Week 6 in review
Wow. That's all I can say after watching the game between Rocky Hill and Berlin this past Friday. I've been giddy about it basically since then. It was a very good matchup. Perhaps not perfectly played, but still very well played other than Berlin's many false start penalties. Each team had players step up and make spectacular plays. Each defense was stout. The coaching was great (which is to be expected from John Capodice and Dave Coyne, two of the most overlooked coaches in the state).
OK, the dirty non-secret is that I am a Rocky Hill alumnus, and therefore always have an emotional stake in their games. But I put that aside as much as I could to cover this game, and I have this to say. Berlin's a better team. The Redcoats are simply stronger up front, and more multidimensional than the Terriers. If these two played 10 times, Berlin would win at least seven of them, if not more.
But this was one of those two or three. This was the one where Rocky Hill got a little bit lucky, made the plays it had to and snuck out of Sage Park with a huge win and a very good shot at the school's second playoff appearance.
Berlin will bounce back from this. They should still make the playoffs (of course St. Paul will have something to say about that for both teams in the coming weeks, but after this I tend to think things are looking worse for the Falcons than these guys). This might end up the wakeup call that Berlin needed.
As for the controversial penalty call on Rocky Hill's winning touchdown, I believe the call was right. From my perspective in the press box, it looked as if the Berlin defender held back Rocky Hill receiver Mike Mancini, forcing Mancini to push him away before catching the ball. In a way, the slightly underthrown ball was the perfect thing for Rocky Hill. A perfect ball and the defender might have been in the right spot.
It's ironic for a team that completed just one other pass in the game and has struggled with the passing attack this season that arguably the biggest play of the year should come on a third-and-17 situation through the air.
Max DeLorenzo is impressive too. Some are saying he might not have the physical instincts it takes to be a dominant runner. I say he's still a sophomore. If he can make plays the way he did the other night, he's going to be special, real special.
I'm telling you. I could talk about this game for hours.
As for the rest of the weekend, how about Newington shutting out Bristol Central! Most people felt Newington would win this game. I don't think anybody saw a shutout for them against a team that does nothing but score. Newington is quickly showing itself to be a true title contender in a wide-open Class L.
New Britain put the Weaver loss a little further behind it with a blowout win over East Hartford. Actually, as the weeks go by, Weaver looks more and more like a playoff contender. That loss wasn't as bad as it once seemed. New Britain just has to keep this going and against better competition.
Same goes for Southington. I hope the Knights don't keep doing this one good game, one mediocre game thing for long. That's a recipe for disaster, but for now a win was a win against Simsbury.
And Wethersfield kept its playoff hopes alive with a solid home win against Windsor. The Eagles proved they are better than they were last year, at least. Conard's next, and the Chieftains are reeling, particularly after forfeiting two wins due to an ineligible player. But Conard still has a lot of talent.
I feel bad for Plainville. The loss to East Catholic, which wasn't even competitive, settled the debate of who's at the bottom of the Nutmeg. It's time for Plainville to focus on player development for next year. The team is very young with a new coaching staff, and will improve in time.
I went 6-1 this week, and correctly predicted that Glastonbury would pound Manchester. The Indians are pretenders. The Tomahawks are for real, and right now are the favorites over New Britain and Southington in the CCC North. November should be very interesting.
My overall record now sits at 35-8 and 5-1 in non-local picks. Those numbers aren't too bad at all.
OK, the dirty non-secret is that I am a Rocky Hill alumnus, and therefore always have an emotional stake in their games. But I put that aside as much as I could to cover this game, and I have this to say. Berlin's a better team. The Redcoats are simply stronger up front, and more multidimensional than the Terriers. If these two played 10 times, Berlin would win at least seven of them, if not more.
But this was one of those two or three. This was the one where Rocky Hill got a little bit lucky, made the plays it had to and snuck out of Sage Park with a huge win and a very good shot at the school's second playoff appearance.
Berlin will bounce back from this. They should still make the playoffs (of course St. Paul will have something to say about that for both teams in the coming weeks, but after this I tend to think things are looking worse for the Falcons than these guys). This might end up the wakeup call that Berlin needed.
As for the controversial penalty call on Rocky Hill's winning touchdown, I believe the call was right. From my perspective in the press box, it looked as if the Berlin defender held back Rocky Hill receiver Mike Mancini, forcing Mancini to push him away before catching the ball. In a way, the slightly underthrown ball was the perfect thing for Rocky Hill. A perfect ball and the defender might have been in the right spot.
It's ironic for a team that completed just one other pass in the game and has struggled with the passing attack this season that arguably the biggest play of the year should come on a third-and-17 situation through the air.
Max DeLorenzo is impressive too. Some are saying he might not have the physical instincts it takes to be a dominant runner. I say he's still a sophomore. If he can make plays the way he did the other night, he's going to be special, real special.
I'm telling you. I could talk about this game for hours.
As for the rest of the weekend, how about Newington shutting out Bristol Central! Most people felt Newington would win this game. I don't think anybody saw a shutout for them against a team that does nothing but score. Newington is quickly showing itself to be a true title contender in a wide-open Class L.
New Britain put the Weaver loss a little further behind it with a blowout win over East Hartford. Actually, as the weeks go by, Weaver looks more and more like a playoff contender. That loss wasn't as bad as it once seemed. New Britain just has to keep this going and against better competition.
Same goes for Southington. I hope the Knights don't keep doing this one good game, one mediocre game thing for long. That's a recipe for disaster, but for now a win was a win against Simsbury.
And Wethersfield kept its playoff hopes alive with a solid home win against Windsor. The Eagles proved they are better than they were last year, at least. Conard's next, and the Chieftains are reeling, particularly after forfeiting two wins due to an ineligible player. But Conard still has a lot of talent.
I feel bad for Plainville. The loss to East Catholic, which wasn't even competitive, settled the debate of who's at the bottom of the Nutmeg. It's time for Plainville to focus on player development for next year. The team is very young with a new coaching staff, and will improve in time.
I went 6-1 this week, and correctly predicted that Glastonbury would pound Manchester. The Indians are pretenders. The Tomahawks are for real, and right now are the favorites over New Britain and Southington in the CCC North. November should be very interesting.
My overall record now sits at 35-8 and 5-1 in non-local picks. Those numbers aren't too bad at all.
Labels: football
posted by Ryan Pipke at
12:37 AM
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