Photo by Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media
The CIAC Football season kicks off today and there are plenty of storylines ahead of the 2025 season opening up. Can Greenwich repeat in Class LL? Is New Canaan going to dominate in LL. The alliance schedule. There are plenty of things to talk about.
Here are ten storylines we are watching in Connecticut this season.
1. Can Greenwich repeat in Class LL? Yes. The Cardinals can repeat but it will be tough after losing all everything lineman Peter Vomvolakis and dual threat quarterback MJ D’Angelo. The good news. The Cardinals return 12 starters so they are well positioned to go back to back for the first time since 2006-07.
2. Who can dethrone the Red Birds? Well, it will not be easy to knock off Anthony Morello’s Cardinals but Staples led by first year coach Matt Jacowleff probably has the best shot. Nick Weil returns at quarterback and the Wreckers have a dynamic passing attack that can lead to big plays. Notre Dame West Haven moved up thanks to the modified success rule. The Green Knoghts return 11 starters including three year starting quarterback Joe Cappasso. Fairfield Prep and West Haven should also be in contention. FP returns Robbie Manning at quarterback and a talented team all around. The Blue Devils are talented but will be playing for a new coach.
3. Coaching changes: The coaching landscape in Connecticut changed this season with the retirements of Tom Brockett at Ansonia, Rich Boshea at West Haven and Adam Behrands leaving Staples for the college ranks. The return of John Capodice at Berlin highlights some of the notable hires this off-season. Either way, some big shoes will need to be filled.
4. New Canaan still the Class of LL: The Rams are still the Class of LL and the number one team in our preseason Top 25 poll. New Canaan returns several key contributors from the last two state title teams most notably Villanova commit Andrew Esposito at wide receiver and safety. A strong line headlined by Ryan Francis will pave the way for another big season offensively.
5. Can Class LL catch up to New Canaan? It will be tough. Rival Darien has been the Rams biggest competition but Andy Grant’s squad graduated a terrific class and quarterback Ben Rolapp transferred this off-season. Newtown, Maloney, Naugatuck all look primed to perhaps contend. Cheshire and Shelton are looking to bounce back.
6. Windsor looks to finish strong with Robinson back: A.J Robinson is back as the starting quarterback at Windsor. He is going into his fourth year as a starter and the Central Connecticut commit leads a talented group looking to win it all under first year coach Quinn Fleeting.
7. Masuk looks to repeat under Pace: First year head coach Chris Pace inherits a talented Masuk team looking to repeat but this time in Class MM. The Panthers return several key contributors including Junior quarterback Aaron Champagne and wide receiver Jake Viglione.
8. Class M is a going to be tough: Class M is once again going to be tough to navigate. Brookfield, St. Joe’s and North Haven headline the group but you also have Berlin and Rockville as potential contenders as well. The class will be a war come playoff time as all of these programs return talented players.
9. Can anyone dethrone Killingly in Class SS? Man, when you look at what is returning for the newly named Trailblazers, it is hard to envision them not repeating in Class SS. 19 starters are back including the Allard Brothers (Hayden and Hunter) and quarterback Quinn Sumner. Chad Neale’s team is loaded but it won’t be easy. Joel Barlow, Jonathan Law, Ledyard and Windham will have something to say about it.
10. Class S could come down to Ansonia and Bloomfield again: The Chargers and Warhawks both return some talented players who will make the favorites once again in Class S. The two open the season on September 11th in an alliance match up. Ansonia returns a massive offensive line led by 6’3 305 pound Jacob Romanowski. Bloomfield returns 10 starters including quarterback Cam White. Haddam-Killingworth, Sheehan and Cromwell-Portland will all have a say in what happens in S.