Pequot Football Conference 2008

Enfield joins Pequot Conference

ENFIELD, Feb. 14, 2009 -- The Enfield High football team has found a home. In a vote by league principals, the Raiders were approved as a new member of the Pequot Conference. Like Nonnewaug did in 2008 and Canton in 2007, Enfield will play as an independent within the league and won’t be eligible to win a league title in 2009. Realignment will likely occur for the 2010 season if Lewis Mills and Granby proceed on plans to field varsity teams and apply to join the league.

Enfield’s application to the league was rejected in January. Enfield then tried to join the Constitution State Conference, made up teams from the state’s technical schools, and that was rejected as well.

Enfield left out in the cold as an independent

ENFIELD, Jan. 8, 2009 – There is a casualty from the Central Connecticut Conference’s expansion spree this fall. The Enfield High football team will play as an independent in 2009. The Nutmeg League collapsed when Berlin, Middletown, RHAM, Northwest Catholic, Rocky Hill and Plainville applied and were accepted into the CCC. St. Paul’s application to the CCC was rejected but the Falcons have been accepted into the NVL.

Enfield had applied to the Pequot Conference but their application was rejected in January. Enfield, the only football team in the state playing as an independent, has a big challenge ahead of them. “It’s nearly impossible to get a schedule as an independent because most other teams in leagues have already figured out their schedules,” Enfield AD Barry Bernstein told the Manchester Journal Inquirer.

Brogna leaves Nonnewaug program

WOODBURY, Dec. 22 – Nonnewaug coach Rico Brogna has resigned after one season with the Chiefs to take a part-time coaching position with Wesleyan University in Middletown. Nonnewaug, which dropped its junior varsity program in the fall due to a lack of numbers, was 1-10 with a win over Wolcott Tech. The Chiefs are in their second year as a varsity program.

Final year for Vinal/Coginchaug team is 2009

MIDDLETOWN, Dec. 16 – Next year will be the final year for the Vinal Tech/Coginchaug co-op program. After 11 years together, it looks like Coginchaug will have enough players to form their own team in 2010. The growth in the number of players from Coginchaug is enough to form their own team. Vinal Tech faces the prospect of establishing a co-op program with another school, perhaps Portland or East Hampton, forming its own team or not having a team.

Despite interest in Pequot, St. Paul goes to NVL

WATERBURY, Dec. 16 – St. Paul will be playing in the Naugatuck Valley League next fall, the Waterbury Republican American reported. The Falcons and Derby were invited to play in the NVL beginning next fall. Derby’s Board of Education still has to approve the move but St. Paul has already accepted the application. St. Paul and Enfield reportedly had also applied to play in the Pequot Conference. On Dec. 22, Derby's BOE approved the move, 7-0.

Class S championship, Saturday, Dec. 6

TRUMBULL, Dec. 6 --Bobby Jordan ran 15 times for 125 yards, including the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter, as Cromwell rallied from a 12-point deficit to stun two-time defending CIAC Class S champion Ansonia, 14-12, at McDougall Stadium and capture its first-ever state championship.

Mike Zimmitti ran for a 5-yard touchdown for Cromwell (12-1), which won its first state title in its six-year history.Tristan Roberts ran for a 2-yard touchdown for the Chargers (12-2) and Nick O'Connor caught a 10-yard touchdown from Ron Bilodeau.

CIAC playoff. Tuesday, Dec. 2

Class M semifinals

Brookfield 36, Avon 19

Class S semifinals

Cromwell 34, Hyde 9: Top-seeded Cromwell scored two early second-half touchdowns and turned a tight game into a runaway at Falcon Field in Meriden. Hyde finishes 9-3, including another loss to Cromwell earlier this year.

Leading 13-9 at halftime, Cromwell opened the second half by recovering an onside kick. Tyshawn Prude soon scored on a 6 yard run. Then after forcing a fumble by Hyde's Zane Marks, the Panthers drove again and took a 27-9 lead on a 2 yard run by Mike Zimmitti with 8:05 left in the third quarter. Zimmitti added a 30-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Ansonia 28, North Branford 0: Ansonia withstood two North Branford drives to the 1-yard-line in the first half Tuesday night and shut out the Thunderbirds at Jarvis Stadium in Ansonia. Tristan Roberts ran for 79 yards in the second half, scoring the last touchdown on a 7-yard run with 4:38 to play.

The two-time defending champions (12-1) also got touchdown runs from Montrell Dobbs and Ron Bilodeau, and Bilodeau threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sheldon Clarke. The Thunderbirds (10-2) fumbled into the end zone after a 14-play drive on their first possession, then drove again to the 1 before time ran out on the first half.

Week 12

Thursday, Nov. 27

Gilbert/NWR 13, Housatonic/Wamogo 8

Tolland 36, Ellington/Somers 7

Valley Regional/OL 35, H-K 8

Cromwell 35, Coventry/WT 2

Old Saybrook/Westbrook 35, Morgan 0

Wednesday, Nov. 26

Hyde 21, North Branford 13

Rocky Hill 49, Nonnewaug 21

Stafford/EW 14, Windsor Locks/Suffield 6

Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 39, Canton 9: Nick D’Aquila ran for a game-high 146 yards and a TD on 11 caries to lead Vinal Tech/Coginchaug to its first-ever winning season (6-5) with a Thanksgiving Eve victory at muddy Palmer Field Wednesday night. Hawks teammate Andrew Cruz scored 3 TDs and rushed for 50 yards.

Canton (2-9) was able to move the ball on offense but struggled to stop Vinal’s running attack, giving up several big plays. For the Warriors, Mike Frazier had a career-high 123 yards on 23 carries and a TD. Jeff Nasson kicked his third FG of the season from 20 yards away. Tyler Plourd caught four passes for 57 yards and recovered a fumble on a punt.

Week 11

Friday, Nov. 21

Avon 53, Stafford/East Windsor 14

Haddam-Killingworth 50, Wolcott Tech 12

Tolland 42, Nonnewaug 8

Valley Regional 45, Morgan 6

Saturday, Nov. 22

North Branford 6, Cromwell 0

Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 18, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 0

Canton 38, Gilbert/NW Regional 14

Housatonic/Wamogo 20, Coventry/Windham Tech 14

Week 10

Friday, Nov. 14

Haddam Killingworth 22, Tolland 14, 2 OT: Sal Zichichi scored on a two-run in the second OT as H-K handed Tolland their third loss. Tied at 8-8, Tolland's attempt to win in regulation was thwarted when a 34-yard FG attempt was blocked. Tolland took a 12-8 lead in OT on Kevin Rioux's 10 yard run but the two-point conversion run failed. H-K tied it on a 10-yard pass from Robert Flynn to Tyler Wilcox. The extra point failed.

North Branford 28, Housatonic/Wamogo 20, OT: Housatonic's Tanner Brissett (27-126) scored 2 TDs and a two-point conversion in the final quarter including a 7 yard run with eight seconds remaining to force OT but North Branford (9-0) avoided the huge upset with an overtime victory. QB Gary Esposito scored on a 5-yard run and added the 2-point conversion for the Thunderbird in OT.

The Register Citizen, Nov. 15: Mountaineers fall in OT

Old Saybrook 36, Canton 16: Alex Dyer scored 2 TDs as Old Saybrook scored a pair of fourth quarter TDs to pull away. Old Saybrook led 19-16 after three quarters.

Saturday, Nov. 15

Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 49, Windsor Locks/Suffield 0

Hyde Leadership 13, Ellington/Somers 0

Coventry/Windham Tech 14, Nonnewaug 8

Stafford/East Windsor 29, Wolcott Tech 14

Sunday, Nov. 16

Avon 38, Morgan 0

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 31, Gilbert/NWR 0

Week 9

Friday, Nov. 7

Hyde Leadership 32, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 10

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 34, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 17

Ellington/Somers 40, Stafford/East Windsor 0

North Branford 42, Nonnewaug 6

Saturday, Nov. 8

Avon 49, Gilbert 6

Tolland 43, Canton 8

Housatonic 40, Windsor Locks 6

Cromwell 40, Wolcott Tech 6

Haddam Killingworth 38, Morgan 6

Week 8

Friday, Oct. 31

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 27, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 6

Tolland 42, Coventry/Windham Tech 0

Saturday, Nov. 1

Avon 34, Canton 0

Housatonic/Wamogo 43, Stafford/East Windsor 14

Morgan 41, Nonnewaug 0

Old Saybrook/Westbrook 48, Wolcott Tech 6

Gilbert/Northwester 51, Windsor Locks/Suffield 6

Ellington/Somers 34, Haddam-Killingworth 28

Cromwell 17, Hyde 14: In a battle for the lead in the Sassacus Division, host Cromwell held off a late comeback to defeat Hyde. Cromwell (8-0, 6-0) took a 17-7 lead into the fourth quarter on Bobby Jordan's 8 yard TD pass to Josiah Simmons. Jordan (12-for-16 for 96 yards) also ran for 42 yard TD. Hyde (6-2, 5-1) pulled within three, 17-14 on Justin Wilson's 1-yard run in the fourth quarter and drove to Cromwell's 29-yard line with under a minute to play. But Hyde turned the ball over on downs with four seconds remaining.

Week 7

Friday, Oct. 24

Tolland 44, Windsor Locks/Suffield 0

Stafford/East Windsor 11, Canton 10

Saturday, Oct. 25

Hyde Leadership 32, Haddam-Killingworth 0

Cromwell 34, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 0

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 32, Wolcott Tech 0

North Branford 34, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 22

Coventry/Windham Tech 30, Gilbert/NW Regional 19

Housatonic meets Nonnewaug for first time in football

Sunday, Oct. 26

Avon 48, Ellington/Somers 20

Week 6

Friday, Oct. 17

Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 22, Morgan 20

Avon 21, Tolland 13

Gilbert/NW Regional 42, Stafford/East Windsor 6: The Yellowjackets (3-2) won their second straight game as Jay Farkas (12-69) had a TD. Drew McCarthy scored on a 81-yard TD pass from QB Paul Kurtz. Bobby Lippincott scored 2 TDs.

North Branford 22, Haddam Killingworth 6: Gary Esposito rushed for 164 yards and 2 TDs on 12 carries to lead undefeated North Branford (6-0, 4-0) and spoil the first night game at H-K.

Saturday, Oct. 18

Cromwell 39, Valley Regional/Old Lyme 6

Ellington/Somers 28, Coventry/Windham Tech 13

Housatonic/Wamogo 43, Canton 21

Old Saybrook/Westbrook 43, Nonnewaug 6

St. Paul/Goodwin Tech/Lewis Mills 41, Windsor Locks 14

Hyde 41, Wolcott Tech 7

Tolland applies to join CCC

Tolland will be leaving the NCCC next fall. Tolland and Rocky Hill are expected to receive approval shortly to become the newest members of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) beginning next fall. "We're still working on the applications for Tolland and Rocky Hill and the entire realignment of the conference," CCC commissioner John Tarnuzzer told the Hartford Courant. "We will have definitive answers by November."

The CCC approved applications from six members of the Northwest Conference (Berlin, Plainville, Middletown, RHAM, Northwest Catholic, East Catholic) in September. Sources said that Avon explored applying to the CCC but it was too late. The addition of Tolland and Rocky Hill would give the CCC 32 teams.

An application to join the CCC from Bristol’s St. Paul, a member of the NWC, was rejected by the CCC. St. Paul is expected to apply and join the NCCC to replace Tolland.

With the demise of the NWC, the Nutmeg Football League will end leaving Enfield, a member of the NCCC without a football league to play in. Six current members of the NCCC (Avon, Canton, Coventry, Ellington, Stafford and Windsor Locks) currently play football in the Pequot Conference.

Journal Inquirer, Oct. 15: Tolland leaving for the CCC

Hartford Courant, Oct. 17: CCC working on realignment

Week 5

Friday, Oct. 10

Cromwell 31, Tolland 20: Cromwell’s Tyshawn Prude rushed for 111 yards and 2 TDs as the Panthers (5-0) handed Tolland its first loss Friday night in Tolland. Cromwell scored 10 points off Tolland turnovers and limited the Eagles to 116 yards rushing. The 20 points by Tolland were the first points that Cromwell has allowed all year.

Valley Regional 42, Canton 0

Vinal Tech 46, Stafford 0

Saturday, Oct. 11

Gilbert/NW Regional 42, Wolcott Tech 6: Jay Farkas rushed for 187 yards and 3 TDs as the Yellowjackets beat Tech in the first-ever meeting between the two Berkshire League schools in Torrington.

Hyde Leadership 35, Avon 14

Morgan 47, Windsor Locks/Suffield 27

North Branford 42, Ellington/Somers 0

Old Saybrook/Westbrook 31, Housatonic/Wamogo 6

Haddam-Killingworth 32, Coventry/Windham Tech 0

Week 4

Friday, Oct. 3

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 41, Nonnewaug 6

Saturday, Oct. 4

Haddam-Killingworth 14, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 0

North Branford 49, Wolcott Tech 3

Cromwell 21, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 0

Hyde Leadership 32, Morgan 0

Tolland 44, Gilbert/NW Regional 13

Coventry/Windham Tech 38, Windsor Locks/Suffield 14

Ellington/Somers 41, Canton 14

Avon 55, Housatonic/Wamogo 21

Tolland 44, Gilbert 13: Cody Backus ran for 110 yards and 3 TDs to lead Tolland in Winsted. The Eagles led 44-0 at halftime. Kevin Rioux caught his 9th TD pass of the season from QB Sal Ternullo.

North Branford 49, Wolcott Tech 3: Eric Schmidt hit the first FG in Tech history from 32 yards. Teammate Isiah Harrington ran for 95 yards.

Week 3

Friday, Sept. 26

Gilbert/NW Regional 39, Nonnewaug 19

Saturday, Sept. 27

Canton 20, Windsor Locks/Suffield 0

Sunday, Sept. 28

Hyde Leadership 35, Valley Regional/Old Lyme 6

Avon 40, Coventry/Windham Tech 7

Monday, Sept. 29

Cromwell 34, Haddam-Killingworth 0

Morgan 47, Wolcott Tech 0

Ellington/Somers 42, Housatonic/Wamogo 14

North Branford 26, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 12

Tolland 47, Stafford/East Windsor 6

Week 2

Friday, Sept. 19

Cromwell 42, Morgan 0

North Branford 20, Valley Regional/Old Lyme 19

Ellington/Somers 34, Gilbert/NW Regional 9

Saturday, Sept. 20

Nonnewaug 50, Wolcott Tech 22

Haddam-Killingworth 27, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 21

Hyde Leadership 37, Old Saybrook/Westbrook 23

Avon 47, Windsor Locks/Suffield 0

Tolland 49, Housatonic/Wamogo 6

Coventry/Windham Tech 42, Stafford/East Windsor 0

Week 1

Friday, Sept. 12

Wilbur Cross 18, Hyde Leadership 12, 2 OT

Saturday, Sept. 13

Coventry/Windham Tech 39, Canton 14

Ellington/Somers 36, Windsor Locks/Suffield 6

Cromwell 21, Avon 0

North Branford 10, Morgan 7

Weston 41, Nonnewaug 0

Vinal Tech/Coginchaug 39, Wolcott Tech 6

More Pequot Conference previews

Middletown Press, Sept. 12: Cromwell

Middletown Press, Sept. 12: Haddam-Killingworth

Middletown Press, Sept. 12: Vinal Tech/Coginchaug

New Haven Register, Sept. 12: Hyde

Manchester Journal Inquirer, Sept. 12: Tolland, Windsor Locks, Coventry, Ellington, Stafford

Windsor Locks Journal, Sept. 11: Windsor Locks low on healthy players

Voices, Sept. 4: Nonnewaug

The Register Citizen, Sept. 9: Gilbert/Northwestern

The Register Citizen, Sept. 9: Housatonic/Wamogo

The Register Citizen, Sept. 9: Wolcott Tech

Nonnewaug: Brogna takes over for year 2

WOODBURY, Sept. 5 -- First-year coach Rico Brogna, the former Watertown High football legend, tries to steer Nonnewaug to its first varsity victory this season. The Chiefs went 0-10 a year ago in their varsity debut playing in the Southwest Conference.

The Register Citizen, Sept. 6: Nonnewaug looks to rebound in year two in Pequot

Gilbert: Salius tries to establish solidarity

WINSTED, Aug. 22 – New head coach Scott Salius is trying to mold Gilbert’s co-op football team into one squad. Gilbert and Northwestern have been playing together for seven years and have yet to post a winning record. "One football program; two schools who share equally in creating a winning program," said Salius, the 10th coach in school history. He replaced Bob Reynolds, who stepped down after 10 years on the job with a piece of the Pequot Uncas Division title in 2001 and nine losing seasons.

The Register Citizen, Aug. 22: GN is the word in Winsted for Yellowjackets

OWTS: Cats make leap to varsity

TORRINGTON, Aug. 21 – After a surprising 2-4 record as a junior varsity team last fall, Wolcott Tech is preparing for its first varsity season under coach Jamie Coty, who spent 10 years coaching Pop Warner football in Waterbury before being hired last year. "After being so successful last year, we (the staff and school administration) decided we didn't need another year in junior varsity," Coty said. "We're going to take our lumps, but we're optimistic about the season."

The Register Citizen, Aug. 21: Tech prepares for first varsity season

MIlls: Forty-seven on field for opening day

BURLINGTON, Aug. 20 – Forty-seven players were on the field for the first day of workouts for the new Lewis Mills football program. Mills will field a junior varsity squad this year under coach Chris Machol. Mills will play all of their games on the road. Mills plans to move to varsity level in two years (2010) because there are still juniors and seniors from Mills playing with the St. Paul tri-op team.

The Register Citizen, Aug. 25: Mills to be playing varsity ball in 2010

Bristol Press, Aug. 20: Mills gets 47 on opening day

Morgan: New coach for the Huskies

CLINTON, Aug. 19 – Tom Mauffuid has been named the new coach at Morgan. He replaces Rick Lye, who resigned after two seasons to take a teaching position in Newtown, where he lives with his wife and young daughter. Lye was 8-12 in two seasons, including a 5-5 record last fall with 22 players on the varsity roster. Mauffuid spend five years as an eighth grade coach in Cheshire and was a freshman coach at Cheshire High in 2005. He was an offensive coordinator with the Rams the past two years.

Clinton Recorder, August 12: Lye resigns after two seasons

New Haven Register, August 19: Mauffuid hired at Morgan

Off-season news

Two more teams join the Pequot

WOODBURY, Jan. 2, 2008 -- Wolcott Tech-Torrington and Nonnewaug-Woodbury have been admitted to the Pequot Conference for the 2008 football season. Nonnewaug went 0-10 in its first varsity season in the Southwest Conference while Wolcott Tech fielded a junior varsity team in 2007. The league will decide this month on revamped alignment. The addition of Tech and Nonnewaug gives the Berkshire League four varsity football programs along with Gilbert/Northwestern and Housatonic/Wamogo. The league now has 19 teams.