week 9 preview

State tournaments for soccer and volleyball mean I won't be covering any football this weekend. It's a shame too, because this may be the single most exciting weekend of the year locally with hugely important matchups for Southington, Newington and Berlin.
This is the week that could make or break any of those three teams (Mostly break, because Southington and Berlin still have tough ones after it that they'd have to win too.) We should know a lot more about who's going to make the playoffs by Monday.
The Herald will still have coverage of all three games tomorrow, so do not fear. We will also have coverage of all three local soccer teams playing today (Farmington, Wethersfield, Southington) and the volleyball and soccer teams on Saturday.
On to the picks.
Friday:
Glastonbury at Southington, 7 p.m.: This is the big one, the one everybody's been waiting for, at least everybody in Glastonbury. While the Blue Knights have been on top of the CCC North for three years, this team has been waiting its turn to take over. The Knights have a major target on their backs and for that matter these schools have been playing each other repeatedly in several sports for the past few weeks. That never breeds friendliness.
I've talked to as many people as I can find who know either one of these teams lately to see what they think. The problem seems to be that nobody is familiar with both. Glastonbury, for inexplicable reasons, doesn't get a whole lot of press coverage, not nearly in the area of what Southington gets. And ADs and school officials don't get to see teams other than their own very often. So everybody's kind of on edge to see how this turns out.
I have not seen Glastonbury play this year, but I know they have taken care of business better than Southington against the weaker opponents that they have played for the most part. Southington has played a much tougher schedule, but the narrower wins against East Hartford, Manchester and the likes make me wonder if Glastonbury is more poised to be dominant.
But all that matters is coming out with a win, and both have done that.
I have a hunch that Glastonbury is a bit better this year. The scores usually don't lie. So I'm guessing that Glastonbury will sneak out with a big win and a very good chance at the playoffs. Southington will be up against a wall after that.
And this has nothing to do with my hatred of the air raid siren.
New Britain at Simsbury, 7 p.m.: This is another danger game for the Hurricanes. Southington on the schedule next week, but the Trojans are pretty good, good enough to beat you if you don't play well.
After seeing Weaver last week, and being only minimally impressed, I'm left wondering how a deeply talented team like New Britain lost to the Beavers. The only explanation is that New Britain slipped up in a big way. Do the same tonight and it could be another loss.
But I think New Britain put that behind them. And Southington-NB has a much bigger feel if the Hurricanes win tonight.
I think they will.
Newington at Bristol Eastern, 7 p.m.: Win this, and the only remaining challenge on the schedule for the Indians is Thanksgiving against Wethersfield. Maloney is way down this year and shouldn't be a struggle for them.
Eastern is a team that's hard to get a grip on. They've solidly beaten the weaker and middling teams on their schedule, but lost pretty soundly to most of the good teams. Remember, their "win" over Conard was a forfeit in a game that they actually lost on the field.
Newington has been up to every challenge this year. I don't think that will stop against a conference rival they know well. Newington wins.
Hall at Wethersfield, 7 p.m.: It's a gutcheck game for the Eagles after a truly heartbreaking loss last week. Because of it, Wethersfield has no real playoff chances. They're playing for pride and a winning record.
The team should be pumped up about playing a night game at home, renting lights for a field that does not yet have them permanently. And Hall is not a powerhouse, but a good team.
This seems similar to Wethersfield's game against Windsor, and I always like Wethersfield on the home turf. I think the Eagles will bounce back with a win.
East Catholic at Rocky Hill, 7 p.m.: This isn't one of those exciting games this weekend. This should be a blowout as it has been for a couple of years. Rocky Hill in a landslide.
Middletown at Plainville, 7 p.m.: The Blue Devils are still struggling a lot, and Middletown will be hungry for a win in a year with few. Middletown wins.
St. Paul at Berlin, 7 p.m.: The loss to Enfield changed things dramatically for Berlin. They now need to win out to make the playoffs. This is the hardest one (with Northwest Catholic coming up).
The question is, after giving up 52 to Enfield, a mediocre offense, can Berlin stop St. Paul, an exceptionally good one? I wish I had been at the Enfield game because I've seen Berlin twice this year and can't imagine the defense getting pounded like that. I'm guessing that it was a one-game blemish, but a really big one.
Even if you play well, St. Paul could beat you. But, St. Paul has not proven able to stop a good offense all year. And that's why I'm picking Berlin. There's a better chance the Redcoats slow down the Falcons than the other way around.
Either way, expect some points in this one.
Saturday
Farmington at Conard, 1 p.m.: Conard.
STATE PICK OF THE WEEK
Ansonia at Crosby, Friday, 7 p.m.: Hear me out on this one. Ansonia is ranked number one in just about every state poll right now, with a lot of voters saying until their amazing streak of wins ends, they are the best team.
I personally don't believe they are anywhere near as good as they were lost year. They are still a very good team, but I would have two or three others ranked ahead of them if I had a vote.
The thing is, their schedule is pretty weak on the whole. Wolcott and Watertown have been the two best teams they've played so far. Crosby may be better than them, although lost to Wolcott.
I don't think Ansonia's going to lose in the regular season, and maybe not in the playoffs. If that happens they would easily be voted the top team again, which might be unfair. But that's the way it goes.

There are some other big games with playoff implications out there.
Montville at New London
Seymour at Watertown
Amity at Shelton
Bethel at Bunnell
Brookfield at Newtown
Darien at Staples
Be sure to check the standings for changes on Monday. There could be quite a shuffle in some divisions.

a couple notes

First off, I haven't been hearing from too many people lately. I know there's some loyal readers of the blog out there. So let yourselves be known. Please, comment on things. I'd love to get some feedback, but mostly I want to know what you guys think about local sports issues.
Secondly, I wanted to plug the hard work of staffer Andrew Lovell, who has successfully started a weekly column focusing on local athletes now playing at the college level. For too long their efforts have gone largely unnoticed at The Herald.
If you know of any local players at any college, any level, who you think should be mentioned or featured in Andrew's weekly story, please contact him at alovell@newbritainherald.com.
With the fall season winding down it will soon be time for us to select our All-Herald teams and players and coach of the season. So keep your eyes out for that in the coming weeks (and well into December).
Oh, and one more thing.
GO VOTE!!!!!

not in their house

It's time for me to say something that I've been debating for a couple years now. I usually don't like to criticize people involved with the high school athletic departments. But every once in a while something will irk me more than usual, and it happened the other night at East Hartford High.
But I'm not talking about the Hornets. Despite their reputation (mostly unfair) the Hornets fans caused no problems that I could see at that game. What bothered me came from the Southington side.
More specifically, it rang out from the track, a sound so piercing, so overpowering that it forces one to plug his ears each time he hears it.
I'm talking about the air raid siren. And it's about time it found its way to the grave.
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the air raid siren has been a relatively short-lived tradition of the Blue Knights football team. From my understanding, it began during the tenure of former coach Jude Kelly (though I don't know if it was his idea).
The siren was intended to be rung each time the Knights took over on offense, signaling to the opponent that they were about to be put under attack by a barrage of deep passing. You see, the Knights for years had the most potent air attack in the state, and their names litter the state record books for passing and receiving yards.
Things have changed, however. The Knights are no longer a pass-happy offense. They have become more and more balanced each season under coach Bill Mella, and in fact have used defense to win games more in recent years.
Furthermore, it has gotten to the point that the siren is now rung more than just to start a drive. It shrieks out first downs. It shrieks touchdowns. It shrieks big gains.
I mean, logically, if the opponent doesn't know it's under attack by the time Southington scores a touchdown, I don't think the siren, symbolically, is going to warn them in time.
Of course, that's not my biggest problem. That lies squarely in the fact that Southington brings the siren on the road, submitting opposing fans to have to listen to its harsh wails on their home field, and quite frankly, it is tactless, arrogant and offensive.
If I were an opposing AD, and I saw them wheel it up to the field, I would ask them to return it to the bus or leave the premises. If I heard it go off during a game, I would immediately ask them to go home.
I'm not joking about this. This runs along the lines of Terrell Owens raising his arms to the heavens... on the Dallas Cowboys midfield star... as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. And while I am a 49ers fan, at the time of that incident, I didn't blame George Teague for sprinting out to clothesline Owens. That was the Cowboys' house. That was like dancing on their altar.
And please, somebody from a Southington opponent, stand up for your school. Don't physically or emotionally harm anyone. But make some kind of statement that such insults will not be viewed kindly. Stand up for your pride.
Better yet. I call on Southington AD Eric Swallow to do the right thing, now that he has taken over the position (with positive results I must add). Get rid of the siren. It makes your entire athletic program look bad.
If nothing else, the siren should remain in Southington for home games. Let your own fans deal with the noise.

Week 8 in review

Well, we finally found the surprises we've been waiting for. I'm still in shock over the Berlin-Enfield score, even if it did go into overtimes. There wasn't a whole lot of defense played in that one, and it may constitute the most shocking score in the state this year.
Wethersfield almost pulled off a big upset against Weaver, the same Weaver team that beat New Britain earlier this year and currently holds down a playoff spot in Class MM. If the Eagles had won the two teams would be tied for that spot, but alas, now it looks as if Wethersfield's playoff hopes are officially gone.
Southington eked out a win against East Hartford, I say eked because despite the 35-14 score the game was much closer than that. Maybe the Knights were looking forward to "bigger" games in the coming weeks. Maybe they'll surprise everybody once again and get back to the playoffs, but I have to say my impression of the team has taken some hits lately.
Newington had to grit out a win over Platt as well, but that was more because Platt played far better than I expected. That being said, Newington better play better themselves because the playoffs still aren't a complete guarantee, and because I think Newington has a shot at winning. But not with the incomplete performance I saw in that game. Masuk and others are too strong.
I liked that New Britain and Rocky Hill both rolled over weaker competition. That's what the best do. They both looked the part of playoff teams in those wins, although the road for the Hurricanes is still full of land mines. But, New Britain looks more prepared to weather them than it has in a few years, at least right now.
As for me, I got a couple things wrong this week. Along with Berlin, I incorrectly picked Shelton over Hillhouse, a predicted upset. Ooops. Looks like the Academics are as strong as advertised. Class MM is shaping up to be exciting, and the top seed actually means a whole lot when two of Hillhouse, Darien and New Canaan will actually meet in the semifinal.
My 5-2 week brings my overall record to 48-10, with a 6-2 record now in non-local games.