By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff EAST HARTFORD, CT – With 3:00 remaining in the fourth quarter of the CIAC Class M state title game on Saturday and second-seeded Brookfield down by seven to fourth-seeded St. Joseph, wide receiver Daniel Ciriello tossed a first down to tight end John Lopes to keep Brookfield alive on a crucial fourth down conversion. Ciriello snagged another sideline fourth-down conversion on the same drive and…
CIAC Class L State Championship: (2) New Canaan 35, (4) Darien 21 — Rams three-peat
By Rob Gullo NEFJ Staff NEW BRITAIN — Meeting each other for the 100th time and a second time this season, No. 2 seed New Canaan and No. 4 Darien battled for the Class L state championship at Arute Field in New Britain on Saturday afternoon. In the end, New Canaan defended its title as it defeated Darien, 35-21, winning a third-straight state championship and defeating Darien a second time……
The Way-Too-Early MIAA 40 To Watch
You may look at a piece like this and think, “The 2025 season? Already?” Why, yes, it is a perfectly acceptable time to look ahead, because, why not? So, in alphabetical order, here are 40 teams to keep an eye out for. A lot can happen between now and August, including #TransferSeason, so this list is sure to change. Until then, take a look. Andover — The Warriors had a……
CIAC Class S State Championship: (2) Ansonia 58, (5) Bloomfield 12 – Chargers roll to program’s 22nd title
By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff EAST HARTFORD, CT – The CIAC Class S state championship game on Saturday was clearly going to Ansonia before many fans even had a chance to sit down. Jazhari Lawson of Ansonia intercepted a Cameron White pass early in the first quarter and fumbled on the return, but the ball bounced into star lineman Jacob Romanowski’s hands. He took it the rest of the way…
CIAC Class LL and Class L State Title Game Previews
Courtesy of the CIAC The Class LL and Class L state title game match-ups are almost a carbon copy of last season. The only difference, Greenwich knocked off Staples in the semi-finals and will take on West Haven in the Class LL final. When you look at these two games, there is a lot of history between the programs, especially New Canaan and Darian. The Thanksgiving rivals are bitter foes……
CIAC Class S and Class M State Title Game Previews
Courtesy of the CIAC The final four CIAC state title games are taking place in Connecticut today. The first two match ups are the Class S and Class M games. Class S features long time playoff rivals Ansonia and Bloomfield. The Class M game features Brookfield versus St. Joseph’s. It should be a great day of football. Here are our thoughts on each game. Class S (2) Ansonia Chargers (11-1)……
CIAC Class Class SS State Championship: (1) Killingly 48, (3) Sheehan 33 – Killingly finishes perfect with program’s fifth state title
By Matt Spalding NEFJ Correspondent EAST HARTFORD, CT – The opening game at Rentschler Field in the 2024 CIAC State Championships was one that will not soon be forgotten. Undefeated Killingly entered Friday looking to defeat Sheehan and win yet another state championship. Sheehan was prepared, and what ensued was a classic, topsy turvy Class SS state championship game that ultimately ended with the top seed taking home a 48-33…
CIAC Class MM State Championship: (6) Masuk 24, (1) Windsor 21 — Panthers edge Warriors
Photo credit — Scott Sulkazi By Robert Gullo NEFJ Correspondent NEW BRITAIN, CT — Two of the best teams in the state of Connecticut for high school football squared off Friday night as the No. 1 Windsor Warriors and No. 6 Masuk Panthers battled for the Class MM state championship. Tied 21-21 with seven seconds remaining in the game, Masuk junior kicker Jackson Zylick hit the game-winning field goal to……
CIAC Class MM and Class SS State Title Game Previews
Courtesy of the CIAC It is championship weekend in the state of Connecticut. Here are our Class MM and Class SS previews ahead of tonight’s games. Class MM Preview (1) Windsor Warriors (11-0) vs. (6) Masuk Panthers (9-3) Breakdown: Windsor has been a wagon all season long led by Bowling Green commit Cashmire Lewis. Lewis has been a force on both sides of the ball and powers an offense that……
Harasymiak adds first few coaches to new UMass staff
New UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak announced a trio of staff additions on Thursday in a statement released by the program. Joe Castellitto (Special Teams Coordinator), Tre Bell (Cornerbacks) and Kayon Whitaker (Defensive Analyst) are all joining this new era of Minuteman football. Castellitto spent the previous two seasons at Dartmouth under the late Buddy Teevens. Castelitto joined the Big Green as the special teams coordinator and nickels coach initially….