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