Will the FCIAC go 3-for-3 in state championship games this season? I wouldn’t be too certain. Here’s how I think tommorow’s games will go down though.

Class MM:
East Lyme vs. New Canaan, 2 p.m., at Bunnell High School (Stratford)
New Canaan’s offense has been a shell of itself since it ventured into Kennedy Stadium in Week 9 and lost 42-7 to the Hilltoppers. Talking with Turner Baty on Wednesday at the CIAC media luncheon, he said the weather had a lot to do with that Central loss. It’s going to be similar condition tomorrow at Bunnell.

Linebacker Cole Duncan said the New Canaan defense has been on the field a lot more than usual (about 70% of the time, he said), as teams are learning to control the ball to keep the Rams passing attack off the field.

East Lyme has a very good rushing attack, with two running backs surpassing 800 yards on the season. If the Vikings wanted to, they could have Jordan McCoy and Kevin Miao carry the ball all game and wear the Rams down.

East Lyme has a very good pass defense, with 17 interceptions and 20 passes defended. On top of that, East Lyme has 19 sacks and 20 fumble recoveries. The Vikings have given up just 64 points this season, including four shutouts, and game up a safety to Bacon Academy to close out another contest.

The Rams need to establish the run if they want to win a fourth straight CIAC Class MM title, and I don’t see it happening. New Canaan had shown the ability to run the ball earlier this season, but St. Paul Co-op shut Peter Park and Tim Robustelli down on Tuesday.

Two seasons ago, I was the only media member who thought New Canaan could beat Daniel Hand. Unless New Canaan finds a way to loosen up and have some fun on the field tomorrow, East Lyme will go home with the victory.

Class SS:
St. Joseph vs. Montville, 2 p.m., Ken Strong Stadium, West Haven
Montville head coach Tanner Grove knows how good Tyler Matakevich and Joe Della Vecchia are, and how strong St. Joseph is, and thinks they match up well on both sides of the ball with the Cadets.

Like the New Canaan-East Lyme game, St. Joseph’s defense will have its hands full with Montville’s run-oriented offense.

Montville runs a thunder and lightning type of offense, with a pair of junior running backs in Skyler McNair and Tyler Girard-Floyd. McNair is fast and shifty, and Girard-Floyd can pound the ball.

No doubt the father-son Della Vecchias will be looking for something to exploit in the Montville defense, as they did in its 56-7 win over Holy Cross on Tuesday. And Montville showed it can be vulnerable to the pass, losing to New London 28-26 earlier this season.

I think St. Joseph has a major deal of confidence on its side, and has been brilliant even in its losses to New Canaan and Greenwich this season. St. Joseph has waited 19 years for a shot at a state championship, and I think the Cadets (or Hogs) will rise to the occasion.

Class LL:
Cheshire at Staples, 7 p.m., Ken Strong Stadium, West Haven
(Listen Live on WWPTFM.com or 90.3 FM in the Westport area, starting with pregame at 6:30 p.m.)
When Cheshire head coach Mark Ecke told the CIAC media luncheon attendees that everything he learned about coaching defense, he learned from Staples head coach Marce Petroccio, everyone knew it would be a great game. Okay, maybe people knew before that, but now we know this will be a chess match for both schools.

Greg Palmer has rushed for more than 1,200 yards for Cheshire, and Dan Sweeney is at 909. If the Rob Gau, Jake Santora and Connor Bohling defense can shut down the run, then Kelly and Brendan Rankowitz should feast on Cheshire’s vulnerable pass offense.

Staples is the top team in the state for a reason. Each week, the Wreckers find a new may to win. If Matt Kelly can’t get the job done running the ball, Ryan Burke picks up the slack. If the offense can’t move the ball, the defense wins the game. And they have all picked up Keith Gelman, who inherited the quarterback job after a season-ending injury to Brandon Pacilio.

The Wreckers are a selfless group, and seem to be the team of destiny in 2009. They took Petroccio’s offseason message of playing as one unit to heart, and will ride that to victory tomorrow.

Popularity: 10% [?]

It’s five days till Friday. And I am sure there are a lot of people who are still in shock about the FCIAC Championship Game match-up: Staples vs. Bridgeport Central.

Maybe the fans aren’t as surprised at Staples, which rose to its own challenge of playing Staples football. In the preseason, both Marce Petroccio and Brandon Pacilio talked about how the team’s chemistry improved through graduation and camaraderie, and how playing Staples football was more than just having an “S” on a silver helmet.

Okay, maybe Staples still is a surprise. Pacilio, the quarterback, went down with a season-ending broken leg in Week 6. Some of the media reports between that game at Harding and Keith Gelman’s first start at Ludlowe made it sound like doom and gloom, like Staples would crumble without its leader.

But Gelman proved he could be plugged into the Wreckers’ system, and that Staples would still be Staples.

Bridgeport Central was left for dead after its 21-0 loss to Trumbull in Week 4. Now everyone is scratching their head, wondering what Trumbull did to stop the Hilltoppers’ explosive offense.

It appears the Hilltoppers just didn’t show up that day, and learned from its mistake, which may keep Central from the CIAC Class LL playoffs. Something to point out here: the FCIAC Championship Games does not count in the state playoff rankings because it is not a regularly-scheduled contest.

Central is fourth in Class LL, but can be leapfrogged by Cheshire next Saturday, if it defeats West Haven. The Hilltoppers should defeat Harding on Thanksgiving, but won’t pick up many bonus points by defeating the Presidents and ultimately could need Greenwich to beat Staples to secure a state playoff spot.

So Friday, Central is really playing for everything.

You’ll see in this video that Bridgeport Central did a tremendous job keeping King stars Silas Redd and Kevin Pierre-Louis in check during an early September scrimmage. Say what you want about King, playing in the FAA and whatnot. But you can’t put any running back in the league on the same pedastool as Redd and Pierre-Louis.

Central is also, without a doubt, the most physican and athletic team in the FCIAC. Not only do the Hilltoppers hit, they hit people hard.

So what do you think? Do Christon Gill, Shabashe McIntosh, Dominick Luckey, Ernest Wiggans, Lucas Desousa, Christian Bish and Damien Francis bring its first FCIAC championship to Bridgeport Central? Or does Gelman, Ryan Burke, Matt Kelly, Jake Santora, Brendan Rankowitz, Devin Graber, Adam Rosenbloom and Santiago Caurtas give the Wreckers its first FCIAC title since 2003?

Popularity: 13% [?]

Gee whiz, I read some of the media reports this week about the Staples quarterback situation. And by the time I read the 50th article, I thought Staples second-year starter Brandon Pacilio had both legs amputated and that senior understudy Keith Gelman was in middle school.

Needless to say, it was the most overblown stroy of the season.

And I don’t mean that with any disrespect to Pacilio, who was scheduled to have surgery today to repair a broken leg. Or for that matter, I don’t want to disrespect Gelman.

But the quarterback is just one weapon on a loaded Staples team, which blanked Ludlowe 38-0 tonight in Gelman’s first start.

In short, Gelman knows the offense, and he’s been playing with this group of seniors you years. The quarterback does need to make the perfect pitch to the right back in the Staples system, but Gelman showed few signs of weakness.

Oh yeah, Staples also has a solid rushing attack, and one of the state’s best defenses.

So congratulations to Staples on getting to 7-0. And let the rest of the state know that Staples is still Staples.

Popularity: 10% [?]

What’s the worst that can happen when you’re undefeated and playing a team you should beat on a muddy field? You could lose a key player for the rest of the season because of an injury. And that may have happened yesterday to Staples in its 40-0 win at Harding yesterday.

Staples quarterback Brandon Pacilio may have suffered a season-ending broken ankle injury during the second quarter of the game, according to The Advocate. Or it may just be an ankle sprain, according to The Hour.

Either way, it appears the spotlight is now on senior backup quarterback Keith Gelman, who has seen mop up duty for the Wreckers in several games this season and has been a force on special teams. It appears Gelman will make his first career start Friday at surging Ludlowe, which has won its last three games.

Gelman was 2-for-4 passing for 16 yards and ran the ball four times for 28 yards and a touchdown yesterday.

Pacilio is a team captain and a second-year starter at quarterback. So even though his season stats to date may not shine like quarterbacks in pass-first offenses, he’s still the cog that makes the Wreckers go.

But fortunately for Gelman, Staples can also win games with a solid run and a brick wall defense that has surrendered just 19 points on the season.

That could also be bad news for Staples, which will most-likely move up to Number Two in all the major polls this week. That’s because Ludlowe does a pretty good job stopping the run.

Popularity: 11% [?]

For the second time this season, there are co-recipients of the Fairfield County Player of the Week Award. The honor goes to Griffin McCarty of Ridgefield and Alex Roque of Trumbull.

Even though he hadn’t taken any snaps in practice since the preseason, McCarty, a defensive back, was inserted at quarterback after the Tigers got off to a slow start against Wilbur Cross. McCarty completed six of nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown, had an interception on defense, returned a blocked punt for a score, and then won the game with a quarterback sneak on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.

Roque led the Eagles defense to a 21-0 win over previously-undefeated Bridgeport Central. Roque had 18 tackles, five for a loss, and an interception in the victory. Bridgeport Central entered the game averaging 47 points per game in its first three contests.

Honorary mention goes to:

• Matt Hajducky, LB, Trumbull (15 tackles, three for a loss, against Central)
• DeAndre Harper, RB, Bassick (117 yards rushing and a school-record 94-yard touchdown run, against McMahon)
• Davonte “Petey” Franklin, RB, Bassick (99 yards rushing, an 85 yard touchdown run and a 65 tard kickoff return for a score)
• Graham Maybell, RB-DB, Darien (two rushing touchdowns, three interceptions, against Wilton)
• Rob Ferrara, QB, Ludlowe (170 passing and two touchdowns, 20 yards rushing and a score, vs. Harding)
• Brandon Pacilio, QB, Staples (9-for-10 passing, 133 yards, two touchdowns, plus one score on the ground, vs. Westhill)
• Tom McNamara, LB-RB, Warde (15 tackles, 78 yards rushing and one touchdown vs. New Canaan)
• Cole Duncan, LB, New Canaan
• Cody Newton, WR, New Canaan (six catches, 163 yards vs. Warde)
• Willie Ouelette, QB-WR, New Canaan (5-for-6 passing, 139 yards, mostly from the WR position)

Candidates for the Fairfield County Player of the Week award are nominated either direct from their coaches, by media recommendations or by fans of the FCIAC Football Blog on Facebook.

The Fairfield County Player of the Week Award is sponsored by BlueStreak Sports Training and supported by the FCIAC Football Blog.

Popularity: 13% [?]

I know exactly what you’re thinking: 2:13 is way to long of a video to post online. The optimal, ideal size to keep a viewer engaged online is a minute or less, and I probably should have broken this video down into two parts. But I didn’t, so I apologize.

Anyway, enough yapping. Let’s check out the random clips from the Ridgefield-Staples game. Towards the end, at about the 1:55 mark, there’s one heck of a play. Staples quarterback Brandon Pacilio spins away from a Mike Sheldon sack and then finds tight end Patrick Murray for the touchdown.

Popularity: 9% [?]

And Staples is scarey good. Ridgefield stood no chance of a comeback in the Wreckers’ 30-0 win today.

I didn’t think Staples stood a chance against the Ridgefield defensive line, and I was sorely wrong. As soon as Ridgefield’s opening drive ended with a pickoff of Ryan Curnal by Chris Coyne, it was as if the Tigers folded.

Keep in mind than Staples went nowhere on its first drive – OK, a first down, but then Tom Jordan had a sack and Dan Sheldon a tackle for a loss.

But that first touchdown by Staples, a one-yard run by Brandon Pacilio at 6:53 in the first quarter, just crushed Ridgefield.

Some quick highlights: Santiago Cuartas had field goals of 29, 37 and 42 yards. Keith Gelman blocked a punt. Staples special teams stopped Duncan Cozens on a fake punt, Matt Kelly had a 49-yard punt return, and the Staples defense stopped Ridgefield on a goalline stand to end the game.

Notice there’s a lot of special teams mentioned there.

Anyway if you have Cablevision, you’ll be able to see this one Monday night on MSG Varsity.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Here’s a quick video I put together on a flight to Las Vegas last night (yes, I’m at a conference for the day job) from the Staples-Trinity Catholic game played this past Friday. I talked with Brandon Pacilio and Jake Santora, two of the Wreckers’ captains.

As you’ll see, Pacilio and Santora did not feel quite the same about the win.

(I’m back Thursday morning and will do my best to post during my spare time, which may not exist much).

Popularity: 8% [?]

Why “sort of?” Because as elated at the Staples fans and sideline were to have left Trinity Catholic with a win today, neither quarterback Brandon Pacilio or head coach Marce Petroccio seemed to be satisfied with the win. Their mission perfection, and the Wreckers did make a few mistakes.

There was some blown coverage, some plays weren’t executed well, and there were some penalties. But still this was a 21-point win for the Wreckers, who had a hard time putting points on the board in the second half of the 2008 season.

Staples also played without senior cornerback/wide receiver Brendan Rankowitz, who Petroccio said has mono.

Meanwhile, Trinity Catholic did not look all that bad in Peter Stokes’ head coaching debut. Trailing 14-0 in the first quarter didn’t help, but they did cut the Staples lead to 14-6. Brian O’Neill showed he can throw the ball if he has time, so it’s not going to be all fullback Mike Rivas all the time out of the Wing-T.

Petroccio told me last earlier this month that he had his team do less running as a part of its offseason conditioning program because he didn’t want Staples to get worn down. So far the choice has paid off, as the Wreckers seemed to have more stamina in the fourth quarter.

Popularity: 11% [?]

And that lesson: Don’t get complacent. Staples head coach Marce Petroccio said that’s what happened – from top to bottom – with the Wreckers in 2008. With six consecutive post-season appearances, the Wreckers were thinking about post-Thanksgiving football instead of the 11 games that made up the regular season.

“Even the (Westport) community started taking wins for granted,” Petroccio said. “What we learned as a team is you can’t just show up with a silver helmet with a blue ‘S’ on it and expect to win games.”

The Wreckers were 5-1 when a last-minute 21-20 loss to New Canaan sent the team into a downward spiral. Staples lost its confidence and was shut out in three of its last four games to finish the season 6-5. It needed a last-minute touchdown to take an 8-7 win over Ludlowe.

Staples quarterback Brandon Pacilio talked to the camera on Sunday. Here’s what he had to say about the most-recent off-season for Staples.

So what do you think: Will Staples rebound in 2009? Click “Want to leave a comment or read the comments?” below to access The Board.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Last season was, quite frankly, not a good one for Staples. At least by its own set of standards. The Wreckers finished the season with a 6-5 record, and missed the CIAC playoffs for the first time after a string of six straight appearances.

But that could have been a good thing for the Wreckers. The Staples players learned that the postseason is not a given, but a privilege it must earn.

Staples quarterback Brandon Pacilio talked with me today after the Wreckers scrimmage with Seymour and Shelton. And here’s what the co-captain and second-year starter had to say about the team’s long offseason.

Popularity: 8% [?]

By Tim Parry

Another Staples-New Canaan epic is in the books, and again, the road team prevails. New Canaan escaped with a 21-20 win, the result of a Staples extra point that sailed wide left.

So New Canaan improves to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the FCIAC, and is in the driver’s seat for a championship game berth.

But Staples, at 5-2 and 3-2 in the FCIAC, seems to be the team to beat now. In my opinion, the Wreckers were the better team, and had that extra point been a success, had a legitimate shot to win in overtime.

The reason? Staples figured out the Rams defense, which is something other teams haven’t yet this season. It’s diverse rushing attack kept New Canaan on its heals most of the game: Tae Dangerfield and Robert Toole pounded the ball up the middle, Josh Henry and Tyler Healy on the outside, and quarterback Brandon Pacilio with the keepers. And the run set up the pass, which was tough to do on a windy day.

Now New Canaan’s offense was all Nate Quinn. He ran for 76 of the Rams 104 rushing yards, and fought windy conditions to complete 20 of 32 for 213 yards.

The turning point: Early in the fourth quarter, tied at 14, Staples sends Kevin Clark out for a 27-yard field goal attempt into the wind. New Canaan calls time out, and Staples instead decides to go for in on fourth down. Pacilio fumbled the snap, and New Canaan linebacker Brandon Leeming recovers. New Canaan then went 85 yards on the game-winning drive.

“I’ve got to be proud of the way our kids played,” Petroccio said. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, gives us any credit around here. That’s the number-two team in the State of Connecticut, and we’re just lowly Staples, and we did a great job against them.”

Staples is on the rise. Now they have slight hopes left for an FCIAC playoff berth, but can also play the spoiler role. If they play against Darien in two weeks like they did yesterday against New Canaan, maybe the FCIAC standings get shaken up a bit (though Darien may still hold enough tie-breakers to get into the championship game).

Now I don’t see New Canaan losing to Bassick this Friday, and the Rams should, on paper, defeat Trinity Catholic and Wilton to clinch a championship game berth. But that’s the problem with on-paper. The Rams barely survived Staples, so who is to say the Crusaders or Warriors don’t catch New Canaan sleepwalking?

Popularity: 15% [?]