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 High school sports talk from Sean Patrick Bowley. Whether it's football, basketball, baseball, or lacrosse season, we've got it covered... August 30, 2008Ansonia 27, West Haven 6 (The Movie!)
Based on my experience, the stir that Stratford Public Schools created for pulling out of this fest ultimately didn't amount to a hill of beans (which is too bad, because those at least Aside from all the bugs that invaded the complex early, this turned out to be a nice relaxing event, to which would have gladly have taken my family. Ansonia's youth football teams and cheerleaders played around; the live band rocked, the ice cream bus kept everyone cool, and the pulled pork sandwiches and ribs were to die for. The only things missing were hay rides and Ferris wheels. I'm certain the Bunnell and Central people would have approved. But I guess we'll never know. Oh, and by the way, there just happened to be a football scrimmage going on on the other side of the complex. Some people didn't even bother with the entertainment and made a beeline for the stands. They were too busy trying to get a sneak peek at these perennial powerhouses. As for said scrimmage, Ansonia didn't play with numbered jerseys, which didn't help because there are lots and lots of new faces out there. But it wasn't hard to pick back Tristan Roberts out from the crowd. The 6-foot-2 monster is back after a spending most of last season away from the game. And he put on a show with two touchdowns while Tom Hyde and Ansonia's revamped line pushed West Haven around. Though it wasn't a complete destruction -- West Haven, led by LB/FB O'Brien Johnson, showed some fight early, but eventually was worn down by the two-time defending Class S and No. 1 Chargers. The word around the Valley is that West Haven is the latest in a list of vanquished SCC scrimmage foes (and remember, these are only scrimmages) that include Amity and Notre Dame-West Haven. Looks like it could be a wide-open year, even in the SCC. As for the NVL, unless Mike Osiecki and Seymour want to show up, this is going to be Ansonia's league to lose once again. Anyway: here's the carnage according to my MiniMe Cam. Also, be sure to check out Tony Spinelli's video on the home page of Connpost.com. Posted by SPB on 11:11 PM | Comments (3) August 29, 2008Saturday morning reading: SCC unties itself; New London gets fined; Sponheimer's curtain callBunnell's sudden (and, from the administration's point of view, unexplained) withdrawal from the Ansonia football scrimmage wasn't the only high school football news on Friday. While that piece of interesting, but relatively unimportant news flooded the internet wires, here are some significantly more important tidbits you might have missed: 1. The SCC football coaches finally vote away tie games (Yes, the ADs still have to approve, but we have assurances they will and the SCC will finally make the leap into the 21st Century. Hallelujah! I says.) 2. New London is fined a whopping $250 by the mighty CIAC after the Whalers reported their own recruiting violations in this story reported by The Day of New London. (Apparently a couple of eighth graders took part in a drill during last spring, leading to the self report and coach Jack Cochran's vow to pay it out of his own pocket. Almost as bizarre is the big Jack's explanation that the kids "just jumped in there." Priceless. But it's not cheating if you report yourself, right?) 3. And last, but certainly not least: Longtime Seymour coach Paul Sponheimer confirmed his rumored retirement after the season. I know Spoony can be tough to take if you're not in his corner. He speaks his mind and loves to stir the pot. But he is an absolute classic, a guy who's everything a football coach is supposed to be. He's also guy who doesn't take the game so seriously that he loses sight of its true value: building the lives of young men. His departure truly will be the end of an era in Valley and Connecticut football. (Oh, by the way. To the BirdsNest guys out there: Spoony says you can put those Mike Osiecki-out-for-the-season rumors to rest. "He sat out the Central scrimmage," Sponheimer said. "He's fine." Posted by SPB on 11:53 PM | Comments (2) FINALLY! SCC close to abolishing ties
The only hurdle left is a ratifying vote by the league's athletic directors at their monthly meeting Wednesday morning. That, says SCC commish Al Carbone, merely should be a formality. "I'm very confident it will pass," Carbone said Friday.
For leagues who decide to adopt overtime, the CIAC mandates the use of the same Kansas Overtime system used in the state playoffs. Teams alternate possessions, then alternate the order of possession for every overtime; they get four downs to score from the 10-yard line in every overtime; they must go for two if the game goes to a third overtime. "I think it is very good thing for our league because every football game should have a winner" Carbone said. "It will add a lot more excitement and it aligns us with everyone else in this state. The excitement of overtime is pretty good experience for our kids and coaches, too." The CIAC has always made overtime optional for its leagues. But last season, the state's football committee voted to reduce the amount of playoff points awarded for a tie in an attempt to force the issue. When that happened, Carbone said, the league's football coaches discussed changing the rule but ultimately, they decided not to put it to vote until they could monitor how the new point system would affect their schools' playoff prospects. "People were swinging back because of the change in playoff points," Carbone said. "It got to the point where you saw the enormous change in votes." Posted by SPB on 2:20 PM | Comments (1) Bunnell pulls out of Ansonia scrimmage
Coughlin said Bunnell principal Dudley Orr called to cancel on Thursday night. Coughlin, the secretary of the Ansonia KO Club, said there was "a little bit of an issue," which led to Bunnell's decision, but did not wish to discuss the school's reasoning. Update: Sources close to Ansonia's side said Bunnell's administration became concerned when it learned alcohol would be served in a tent at the fireman's barbeque cookoff next on the practice fields next to Jarvis Stadium, where the scrimmages would be held. Though organizers agreed to eliminate the sale of alcohol, Bunnell's administration went ahead and pulled the team from the event anyway. "We're very disappointed," said Coughlin, 37. UPDATE (2:26 p.m.): Orr was unavailable for comment at 1:21 p.m. He has yet to return a phone message left by the Connecticut Post. Bunnell, which is assisted by Ansonia resident and Recreation Director Jeff Coppola, originally moved its Sept. 3 scrimmage with Central up to Saturday take part in the charity event at Ansonia's Nolan Field complex. While the scrimmages are being played, food will be sold and a barbeque cooking contest sponsored by the Ansonia fire department held on the practice fields next door. With Bunnell dropping out, Central also will not attend. West Haven and Ansonia will play their scrimmage as scheduled. A $5 donation at the door and all other proceeds from the event will go to the Mead School Breakfast Program, the City of Ansonia’s Recreation Department and the Valley YMCA’s youth programs, Coughlin said. A portion will also be given to West Haven's football program for their participation, he added. Sean Patrick Bowley Posted by SPB on 12:43 PM | Comments (3) Bunnell at Staples & Masuk at Shelton (The Movie!)
I finally got a chance Thursday to edit the footage taken from Wednesday's scrimmages, Bunnell at Staples in the afternoon and Masuk at Shelton in the evening. Again, it's not exactly NFL films and its hard to identify most of the players. But remember, I'm just a guy with a pocket recorder and a dream. Besides, you get the point. Lots and lots of offense, not to mention plenty of whoopin' and hollerin' at the Staples-Bunnell scrimmage. It was fun to watch, but didn't pack the venom of previous encounters. This was more business as usual, a sign that Bunnell officially is a member of the Connecticut He-Man football clubhouse. Up in Shelton, there was not as much scoring, at least on the offensive side. Instead, Masuk's defense returned two Shelton turnovers for touchdowns. Masuk, the more veteran club, was a bit better in this one. Yet, overall it was a solid effort from both clubs. Shelton unveiled a nice run game and shuffled between two quarterbacks. With some nice decisions and good throws Masuk QB Bobby Baker showed he's ready to pick up where he left off in last year's Class L title game. It was during this scrimmage that I missed out on one of the craziest plays of the game: Masuk receiver Justin Conte, catching short pass and going 50 yards down the sideline only to be caught just as he hit the goal line and, right in front of me, fumbling the ball out of bounds. As Conte lay on the turf, he pleaded with the ref: "Did I get in? Did I get in?" "I didn't see it," the ref admitted, smiling "C'mon. Just give it to me," Conte said. "Just raise your hands." It was pure comedy. Unfortunately for me I had shot so much video at the Bunnell-Staples scrimmage I had no space left on my recorder's flash drive and Conte's play happened while I was trying to erase some footage. Hence, I missed the whole darn exchange. I threw my pad down in disgust. Senior Spielbergo, indeed. No worries, though Conte and fellow senior Nick Bacarella give you (conflicting) play-by-play on what you missed. Also, giving us an introduction to that scrimmage are Masuk's enthusiastic young "statistical engineers," Emily Palmer and Megan Markus (thanks again, Ladies). So without further ado... Posted by SPB on 1:01 AM | Comments (10) August 26, 2008Hamden at Law (The Movie!)OK, so this movie-making business ain't so easy. After a solid debut, I took the pod-camera out for another spin Tuesday afternoon (when am I gonna start writing stories? Patience, my pet. Patience.) and I'm sorry to say this vignette looks as if it was shot by Señor Spielbergo, Steven Spielberg's, Mexican. non-union equivalent from The Simpsons season six episode, A Star is Burns. While Ben Talbott of Birdseye Sports didn't show up with one of his $5,000 hi-def dealies to give me lens envy, Hamden coach Scott Benoit has his own videographer there to do the job. Plus, I ran out of double-A batteries mid-scrimmage and had to pop over to Walgreens for more. And, with the pod's limited range I either need plays to come my way or I'll get nothing and like it. The one time I was in prime position at the back of the end zone, the thing konked out just as Hamden tailback Jordan Teague ran straight at me an scored on a short touchdown. (sigh) Flummoxed, I just threw this together and called it an afternoon.
As for the scrimmage (run in a 10-plays on, 10-plays off format) it was hard to tell since I had to skip outta there for batteries. It began rather clumsily, with penalties, fumbles and kids falling out of formation. Hamden got its act together on offense and seemed to win the touchdown battle. New Hamden QB Jason Lassiter threw two TDs and sophomore back Jordan Teague ran for a score. For Law, junior Corey Vienneau scored on an interception return and Law's bruising run attack moved the ball well, especially late in the scrimmage. Hamden -- which was 2-7-1 last year and 1-9 the year before that -- is starting fresh with Benoit, the former Guilford coach who took over the high-profile but downtrodden program last spring. There's a lot of work to do, Benoit said, adding that at least the team is not lacking in talent. Only a sophomore, the younger Teague is one to watch. The Green Dragons won't have much time to figure it out with a brutal schedule that includes, Cheshire, Hand, West Haven and Amity to start the year. Over at Law, there's some rebuilding to do for a team that went 9-1 and was unfairly excluded from the state playoffs (you can thank our state's unwieldy six-division, one-week playoff format for that, boys). A large senior class that included Dave Plaskon, Matt Ramos, Bud Schoenster et. al. are gone. Though the Lawmen are starting fresh with new QB Eric Benigni and tailback Brian Donovan, the cupboard isn't barren. Law returns big fullback/linebacker Ricky Rozier, lineman Damarley Robinson and up-and-comers like WR Corey Vienneau, DB Brian Fernandez, LB Brogan Sullivan and NG Joe Richardson. Law, which is the defending SCC Division II West champ, has it a little bit easier. It opens with a non-league home game against Stratford, then gets East Haven and Sheehan before it runs what coach Mark Robinson calls "The Gauntlet" -- Fairfield Prep (home), at Guilford, Shelton (home) and at Hillhouse. For more information, visit the team sites here: Hamdenfootball.net and GoLawmen.com. Posted by SPB on 8:51 PM | Comments (3) August 25, 2008Stratford-Trumbull scrimmage (The Movie!)
So here's the first live blog video of the season (hooray!). And (ta da!) It's a cute little vignette produced, directed and edited by yours truly using my puny PureDigital camcorder. Hey, for a mere sports writer who has absolutely no help, it's not bad for a first try at video production. Imagine what I could do with some time and some real equipment a la Ben Talbott at Birdseye Sports. (Incidentally, if I really wanted to put together wham-bang production, I could have spent a few more hours and added some voice over. But we'll save that for another day.) As for the scrimmage: Yes, I was able to take a few notes on the scrimmage, which was won rather handily by Trumbull (about five touchdowns to Stratford's two or three). Here they are, in a nutshell: 1. Trumbull senior back Richie Edwards is a beast. The kid did just about everything (two picks, a touchdown run or two, a touchdown catch or two). If he can stay healthy this year (Edwards missed about 3/4 of 2007), he'll make Trumbull a better team just by stepping on the field. Now if the Eagles can get some linemen together and maybe a second threat... look out. 4. Stratford is looking for a few good skill guys to get it going. As we all know Stratford lost Torrey Mack and Octavias McKoy, awesome players who come together once in a career. But Stratford Duane Shirden says he likes his newcomers. The new QB is Jeff Miller who showed promise against Trumbull. One of the new tailbacks in the Wing T will be Jacob Jean-Baptiste (Stenson's kid brother). The receivers will be Jon Sadowy and Eric Eyerman, who both looked good against Trumbull. Stratford's line also returns to help them get adjusted. But the Red Devils showed they have plenty of work to do, on both sides of the ball. They scored on its second drive but, other than a 30-yard touchdown strike from Miller to Eyerman, the first team didn't move the ball consistently the rest of the scrimmage. Trumbull's offense, meanwhile, looked impressive moving up and down the field. Then again, like Trumbull coach Bob Maffei said afterward: "Not bad for just two days in pads." It's only a scrimmage. Posted by SPB on 9:01 PM | Comments (1) August 22, 2008Oh boy: The Staples Wreckers kickoff video
It's mostly footage from the last three years or so combined. Nothing insightful. But, I'll tell ya, it sure pumped me up for some football!!!! They've disabled embedding (wah-wah), so here's the link: Staples Wreckers 2008 Kickoff Video So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy. ...Or, if you're from Greenwich, get those eggs ready. Also, it looks like the Wreckers have changed their logo to the graphic above. Posted by sports on 1:06 PM | Comments (8) August 21, 2008This One's For Sean Barker: Nothing's afoot... yetThis blog knows it isn't anything without its fans. And today -- while I'm trying to keep my mind on football while covering the James-Blake-Less Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament -- here's a shout out to former Connecticut Post reporter Sean Barker. Sean, who has moved up in the world since his time here in the 1990s (he is now the sports editor of the competing New Haven Register, doncha know), admitted that he was a regular reader of this weblog. That's high praise coming from the boss of a department that didn't have the foresight to hire a bloke like me to the sports desk while employed in the Register's weekly division from 2000-2004. That kinda feels like earning an honorary degree from the college that expelled you after freshman year. ;) All kidding aside (Because it worked out for the best): Mr. Barker was wondering -- in so many words -- why there hasn't been much activity here. And the reason, of course, was standing in front of him. I'm at the Pilot Pen this week, so there isn't much I can do outside of monitor my other blogosphere competitors and chime in with the random (read: pointless) entry. But that doesn't mean that you, dear readers not unlike Sean Barker, can't get involved. I have posted plenty of preseason stuff already to get the discussions going. But, other than a few silly remarks suggesting that Ansonia is ducking Central in a preseason scrimmage/fundraiser, there hasn't been much to tickle the football bone. So, while I munch on a custom-made crepe from the Pilot Pen food court (below), waiting for the Mauresmo-Szavay match to begin, go ahead and chime in on who you think your Top 10 should be, what you think of 7-on-7 passing leagues and... well, there's no sense in dictating the topics. Just send a few emails or comments over. I check it regularly and your two cents should be up as soon as possible. Until the first scrimmages: SPB
Posted by sports on 5:14 PM | Comments (7) August 18, 2008So it begins (high school football)...It's here. It's finally here. After more than nine months of waiting, the weightlifting competitions, the linemen camps, those exotic 7-on-7 passing leagues and a bunch of other offseason garbage that included several players from the defending Class LL champion Greenwich football team (which was deftly covered by the Greenwich Citizen sports editor Scott Ferarri in this Aug. 7 story) its finally time to grab the water buckets, push out the tackling sleds, the orange cones and old tires (unless you're one of those special-interest clods from the North Haven-based Environment and Human Health Inc. group attempting to abolish field turf) and hit the fields... It's football time. Yes. The 2008 Connecticut High School football season officially gets underway Monday with the first day of conditioning camp. We've already sent our 2008 preseason prospectuses to nearly 50 coaches and have started to hit the fields to see who's got what for the upcoming season. As an aside: Did anybody catch the ESPN interview done with one of Shelton Little League coach Ed Szymansky's older (non-Little League playing) sons? Though I didn't, I heard it was beaut if you're a football fan: the Szymanskys said they hadn't been on vacation in years. So they asked young Szymansky where he'd like to be on vacation and he basically said: Can't. I've got football practice on Monday. "Football rules my life," he said. (Hear that Jeff Roy?) Again, this was second-hand information, but just priceless for us football lovers if its true. Anyway, I was supposed to keep this short and rant-free. I was supposed to just trumpet the start of conditioning week and the beginning of yet another sure-to-be exciting football season. I got carried away. Feel free to post your thoughts either here or on some of the other entries on this blog (especially on our Preseason Top 10 posting). We'll be getting you videos and commentary real, real soon. Until then, Another aside: has anybody ever heard of a team actually losing a passing league? For as long as I've heard about these things, I've yet to hear that a team got its butt kicked in a passing league. It's always, 'Well, we won our passing league this year, so that's good.' Just once, I'd like to hear a coach or parent say, 'Well, we got absolutely trounced in our passing league. Jimmy couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. And our senior receiving corps of Joe, Bob and Dan couldn't catch a cold). Just a thought. Posted by SPB on 1:35 AM | Comments (3) August 15, 2008Ansonia Football Challenge and Fireman's BBQ Competition
I got an email from Ansonia alum (and fan of this blog) Chris Lisi, who wants to let everybody know about a new community even and fundraiser Ansonia is planning for August 30 at Jarvis Stadium, which is about the usual time we around here can't wait to feast our eyes on the annual Ansonia-West Haven scrimmage. This year, instead of getting just Ansonia-West Haven, the Chargers are packaging a whole day around two scrimmages featuring some of the top programs in the state -- defending Class S and No. 1 Ansonia vs. West Haven; defending Class L and No. 3 Bunnell vs. Class LL playoff participant Central This being a weblog (where space isn't limited) and not the newspaper (where space is), I'll run Chris' press release verbatim. If you feel like getting involved or would like to know more (not that this this was brief or anything) contact numbers are at the bottom. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. For Immediate Release "The First “High School Football Challenge and Firemen’s BBQ Competition” scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 30 at Nolan Field in Ansonia is a community-wide charity event to raise money for Ansonia’s youth, specifically the Mead School Breakfast Program, The City of Ansonia’s Recreation Department and the Valley YMCA’s youth programs. "The Ansonia High School Football Program, Red Planet BBQ, LLC, Ansonia Fire Department, Ansonia Rescue Medical Services, Pilgrim BBQ, Norwood Athletic Club, Millies II and the KO Club, Inc. will be working together to bring a family-oriented afternoon and evening of high school football, delicious BBQ, live entertainment and other surprises that promise to deliver a fun-filled community event for an extremely worthy cause… the young boys and girls of Ansonia. "The gates will open at 3 p.m. and the event will conclude at 11 p.m. The "Football Challenge" will consist of two high school football games: the first game beginning at 4 p.m. will be Bridgeport Central vs Bunnell. The second game between West Haven and Ansonia will start at 6 p.m. "As part of the football challenge portion of the event, the young players participating in the Ansonia Youth Football League will be invited to meet with head coach Tom Brockett, John Coughlin and the AHS Varsity Football Captains at 5:30 p.m. for a brief discussion on the importance of school and intelligent decision-making. "Simultaneously over on the practice fields there will be a Firemen's BBQ Competition in two categories (Chili & BBQ Chicken). The Ansonia Fire Department, Ansonia Rescue Medical Services and other fire departments and municipal agencies throughout the area will be competing for the top BBQ prize. Judging results of the competition will be announced at 9 p.m. All fire departments and other municipal agencies are invited to compete. For more information on participating in the BBQ competition please call Pitmaster and Certified Kansas City Barbeque Society Judge Dave Conti (Red Planet BBQ, Inc.) at 734-7272. "Red Planet BBQ will be serving their delicious BBQ at the event and live entertainment, headlined by the Rubber City Blues Band, will also be featured for all to enjoy. Fire trucks and other emergency service vehicles will be displayed for the kids to see up close. 'Any businesses or individuals interested in being a sponsor for the event are encouraged to call John Coughlin at 646-460-4166. Several sponsorship packages are available and a VIP tent will be provided for our sponsors." Posted by sports on 3:37 PM | Comments (42) August 10, 2008"The Merullo Bowl": Hand at Fairfield Prep on MSG (Week 3)Last year, Shelton, Fairfield Prep, heck, all of Connecticut football sparkled in front of the tri-state area on MSG when the Gaels came back to defeat the Jesuits 26-21 in front of a packed house of 5,000 at Finn Stadium. It was, MSG's Mike Quick said at the time, one of the best high school games MSG had ever broadcast. It was a game no doubt supercharged thanks to the suggestion from Fairfield Prep senior Ryan Nolan that, "Shelton should be afraid of us because we have the best team in the SCC." Poetically, after Nolan blocked a game-tying extra point kick, Shelton's Geoff Schultz slipped past the charging linebacker and into the end zone for the winning points with just under a minute left. About a month ago, Fairfield Prep coach Rich Magdon stirred me from slumber with a call to say Prep is going back on MSG, a fact reinforced when MSG released its tentative high school football schedule for the 2008 season (check it out here). All of this is just a long-winded way of saying... The first thing that came to my mind was, not how great this game figures to be, but intriguing, too. It will pit the alma mater of one former all-state player (and Major League alum) Matt Merullo against his son, junior Nick Merullo, who famously took over at QB for Hand in the middle of last year, beat Shelton, completed an unbeaten regular season and then took the Tigers to the Class MM state championship game. I got a chance to meet proud papa (Matt introduced himself anonymously as such) the night of the Shelton game. He had been hiding among the Shelton fans in the tall stands at Finn Stadium, and not with the Madison parents. While I'm sure Matt's going to be rooting for his son in this game, I guarantee his boys from Fairfield Prep are going to give him hell for it. Hence, I now christen this game, "The Merullo Bowl." It's gonna be in Week 3 at Fairfield Prep's Alumni Stadium. I can't wait. I'm sure the Merullo family can't either... right, Matt? Posted by SPB on 5:37 PM | Comments (11) High School Football season begins!
...In Alaska. While we in Connecticut have a little over four weeks remaining until the kickoff of the 2008 season (one of the LAST 50 states to kick off, mind you), they're well underway in places like Anchorage, Fairbanks and ... yes, Barrow.
For those of you who can use a lesson in geography, Barrow is the northernmost town in, not just the United States, but in North America and the second northernmost town of over 4,000 residents in the world (Tiksi, Russia is the northernmost). The Barrow High School Whalers' turf football field, which was built just recently (the team used to play on gravel), sits a mere football field away from the Arctic Ocean. When they won the program's first game there last season, the team celebrated by leaping into the sub-freezing ocean. This squad is the ultimate Polar Bear Club. Anyway, Barrow started their practices just a week or so ago in beautifully wintry weather (And we in Connecticut can't add one more week of football? Harumph!) Barrow's closest opponent is close to 500 miles away and, since there are no roads to Barrow, they have to fly to get there. And here we think Masuk to Fitch is hefty roadtrip. Barrow opened the season at home with a 36-27 victory over Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska -- which sits on the Cook Inlet, nearly 1,000 miles away on the state's southern coast. Yow. While looking for information on these rugged individuals, I stumbled across this ESPN.com report and this sequel on the Whalers' football team. After watching this, I dare anybody here to complain about windy, 10-degree December playoff weather ever again. Here was the Anchorage Daily News' preseason report on the Whalers. (A free subscription may be required). Posted by SPB on 3:00 PM | Comments (1) August 9, 2008Eleven! Eleven! Eleven!
While that's certainly the case this year, the some thickheaded and -- dare we say "lazy" -- league athletic directors and administrators (seems like we have plague of these in this state) have in their infinite wisdom filled the 11th games with league games (cough, cough, FCIAC! FCIAC! Cough, cough NVL! NVL!) I'll have much, much more to say about these knuckleheads. For now, let's extol the virtues of the teams and leagues who went out and found great non-league matchups for Week 1. Games involving regional teams are in bold. East Catholic (Nutmeg) at Manchester (CCC)
Posted by sports on 1:30 PM | Comments (0) August 8, 2008What's your preseason Top 10?Since our first football comment of the year on this blog asked for rankings, we're going to leave it to you: Give us what you think should be the preseason Top 10 football teams in the state. Try to be as accurate as possible, thinking of who's here and who's gone. Feel free to state your case for each team in one sentence. Have fun! Posted by sports on 3:06 PM | Comments (26) August 7, 2008Whatever Happened To... Hampus Hellermark?
Hellermark ran for 649 yards and six touchdowns and also played defensive back for the Wreckers, who went 8-0 but lost its last two games of the year -- Thanksgiving to Greenwich for the FCIAC championship and to Bunnell in the Class L semifinals. He returned to Sweden shortly thereafter and, aside from a mention or two in passing, that was that for Hampus. Until now. His father, Anders Hellermark, emailed an update over to Connecticut Post writer Mike Cardillo. Hampus is still playing football and doing extremely well, he was named the MVP of the European Junior Championship tournament in Seville, Spain. Hellermark won the rushing title with 404 yards in three group games, over 100 more than any other back in the tournament, and scored four touchdowns. Alas, after a 3-0 group record (apparently this tournament is played like soccer), Hellermark's team--the Northside Bulls lost to Germany 9-6 in the EJC Championship game. Hellermark rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries. “It wasn’t a fairytale ending," he said in a statement. "But we did have a great time, and the team got better game by game." They posted the highlights up on YouTube, which I've included below. Though it's tough to see with the fish-eye lens they inexplicably used, Hellermark is No. 6. Make sure you fast forward through all three (Spain, Germany and Sweden) national anthems. Though his previous stay here was short, Hellermark is hoping to return to the United States to play in college. “I played in a high school in Connecticut last season," he said. "Now I plan to finish my studies, and the go and play in a college in the USA. I have already gotten some scholarship offers." Though he didn't indicate where, I'm sure somebody will pick the kid up. He still has plenty to learn, but he's certainly got enough skills to play in college. Posted by sports on 4:45 PM | Comments (0) Let the high school football countdown begin...Attention... Attention. ...Attention. It's August 7. Just two weeks until the official start to the 2008 high school football season with the first day of conditioning practice. Just so you know. We're already hard at work gathering information for the 2008 season. Coaches expect prospectuses in the mail shortly. In the meantime, feel free to start your comments and shout-outs here. We'll start posting information in due time. Posted by sports on 4:29 PM | Comments (3) |
Where was I on this glorious late summer afternoon? Where else but Jarvis Stadium in Ansonia for the first Ansonia Football Challenge and Firemen's BBQ competition?
could have been used in the chili.) 
By a vote of 14-5, SCC football coaches have elected to join the rest of the state and add overtime to its league football games.
The SCC had three ties last season and 29 during its previous 14 years (it is celebrating its 15th year, hence the new league logos). The SCC and the Nutmeg League were the only two Connecticut leagues, and just a handful across the Northeast, not to use some form of overtime rules.
Bunnell has pulled out of the Ansonia Football Challenge scrimmage, event organizer John Coughlin said Friday.
vs. 
OK, so on Monday I sauntered down to Trumbull and after a week filled with Pilot Pen tennis, I finally got my football fix. But, I'll admit, this trip was more about my education than yours. That is to say I was more concerned about learning how to become a videographer than being a reporter.
On cue, Staples' assistant Jack McFarland has filled our void, chiming in with the Staples Wreckers 2008 Kickoff Video. 
The 2008 High School football season is underway! Yes, this is no joke. Week 1 of the regular season has come and gone... 
For those of you out of the loop, this year the calendar allows for an 11th game instead of the normal 10. In years past, 11th games have allowed for some pretty intriguing non-league matchups on Week 1.
It was just over a year ago, at the American Legion State Baseball tournament in Middletown, where Staples assistant Jack McFarland gave us the first insight into a young Swedish man named Hampus Hellermark, who was attempting to come to Westport and play football as an exchange student.
 
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