By Craig Boland
NEFJ Staff
On Sunday, December 8, at 12:30 PM, 24 teams across six divisions will play across the state to determine the state championship matchups to be played the following weekend at Rentschler Field (UConn) or Arute Stadium (CCSU). Below are previews for the state’s two small school divisions.
Class SS (332-418 boys)
Waterford (9-2) at Killingly (11-0)
Killingly won their quarterfinal game 75-14. They have also played in class MM and class L recently, and have been destroying their competition this year. Led by Junior RB Hayden Allard, expect them to roll over Waterford, who beat Bullard-Havens 21-12 in the quarterfinal.
Sheehan (9-2) at Windham (10-1)
Sheehan is coming off of a 20-6 win over Granby/Canton and Windham won one of the few close quarterfinal games, beating Ledyard 17-14. Both teams rely on their rushing attacks, and I’ll give Sheehan the edge based on the fact that they blew Windham out 33-0 last year, and are more consistently successful.
Class S (Under 332 boys)
Waterbury Career Academy (8-3) at Bloomfield (8-3)
Waterbury Career Academy is coming off of maybe the only real upset from the quarterfinals, beating one-seed Capital Prep 41-28. Bloomfield had a close victory over East Catholic last week and is known for being one of the best small-school football programs in the region. They consistently produce FBS talent and held Windsor scoreless in the first half of their Thanksgiving game – they should win this one.
Woodland (8-3) at Ansonia (10-1)
Woodland and Ansonia are both rolling into this game off of big wins. While Woodland has had a great year, Ansonia is also known for being one of the best small-school football programs in the region. They barely lost to the “one seed” in class L on Thanksgiving, and are led by Jacob Romanowski, a junior lineman with lots of FBS interest – they should win this one.