Brookfield running back-linebacker Trevor Treibt is the BlueStreak Sports Training Fairfield County Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in the CIAC playoffs.

In the Bobcats’ CIAC Class M semifinal win last Tuesday over Avon, Treibt had nine rushes for 75 yards and two touchdowns, eight receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns, 13 tackles, a sack for a safety and was credited for 3 hurries.

Then on Saturday against Ledyard in the Class M championship game, Treibt had 18 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown, and two interceptions.

Three New Canaan players – QB Nate Quinn, WR Kurt Ondash and WR Cody Newton, were the other nominees.

The BlueStreak Sports Training Fairfield County Player of the Week is presented by the FCIAC Football Blog. Players are nominated by coaches and fans, and nominees are voted on by the media.

The following media members voted: Rob Adams (WGCH-AM), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Jon Chik (Norwalk Citizen-News), Zachary Eastright (WSTC-AM/WNLK-AM), Dan Farrand (News-Times), Andy Hutchison (Newtown Bee), John Nash (The Stamford Times), Matt Norlander (New Canaan News-Review), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Joe Ryan (freelancer), Eliot Schickler (Westport News), Dave Stewart (New Canaan Advertiser), Paul Silverfarb (Greenwich Post), Rob Sullivan (Minuteman Newspapers/Bridgeport Banner), Michael Suppe (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers).

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Kurt Ondash has been voted the BlueStreak Sports Training Fairfield County Player of the Week for Thanksgiving Week.

The award, presented by the FCIAC Football Blog, went to Ondash for his performance against Darien in the FCIAC Championship Game. Ondash caught three passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, had an interception, and defended three passes in New Canaan’s 28-20 win in front of 9,500 at Boyle Stadium.

Nine of the 14 media members who had the final ballot voted for Ondash.

Week 12 runner-ups were Giovanny Marmolejos (Central), Mike Pope (Trumbull), Richie Edwards (Trumbull), Matt White (Ridgefield), Nate Quinn (New Canaan), Matt Grant (Greenwich), Frank Wright (Wright Tech/Stamford Academy), and Andrew Fiamengo (New Fairfield).

The following media members voted: Rob Adams (WGCH-AM), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Zachary Eastright (WSTC-AM/WNLK-AM), Dan Farrand (News-Times), Scott Ferrari (Greenwich Citizen), Andy Hutchison (Newtown Bee), Jason A. Intrieri (FCIAC Football Blog Live), Ken Morse (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), John Nash (The Stamford Times), Joe Ryan (freelancer), Eliot Schickler (Westport News), Dave Stewart (New Canaan Advertiser), Rob Sullivan (Minuteman Newspapers/Bridgeport Banner), Michael Suppe (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers).

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By Tim Parry

We’ve seen the spread offense come into play in Fairfield County this decade, but we haven’t seen wide receivers put up earth-shattering numbers yet.

Let’s start with Rutgers-bound Mark Harrison. Even with a shoulder injury on Friday, the Bunnell star still had four catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. With Harrison sitting out the second half, the offense could not move against Masuk, and the Bulldogs lost 42-20.

Harrison’s numbers now look like this through seven games: 31 catches, 961 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Then there’s the FCIAC’s two undefeated teams, Darien and New Canaan.

Brian Kosnik – whose Blue Wave team is not running a spread offense – has 40 catches for 721 yards and eight touchdowns. Teams have tried to double team Kosnik, but Matt Wheelock just puts the ball up for the 6-foot-4 Kosnik, and he outleaps the corners.

And in New Canaan, Kurt Ondash is near pace to set the CIAC record for touchdowns in a season. Ondash has 12 through seven games, and 36 carries for 793 yards. Now New Canaan plays 11 regular season games, and could have two CIAC games as well. A 14th game, the FCIAC championship game, could happen, or the regularly-scheduled Thanksgiving Day clash with Darien could replace that.

And another receiver putting up monster numbers (and a player I haven’t got to see this season yet, hence no photo inclusion) is Chris Evans of Stamford. Evans is at 932 yards and 11 touchdowns on 59 catches in the high-octane Black Knights offense. He has two games this season with more than 190 yards receiving.

So, what do you think? All four are seniors, can we get them all to represent Fairfield County in the Hall of Fame Classic?

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First up: New Canaan wide receiver Kurt Ondash, who at 110 yards receiving per game, is near pace to break a 39-year-old school record held by the late Peter Demmerle for yards in a season. But breaking the record, Ondash says, is far from his mind:

Next up, Rams quarterback Nate Quinn with postgame comments after New Canaan blanked Norwalk 25-0:

You can see all these videos and more at the bottom of the FCIAC Football Blog home page…

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By Tim Parry

Are there any New Canaan doubters left? Maybe not after what the Rams did to Ridgefield last night.

Even after a week when many were thinking New Canaan could only throw the ball, and that its defense would have a tough time shutting down Ridgefield quarterback Matt White, the Rams were dominant in a 40-13 win at Dunning Stadium.

And this came six days after New Canaan defeated Trumbull 41-13.

White was rattled by some unfamiliar defensive formations and was picked off four times. He completed just nine of his 27 pass attempts.

And Chris Sciarretta carried 13 times for 98 yards, while Sean Simmons gained 83 yards on seven attempts.

The question is, does this make New Canaan the front-runner for the chance to dethrone FCIAC champion Greenwich (who lost its first in-state game since Thanksgiving 2006 since I started writing this), or will homecoming Saturday be another disaster for the Rams?

Kurt Ondash – who had six catches for 165 yards against Ridgefield and 296 yards in just two games – was on FCIAC Football Blog Live this morning, and shared his thoughts. Click here to listen.

So, is New Canaan able to reload year in and year out because of the players, the coaches, or a little bit of both? Share your thoughts below:

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By Tim Parry

This morning at 9 a.m., FCIAC Football Blog Live is calling an audible. I’m handing the reigns to Jason Intrieri, and I’m going to be his sidekick. The sponsors agree it could be a great move for the show. I’m definitely an Ed McMahon (and probably as broke) to Jason’s Johnny Carson. Or is it Mad Dog (although no where near as overrated and over exposed) to Jason’s Mike?

(CLICK THE LINK ABOVE FOR THE REPLAY… SORRY FOR THE FEEDBACK, I SHOULDN’T HAVE USED MY BLURTOOTH SINCE JASON AND I WERE IN THE SAME ROOM)

We shall see… but Jason does have tons more experience doing radio and TV as a lead man, having done The Coach’s Corner for Channel 78 in Westport and the Staples pregame show on WWPT-AM. I have a hunch that it will be great for the show.

In other words: Why waste his talent by putting him in a sidekick roll?

Here’s what’s up for this morning, Sept. 20, from Jason’s house (as I will travel to Norwalk to show him the switchboard, and raid his fridge!):

• Stamford head coach Kevin Jones will discuss his team’s loss to Trumbull, and what’s coming up next with its game at Staples.
• New Canaan wide receiver Kurt Ondash will talk about his team’s 41-13 win over Ridgefield, the Rams’ offensive attack, and catching passes from Curt Casali, Charlie Westfal, and now Nate Quinn.
• Rob Adams, the voice of Greenwich football on WGCH-AM, will be on to discuss the Cardinals date with Darien, maybe a little bit about Brunswick football, and possibly share some of his thoughts about the final days of Yankee Stadium.

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By Tim Parry

Thanks for the day off, everyone. Abbi went peacefully at about 8:45 a.m. and we had a fantastic final night together. She did have an accident in the middle of the night, and must have know something was up because we didn’t scold her for it (even if she did pee on one of Ursula’s shoes!).

But yesterday made me realize something very important about the FCIAC Football Blog. While high school football may be life for those players and coaches (and some parents), it’s a great escape from reality for the rest of us.

Sure, I’d love to make six-figures with the FCIAC Football Blog… but that’s not reality. Four-figures isn’t even reality. Unless some people want to buy some real estate on the site. The site is about the people who are high school football in Fairfield County, and it’s a great escape.

I won’t reveal the true identification of the comment posters. But I can tell you that they include investment bankers who are dealing with turmoil on Wall Street, commuters dealing with $4 a gallon fuel prices, and businessmen hoping customers will open their wallets again. And the readers: It’s a range of those clipping coupons to help make ends meet, to the Metro-North riding zombies hoping an olive shortage doesn’t affect their martinis.

Bottom line is we all need a diversion from reality, and I’m glad I can help.

So let’s talk football.

• I’m looking forward to the Platt Tech-Wright Tech/Stamford Academy game today at the old Rippowam High School. The tech schools don’t get any respect. And even though Bullard-Havens made the CIAC playoffs last season, they were still laughed at. This year’s Bluuard-Havens team didn’t really impress me when I saw it lose to Barlow. But I’d love to see how like teams do against each other. In that case I guess I’m not giving them any respect either, but hopefully they will prove me wrong… after all, Wright Tech/Stamford Academy defensive tackle Steve Lesperance did a great job in the Hall of Fame Classic shutting down Ansonia Mr. Everything Alex Thomas…
• Okay, I’m sure this will end up on the New Canaan locker room wall… but the Rams will have a tougher time with Ridgefield. Chris Sciarretta was held to 28 yards on the ground, and you have to think Ridgefield can shut down the New Canaan running attack. And you also have to think Nate Quinn won’t see Kurt Ondash as wide open against the Tigers as he was Saturday…
• I didn’t do a poll to see who would win tonight’s Ludlowe-St. Joseph game. But based on the comments to an earlier post, readers think it’s either going to be a blowout for St. Joseph or a close game for Ludlowe. A Ludlowe player asked me yesterday if I thought they had a chance to win. My answer: I think the Falcons have a good shot. They have to want it more that St. Joseph does, and they have to play for four quarters. If the Falcons give up after halftime, the Cadets, Hogs, whatever they really are, will have a fun bus ride home…
• Pomperaug lost a tough one to Windham in Week One, and it doesn’t get easier as they face Bunnell. This will be the first time the SWC sees Pomperaug in the spread formation, and the question of course will be this: How well will they execute it? Not a single press clipping I’ve seen indicates if the spread is being used part- or full-time. But the box scores show Pomperaug scored each of its touchdowns in the 22-21 loss on the ground. Still doesn’t tell me much.

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New Canaan quarterback Nate Quinn is the Week One recipient of the BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week award, which is presented weekly by the FCIAC Football Blog.

Making his first offensive start for the Rams against Trumbull on Saturday, Quinn completed nine of 17 passes for 255 yards and six touchdowns. New Canaan defeated Trumbull 41-13.

Quinn will receive his award from BlueStreak Sports Training president Matt Cole Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at New Canaan High School at the upper field.

Players are nominated both by football coaches representing teams in Fairfield County. A mimimum of five nominees from a weekly fan poll are also included on a ballot, and the Player of the Week is then selected by members of the Fairfield County sports media community.

Fairfield Ludlowe placekicker Sean Anderson was the runner up. In addition to a pair of extra points, he nailed a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift Ludlowe over heavily-favored Norwalk 17-14.

The Week-One nominees also included George Benitez (Darien), Tae Dangerfield (Staples), Marcus Dixon (Stamford), Chris Evans (Stamford), Mike Graham (McMahon), Mike Grant (Greenwich), Brian Kosnik (Darien), Colin Morris (St. Joseph), Kurt Ondash (New Canaan) and Chris Sloat (Bunnell).

The following media members voted: The following media members voted: Rob Adams (WGCH-AM), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Dan Farrand (News-Times), Scott Ferrari (Greenwich Citizen), Andy Hutchison (Newtown Bee), Jason A. Intrieri (FCIAC Football Blog Live), Ken Morse (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Tim Murphy (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), John Nash (The Stamford Times), Matt Norlander (New Canaan News-Review), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Paul Silverfarb (Greenwich Post), Rob Sullivan (Minuteman Newspapers), Michael Suppe (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers).

Photos of Nate Quinn by Dave Stewart/New Canaan Sports Photography

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By Tim Parry

The media is going to hear it. Each and every one of us. Except maybe the Greenwich guys who whoop it up about the awesomeness known as the Cardinals.

The rest of us truly thought there was going to be a changing of the guard in the FCIAC. That after two seasons of Greenwich, New Canaan, and Staples dominance, we believed there was something new on the horizon. Like before Hanna hit last Saturday, there was a calm before a storm that was going to shake up the football landscape in Fairfield County.

We are suckers. We won’t apologize. We’ll admit we’re wrong, but we didn’t didn’t do anything that should make us get down on our knees and beg forgiveness.

We did believe Staples was going to defeat McMahon, and we were right… barely. The Wreckers showed complacence and had to remember what Staples football was all about before coming back to defeat the Senators.

For a while, we believed Central had a chance to defeat Greenwich. But by the time Hanna hit, we discovered that Central had some more vulnurabilities than the Cardinals. And we forgot something else: Greenwich is the two-time defending champ, and should be treated that was until proven otherwise.

We thought New Canaan was dead in the water, and we thought Richie Edwards and Michael Pope were going to lead Trumbull to the promised land. We thought New Canaan’s line was nowhere near as good as its passing attack. And the Rams owned the Eagles today, 41-13, with Nate Quinn throwing for six touchdowns (including three to Kurt Ondash).

And somehow we believed an unproven Norwalk team was going to wear the FCIAC crown. Last night, Ludlowe sent the shock heard around the state, and upset the Bears 17-14, coming from behind to win in Matt McCloskey’s head coaching deput on a last-second 29-yard field goal by Sean Anderson.

So what’s the deal? We drank the Kool-Ade. We believed what we saw on paper, which by the way, is the two deadliest words in sports when placed next to each other.

But wait – Friday begins another week. And chances are, we will take what we learned, and be wrong once again…

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