Friday, November 14, 2008

Update...

For those of you that went out last night, it turned out to be a great night for football. That Charger mystique came out for Ansonia, as it defeated the previously unbeaten Seymour Wildcats. Ansonia wrapped up the NVL Brass division, and plays the winner of tonight's Woodland/Kennedy game (a de facto Copper division championship) for the NVL Title next Thursday.

What has NOT been lost amongst all the hoopla surrounding this game is that it would be the final visit to Jarvis field for Seymour's Paul Sponheimer. This man is a throwback, because after 29 years, they just don't make 'em like this anymore (even in the Valley). Sponheimer has been featured everywhere from the CT Post, to WVIT-30. This is great news for people that love unintentional comedy. The man is a walking quote machine, though not like Yogi, and there are many that love and appreciate him all that more for it.

Watch the WVIT clip, where you get the Sponheimer classic line, "They can take your money, they can take your wife, but they can't take your memories." Spoony Video

This is a great piece. And, as a great Valley guy once said..."How all the papers in the state aren't calling this man for quotes every week is beyond me!" Also check out the other articles...This guy will certainly go down in the lore of Valley football.
Spoony Article

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Polls

2008 New Haven Register Top 10 Football Poll Week of Nov. 10
  1. New Canaan (12)
  2. New London (2)
  3. Hillhouse (5)
  4. Seymour (1)
  5. Darien (1)
  6. Glastonbury
  7. Ansonia
  8. Masuk
  9. Hamden
  10. Cromwell

11 was Cheshire, 12 was Crosby (for beating Ansonia), 13 was Southington...not a bad showing for the center of the state. Something must have gone right off the 84 Mix-Master. Of note, North Branford is 8-0 and NOT in the top 10. Not much else to say, other than, I guess this poll is an accurate representation of the best teams in the state right now. I'm not sure about Hillhouse at 3 or New London at 2, but I don't know if anybody else in that list deserves the spot, either. Lastly, I'm not a huge Masuk fan, but they somehow are consistent. Something about that Fairfield County bias, though.

Get out and go...

In case you've been living under a rock...the only game to go to this week is Thursday, 6pm, when Seymour visits Ansonia. This is the game of the year for the league, and leads into a good weekend that includes Southington/New Britain on Friday at the Rent. Everyone argues about the lack of respect each section of the state gets...this league sucks, that league sucks... I don't care! Just go watch some games!!! This is Connecticut, not Texas, not Florida...not even Pennsylvania or New Jersey. What we lack in size, and quantity of quality, we make up in terms of rivalry and tradition. The Valley is the heart of that tradition, with the longest running rivalry, and more championships than you can shake a stick at. SO, whatever your bias and preference is, this week, CT football is about the NVL. Get to the Valley of the Champions Thursday night, visit Title Town, and see a quality football game between two of the top teams in the state.

From The New London Day's "Monday Morning QB" 11/10/2008

And I quote:

Windham coach Brian Crudden about playing on NFA's turf field after Saturday's 26-7 loss: “I'm not a big fan of turf and I'm not making excuses. We always get more nicked on turf than we do on grass. I'd rather play on grass. I'm kind of an organic, natural guy.”

Hillarious! This guy probably gets double soy lattes, too.

Also from the article...

Casey Cochran is 14 years old, meaning he has a long time to make a career choice.
He may want to think about something involving public speaking, however. He was quite entertaining after Friday's wild 27-26 win over Montville. Cochran said he “flipped out” after Garrick McQueen caught the tipped ball that resulted in a touchdown on the game's final play. He asked a coach to “pinch me” a good 20 minutes after the game was over because he was still in disbelief.

And as for being a freshman and experiencing all this?
”My father (coach Jack Cochran) said I can't be a freshman and I can't be scared,” Casey said. Later, he added, “I couldn't wuss out.”

Acorn didn't fall too far from the tree...

Monday, November 10, 2008

The SCC....

SCC for a Week 10....
Week 10 Games

Shelton (6-3) at Hand (5-4)Last week: Shelton defeated Amity 35-20; Hand defeated Cross 38-35 (3 OT)
Gaels can only say"What if"....As they watch 2 teams they beat, Cheshire and Newtown make the playoffs...They do have a unrealistic chance but it is all uphill for sure..

Cheshire (7-2) at Prep (3-5)Last week: Cheshire defeated West Haven 20-13; Prep defeated Xavier 36-35
Why can I see a Jesuit school upsetting the apple cart, 13 days prior to the Apple Bowl

West Haven (4-4) at Xavier (6-3)Last week: West Haven lost to Cheshire 20-13; Xavier lost to Prep 36-35
I am not sure if the Westies can play 11 on 16 football....Hamden and Shelton couldn't.

Notre Dame (3-5) at Amity (5-4)Last week: ND defeated Foran 55-12; Amity lost to Shelton 35-20
Amity had a chance last week to make a statement and didn't. ND is the only private school I actually feel sorry for because the staff does everything they can to make them mediocre...

Hamden (8-1) at Cross (6-3)Last week: Hamden defeated Lyman Hall 48-7; Cross lost to Hand 38-35 (3 OT)
Friday afternoon, Cross is OK...Would not be suprised to see the Governers shock the SCC

Hillhouse (9-0) at Sheehan (6-3)Last week: Hillhouse defeated Guilford 48-21; Sheehan defeated Derby 45-20
Another formidable foe for the Academics...HaHaHaHa

North Haven (3-6) at Law (3-6)Last week: North Haven defeated East Haven 47-0; Law lost to Branford 35-20
Yippie!!!! Yippie!!.....What a barn burner this one wil be.....

Foran (6-3) at Branford (5-4)Last week: Foran lost to ND 55-12; Branford defeated Law 35-20
The Lions have the best QB and RB in the league, except when they play Div 1 teams....and of course when they are winning by 30 they do well too.

East Haven (0-9) at Guilford (3-6)Last week: East Haven lost to North Haven 47-0; Guilford lost to Hillhouse 48-21
The East Haven band has this awesome trailer for their band equipment...

Lyman Hall (2-7) at Derby (2-7)Last week: Lyman Hall lost to Hamden 48-7; Derby lost to Sheehan 45-20
Well who is worst???We will find out!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

NVL, Week 9

After a wild Friday, this week proves to be interesting for the NVL. Thursday night brings us two games...The Stadium sees Torrington @ Sacred Heart. The rest of the league will be watching Seymour when it travels to Jarvis Field to play the Ansonia Chargers. This is the NVL game of the year, despite Crosby's great game plan and victory in Week 8. The winner will be NVL champion...regardless of who comes out of the Copper Division.

Seymour (9-0) @ Ansonia (8-1): The Chargers haven't lost two since 2005, and coach Brockett hasn't lost 2...ever. Derek Jeter once said "This is when the ghosts come out," when the Red Sox faced them in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. The Chargers won a tightly contested game last season. In 2004, the Yankee ghosts never showed...but I'm not sure the Charger ghosts matter in this one. I just think the game needs to be played, and the best team will win. These are two evenly matched teams. I still have some thoughts, though...Fact, Ansonia doesn't do losing streaks, they're pissed, and they're at home. Fact, Seymour is 9-0, and confidence can be a double-edged sword...they're still the 9-0 underdogs. Fact, Mike Osiecki is one of the two or three best players in the state, and is my MVP. Fact, both teams have tremendous coaching staffs, and quality players starting on both sides.

Fact, the entire Valley will be out for a resurrection of what Valley football is and should be. Check the sidelines in this game...you'll see some interesting sights. Derby kids will sit on the Seymour side, why? The deep seeded hatred of Ansonia is still there, and that type of tradition doesn't die...don't get me wrong, Derby-Seymour was 1b to Derby-Ansonia's 1a...but if a Red Condor had to choose between a Seymour win or an Ansonia win, he's picking Seymour. Woodland kids will sit on the Ansonia sideline, because they've become the new Derby for Seymour. Shelton kids will come, and watch, and pick no sides. They'll leave around halftime, because they don't know how valley they really are...truth is, Shelton is more Valley than Fairfield County, but that's another argument.

I have no prediction for this game...it's as big a Pick 'Em as I've seen. This will be a great game, just like last year.

Torrington @ Sacred Heart: Double D, Dan Dunaj's Red Raiders will bring it to the Hearts. Unfortunately, SH's slow-down no huddle and constant passing will make this game go too long, and the Muni will be lit long after the big boys are done down the Jaskilka. Raider-38 Hearts-22

Friday
Wilby @ Crosby: THEY'RE BAAAAAAAAAAAACK...And the playoffs loom on the horizon for these Bulldogs. Dawgs might go Jack Cochran on the scaredy cats. Dawgs-54 Mildcats-6

Holy Cross @ Naugatuck: I bet Ron Plasky has the night off from officiating. Cross has won two games of late without being the better team. Rob Plasky's Greyhounds need something going into Ansonia on Turkey Day. I like the Crusaders, but something tells me it'll be the Greypups' night. Pups-20, 'Saders-19...Neither team will impress.

Regional School District #16 @ Kennedy: The Copper Title Game! These Woodland kids need something to put on a t-shirt, every other class had something. I like Shea. Go Hawks! WRHS-31 JFK-13

Saturday
Watertown @ Wolcott: This is an interesting matchup. Corbo was a DNP on Friday for the Injuns, though he did go put on his pads as the 4th quarter started and the Orange were in reach of the 'Cats from Seymour. He could be a difference maker...if he plays. These are two good teams, but with the playoffs just out of the Eagle's grasp, I think this game means more to Wolcott. They'll controll the ball, and should win the second best matchup of the week. Eagles-21, Injuns-17

See you all Thursday at Jarvis