); No. 3 Southington (9-1) vs. No. 6 Fairfield Prep (7-3); No. 4 Hamden (9-1) vs. No. 5 Staples (8-2).
CLASS L
SAFE BETS
No. 1 St. Joseph (7-1)
Games left: at Westhill (2-6), Saturday; vs. Trumbull (6-2), Thanksgrabbing.
It's remarkable the Cadets are ranked first, never mind being in playoff contention, given how they were ravaged by graduation and lower numbers.
No. 2 Maloney (8-0)
Games left: vs. Glastonbury (6-2), Thursday; at Platt (6-2), Thanksgrabbing.
The Spartans get to enjoy a new life as the hunted as both the defending champion and the numero uno team in both polls.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 3 Naugatuck (7-1)
Games left: at Woodland (7-1), Saturday; vs. Ansonia (8-0), Thanksgrabbing.
NOT an easy schedule. One win will clinch a berth, though.
No. 4 Newtown (7-1)
Games left: vs. New Fairfield (7-1), Friday; at Masuk (6-2), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
As always, that Thanksgrabbing Eve game against Masuk will be must-see.
No. 5 New Canaan (7-1)
Games left: at Fairfield Warde (5-3), Saturday; at Darien (5-3), Thanksgrabbing.
The Rams have beaten Darien four years in a row in what's been the best Thanksgrabbing Day rivalry for several seasons.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 6 Shelton (5-3)
Games left: at Notre Dame-West Haven (5-3), Saturday; vs. Xavier (3-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
It's going to take a while to adjust to the Gaels playing Xavier on Thanksgrabbing Eve instead of Derby on Thanksgrabbing Day.
The Housatonic River rivals had the state's fourth longest series at 110 games with the first being played in 1905, and then off-and-on until 1923 when it became a thing.
The Ansonia-Derby rivalry has always gotten more attention, but there are those who'd tell you that Derby-Shelton was fiercer.
Derby fell on hard times a while back, however. And while enrollment doesn't equal success, Derby has the CIAC's lowest boys' enrollment among non-co-op programs (187), whereas Shelton, a large school, has 666.
Derby hasn't beaten the Gaels since 2002 with the latter bludgeoning it almost every time since then. It forfeited its final five games last season, including the one vs. Shelton, due to injuries and low numbers with the decision made later to indefinitely suspend the series.
There are far, far worse things in life than the end of a longstanding high school football rivalry, but it's nonetheless sad to see this one go.
No. 7 Cheshire (5-3)
Games left: at Xavier (5-3), Saturday; vs. Southington (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
The Rams have lost three of their last four after getting to the rough part of an always demanding SCC Tier 1 schedule. And they still have to play Southington. Neat.
No. 8 Darien (5-3)
Games left: at McMahon (3-5), Thursday; vs. New Canaan (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
Last season's LL champs have quietly bounced back from a 1-2 start and put themselves in position for yet another trip to states.
SEND HELP
No. 9 Middletown (6-2)
Games left: vs. Wethersfield (7-1), Friday; at Berlin (8-0), Nov. 18.
At least the Blue Dragons get to play one of those games at home.
No. 10 New Milford (5-3)
Games left: Barlow (7-1), Friday; vs. New Fairfield (7-1), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
The Green Wave should've gotten folks attention after knocking off Bunnell last Friday, 28-21. It's going to get tougher for them going forward, though. We could see a situation in which New Milford and Cheshire both finish 6-4 and tie in playoff points with tiebreakers deciding the eight seed.
No. 11 Fairfield Warde (5-3)
Games left: vs. New Canaan (7-1), Saturday; at Fairfield Ludlowe (3-5), Thanksgrabbing.
Warde lost to both McMahon and Wilton this season. New Canaan beat them by a combined score of 82-14.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 St. Joseph (9-1) vs. No. 8 Cheshire (6-4); No. 2 Maloney (10-0) vs. No. 7 Darien (7-3 — THE REMATCHENING~!); No. 3 Naugatuck (9-1) vs. No. 6 Shelton (7-3 — HOT Naugatuck Valley-on-Naugatuck Valley action); No. 4 Newtown (9-1) vs. No. 5 New Canaan (8-2).
CLASS MM
SAFE BET
No. 1 Sports & Medical Sciences co-op (8-0)
Games left: at Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton (1-7), Saturday; vs. Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby (2-5), Nov. 18.
That's a nice way to ease into states.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 2 Northwest United (7-0)
Games left: at Prince Tech (1-6), Saturday; vs. Platt Tech (3-4), Nov. 18; vs. Abbott Tech/Immaculate (6-1), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The Workhorses have been one of the best stories in #cthsfb this season.
No. 3 North Haven (7-1)
Games left: at Fairfield Prep (4-3), Thursday; at Amity (3-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
It could survive a loss but winning out is certainly more preferable.
No. 4 Killingly (7-1)
Games left: vs. Stonington (2-6), Thursday; vs. Woodstock Academy (4-4) at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass., Thanksgrabbing.
Yes, it's still-new rivalry game against Woodstock is being held over the border.
No. 5 Thames River (7-0)
Games left: at Platt Tech (3-4), Saturday; vs. O'Brien Tech (1-6), Nov. 18; vs. Quinebaug Valley (5-2), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The good news for the Crusaders is that everyone left on their schedule has lost at least one game by 28-or-more points.
The bad news is that their schedule has been so poor and prevented them from earning more playoff points. It's conceivable they could finish 10-0 and still be seeded lower than four.
No. 6 Wethersfield (7-1)
Games left: at Middletown (6-2), Friday; vs. Newington (2-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The Eagles have flown under the radar (no pun intended) as much as any other one-loss team in the state.
SEND HELP
No. 7 Platt (6-2)
Games left: at Bloomfield (6-2), Thursday; vs. Maloney (8-0), Thanksgrabbing.
That, that's not a friendly finish to the season.
No. 8 Masuk (6-2)
Games left: at Brookfield (1-7), Thursday; vs. Newtown (7-1), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
That Newtown game is going to be the of the biggest for this division race. The Panthers would earn so many points for a win that it would catapult it into states. A loss opens the door for the E.O. Smith, Windsor and Wilton.
No. 9 E.O. Smith (6-2)
Games left: vs. East Catholic (5-3), Friday; vs. Tolland (3-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
It can't afford a slip up because its already so far behind in points.
No. 10 Windsor (5-3)
Games left: vs. South Windsor (1-7), Thursday; at Bloomfield (6-2), Nov. 19.
The Warriors must win out — and none of the other contenders should want that. We can't emphasize enough how important that Bloomfield game is for the Warriors (and the entire division) because a win by Windsor should be enough to get it to states.
No. 11 Wilton (6-3)
Games left: at Norwalk (1-8), Thursday.
What an odd schedule, ending one's season 14 days before Thanksgrabbing.
No. 12 Guilford (5-3)
Games left: at East Haven (2-6), Nov. 17; vs. Hand (2-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Yes, it finishes with two losing teams. Hand has played a much, much more difficult schedule, however. And while the past doesn't always inform the present (most especially in sports), the Grizzlies have lost 14 in a row to Hand. Their last win over was in 2006 (27-16) with the Tigers holding an absurd 42-5-1 lead in the series.
NOT GOOD
No. 13 Cheney Tech (5-3)
Games left: at Abbott Tech/Immaculate (6-2), Saturday; at Bullard-Havens/Kolbe Cathedral (3-4).
ATI hasn't gotten the same amount of attention as Thames River, their Connecticut Technical Conference league mate. That written, after losing their season-opener 27-7 to Brookfield, the UNITED have bludgeoned six CTC schools in succession by a combined score of 255-20. So, yeah, we're not optimistic about the Beavers' chances.
No. 14 Fitch (4-4)
Games left: at East Lyme (4-4), Friday; vs. Ledyard (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
Their 38-22 loss at Woodstock Academy last Saturday may cost the Falcons the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I title, never mind narrowing their playoff odds.
No. 15 Bunnell (4-4)
Games left: vs. Pomperaug (2-6), Saturday; at Stratford (2-6), Thanksgrabbing.
A 6-4 finish may not be enough for the Bulldogs.
No. 16 Wilcox Tech/Kaynor Tech (4-4)
Games left: vs. Abbott Tech/Immaculate (6-1), Nov. 18; vs. VG Techs (0-7), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
What did we just write about ATI?
No. 17 Quinebaug Valley (5-3)
Games left: at Bullard-Havens/Kolbe Cathedral (3-4), Saturday; at Thames River (7-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The Pride been routed in their last two games by Cheney (34-7, Oct. 27) and Northwest United (54-8, Nov. 4). That's a bad omen for their game against Thames, which lost a chance at their first playoff berth last season after Quinebaug pounded them on Thanksgrabbing Eve, 57-13.
No. 18 Platt Tech (3-4)
Games left: vs. Thames River (7-0), Saturday; at Northwest United (7-1), Nov. 18; at O'Brien Tech (1-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Back-to-back games vs. Thames and Northwest. That ain't good for the Panthers.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 SMSA (10-0) vs. No. 8 E.O. Smith (8-2); No. 2 Killingly (9-1) vs. No. 7 Windsor (7-3); No. 3 Wethersfield (9-1) vs. No. 6 North Haven (8-2); No. 4 Northwest United (9-1) vs. No. 5 Thames River (10-0).
CLASS M
(Prepare yourselves)
UM-MMMM. .... WE THINK THEY QUALIFIED
No. 1 Berlin (8-0)
Games left: at Plainville (0-8), Thursday, vs. Middletown (6-2), Nov. 18.
The Redcoats are YOUR only unbeaten team in the division.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 2 Law (7-1)
Games left: at East Haven (2-6), Thursday; vs. Foran (8-0), Thanksgrabbing.
The Battle of Milford against Foran is shaping up to be the biggest one in a long, long while.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 3 Notre Dame-West Haven (5-3)
Games left: vs. Shelton (5-3), Saturday; at Hamden (8-0), Thanksgrabbing.
Yep, the Green Knights are currently ranked ahead of the next two contenders despite three losses because it's played a ridiculous schedule.
The upside for ND is that playing so many winning teams (and the division having so many three-and-four loss teams) could get it into states even if it finished 5-5. And more than one coach has told us that if the Green Knights qualify, then it's game over for the rest of the division.
No. 4 Rockville (5-2)
Games left: at Cromwell/Portland (8-0), Thursday; vs. Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (3-5), Nov. 18; at Ellington (5-3), Thanksgrabbing.
Last season's Class M runner-up has a difficult road ahead.
No. 5 Abbott Tech/Immaculate (6-1)
Games left: vs. Cheney Tech (5-2), Saturday; at Wilcox Tech/Kaynor Tech (4-3); at Northwest United (7-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The UNITED haven't qualified yet but pencil them in anyways.
No. 6 RHAM (5-3)
Games left: at Avon (4-4), Friday; vs. Bacon Academy (1-7), Thanksgrabbing.
The Avon game is a Class MM eliminator.
No. 7 Hartford Public (4-3)
Games left: at New Britain (4-4), Nov. 18; vs. Weaver (2-6), Thanksgrabbing.
The Owls must beat New Britain.
SEND HELP
No. 8 Woodstock Academy (4-3)
Games left: at Norwich Free Academy (2-6), Friday; at Enfield (1-6), Nov. 16; vs. Killingly (7-1) at Nichols College, Thanksgrabbing.
There are four teams in the ECC's Division I and all four have a 1-1 division record.
The Centaurs will clinch the title with a win over NFA and a Fitch win over East Lyme.
The Wildcats will win the division if they beat Woodstock and East Lyme beats Fitch.
The Falcons will win the division if they beat East Lyme and NFA beats Woodstock.
The Vikings will win the division if they beat Fitch and Woodstock beats NFA.
Got all that?
Oh, yeah — Woodstock still has to contend with Killingly. That's not good.
No. 9 East Lyme (4-4)
Games left: vs. Fitch (4-4), Friday; vs. Waterford (4-4), Thanksgrabbing.
The Vikings are treading water but still in the playoff hunt. Six divisions, ladies and germs!
No. 10 Lyman Hall (4-4)
Games left: vs. Branford (2-5), Thursday; at Sheehan (3-5), Thanksgrabbing.
Ditto.
No. 11 Avon (4-4)
Games left: vs. RHAM (5-3), Friday; at Lewis Mills (1-7), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
As previously mentioned, Friday's game vs. RHAM is a playoff eliminator.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Berlin (10-0) vs. No. 8 Hartford Public (5-4); No. 2 Abbott Tech/Immaculate (9-1) vs. No. 7 East Lyme (5-5); No. 3 Law (9-1) vs. No. 6 Notre Dame-West Haven (5-5); No. 4 Rockville (8-2) vs. No. 5 RHAM (8-2).
CLASS SS
UM-MMMM. .... WE THINK THEY QUALIFIED
No. 1 Cromwell/Portland (8-0)
Games left: vs. Rockville (5-2), Thursday; vs. Rocky Hill (5-2), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Last season's Class S champion got bumped up a division.
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 2 Windham (7-1)
Games left: vs. Weaver (2-6), Thursday; vs. Montville (1-7), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
The Whippets look to be in great shape.
No. 3 Foran (8-0)
Games left: vs. Amity (3-5), Thursday; at Law (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
One more win should do it. As mentioned before, that Law game is shaping up to be a doozy.
No. 4 Barlow (7-1)
Games left: at New Milford (5-3), Friday; at Weston (3-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
It would earn an extra 20 points by beating New Milford because the latter is a Class L team.
No. 5 Ledyard (7-1)
Games left: at New London (2-6), Saturday; at Fitch (4-4), Thanksgrabbing.
This is the rare division in which two losses could ruin a team's chances, so the Colonels and other one-loss teams may need to win out in order to qualify.
Ledyard doesn't have as much wiggle room as others in this division, either, because it has earned fewer points due to five of its opponents having two wins-or-less.
No. 6 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (6-1)
Games left: vs. CREC (3-5), Thursday; vs. Old Saybrook/Westbrook (0-7), Nov. 17; at Haddam-Killingworth (4-3), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
The WARRIORCATS should roll into Haddam with an 8-1 record.
No. 7 Granby/Canton (6-2)
Games left: at Capital Prep/Achievement First (3-5), Thursday; at Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial (1-7), Nov. 18.
The Bears are one of two teams to give Cromwell/Portland a scare this season — the latter won, 14-7, on Oct. 7. The aforementioned WARRIORCATS were the other.
No. 8 Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic (6-2)
Games left: at Waterbury Career Academy (4-4), Thursday; vs. St. Paul (3-5), Thanksgrabbing.
St. Paul beat Derby on Oct. 21, 36-12. The Yellowjackets beat Derby last Saturday, SEVENTY FIVE to 28.
No. 9 Ellington (5-2)
Games left: at Morgan (2-5), Thursday; vs. CREC (3-5), Nov. 17; vs. Rockville (5-2), Thanksgrabbing.
That Rockville game should end one team's season — but which one?
SEND HELP
No. 10 Rocky Hill (5-3)
Games left: at Tolland (3-5), Friday; at Cromwell/Portland (8-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
The Terriers have so much ground to make up and still have to play Crom/Port. That's a bad combination.
No. 11 Waterford (4-4)
Games left: at Bacon Academy (1-7), Saturday; at East Lyme (4-4), Thanksgrabbing.
It looks like the Lancers' best shot is to win out and hope Rockville beats Ellington and Crom/Port beats Rocky Hill. They also beat Rocky Hill, so they'd get 10 bonus points if the latter knocks off Tolland this week.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Cromwell/Portland (10-0) vs. No. 8 Granby/Canton (8-2); No. 2 Barlow (9-1) vs. No. 7 Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic (8-2); No. 3 Windham (9-1) vs. No. 6 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-1); No. 4 Ledyard (9-1) vs. No. 5 Foran (9-1).
CLASS S, or, THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY LEAGUE JAMBOREE
UM-MMMM. .... WE THINK THEY QUALIFIED
No. 1 Ansonia (8-0)
Games left: at Seymour (6-2), Thursday; at Naugatuck (7-1), Thanksgrabbing.
One, ONE NVL team! AH-HA-HA!
WIN OUT, GET IN
No. 2 Holy Cross (6-2)
Games left: vs. Torrington (1-7), Monday; at Wolcott (2-6), Thanksgrabbing.
Two, TWO NVL teams! AH-HA-HA!
The Crusaders have a favorable end to their schedule, too.
No. 3 Woodland (7-1)
Games left: vs. Naugatuck (7-1), Saturday; at Seymour (6-2), at Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Three, THREE NVL teams! AH-HA-HA!
The Hawks COULD ask for a much more favorable schedule.
No. 4 Bloomfield (6-2)
Games left: vs. Platt (6-2), Thursday; vs. Windsor (5-3), Nov. 19.
NOT an NVL team!
The WARHAWKS could also ask for a much more favorable schedule.
No. 5 New Fairfield (7-1)
Games left: at Newtown (7-1), Friday; at New Milford (5-3), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
NOT an NVL team!
The Rebels will be safe with one more win.
No. 6 Seymour (6-2)
Games left: vs. Ansonia (8-0), Thursday; vs. Woodland (7-1), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Four, FOUR NVL teams! AH-HA-HA!
That's quite a finishing stretch for the Wildcats. Upside is that they weren't scheduled to play Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Calif., too, but that's the only positive.
No. 7 East Catholic (5-3)
Games left: at E.O. Smith (6-2), Friday; vs. Northwest Catholic (1-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
NOT an NVL team!
Friday should make-or-break its playoff chances (as well as others in the field).
SEND HELP
No. 8 Oxford (4-4)
Games left: at Crosby (4-4), Saturday; at Derby (0-8), Thanksgrabbing.
Five, FIVE NVL teams! AH-HA-HA!
Much like in Class M, it's crazy that a four-loss team is in contention, but here we are. Imperative that the WOLVERINES beat Crosby this weekend, though.
No. 9 Haddam-Killingworth (4-3)
Games left: vs. Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial (1-7), Thursday; vs. Capital Prep/Achievement First (3-5), Nov. 18; vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme (6-1), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
NOT an NVL team!
The Cougars get to work their way up the next two weeks to their season finale with the rival WARRIORCATS.
ALIVE, BUT BARELY BREATHING
No. 10 Waterbury Career Academy (4-4)
Games left: vs. Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic (6-2), Thursday; at Wilby (2-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Six, SIX NVL teams. AH-HA-HA!
There's a whole lot riding on Thursday's game and WCA can't afford to lose.
No. 11 North Branford (4-4)
Games left: at Morgan (2-5), Nov. 18; vs. Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton (1-7), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
NOT an NVL. ... okay, we'll knock that off.
The Thunderbirds could win out but it may not matter unless some teams ahead of it unravel
No. 12 Notre Dame-Fairfield (4-4)
Games left: vs. Weston (3-5), Friday; vs. Pomperaug (2-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.
Ditto
No. 13 Griswold/Wheeler (4-4)
Games left: at Montville (1-7), Thursday; vs. Plainfield (1-6), Thanksgrabbing.
Again, ditto.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Ansonia (9-1) vs. No. 8 Haddam-Killingworth (6-4); No. 2 Holy Cross (8-2) vs. No. 7 Seymour (7-3 — THE REMATCHENING~!); No. 3 Bloomfield (7-3) vs. No. 6 Oxford (6-4); No. 4 Woodland (8-2) vs. No. 5 New Fairfield (8-2).
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There's no sense in listing either The Day coaches' or GameTimeCT's media polls because both were released two days ago and have been bandied about the web and Twitter.
Ned Freeman's cold, calculating computer rankings for CalPreps and MaxPreps don't get the same amount of pub, so there they are: 1. Greenwich; No. 2 St. Joseph; 3. West Haven (it's schedule is dragging it — opponents are a combined 25-39); 4. Maloney (ditto); New Canaan; 6. Southington; 7. North Haven; 8. Newtown; 9. Hamden; 10. Staples.
Fairfield Prep (ranked 11th) edged out St. Joseph for the state's most difficult, so sayteh the computer. The Jesuits have played New Canaan (ranked sixth in The Day coaches' poll), No. 7 Hamden as well as Shelton (a 16-15 win), Notre Dame-West Haven (a 14-7 win) and Cheshire (a 33-10 win). And it still has No. 8 North Haven (Friday) and No. 3 West Haven (Thanksgrabbing Eve) left to play. AIYEE-EEEE.
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Dig the ballot Polecat HQ filed for the New Haven Register/GameTimeCT media poll:
1. West Haven: A second voter has joined us on the Westies' bandwagon.
2. Maloney
3. Southington
4. Greenwich
5. St. Joseph
6. Hamden
7. Fairfield Prep
8. North Haven
9. New Canaan
10. Staples
11. Shelton
12. Newtown
13. Trumbull
14. Masuk: Lost in the final seconds of its season-opener at Trumbull (49-43, Sept. 9). Other loss was at St. Joseph (24-21, Sept. 24) with a potential 41-yard, game-tying field goal hitting the cross bar to end the game.
15. Barlow: We're a mark for the triple option in addition to the Manly Discipline of the Running Arts.
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The HATS OFF~! (i.e. notable performances) section of this blog is prolly done for the season.
We can spend elebenty hours over four days either scouring the Internet for top performers or the math required for BRACKETOLOGY~!, but not both.
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Thanks for reading. More soon.
Adios....
