By Jake Klein NEFJ Correspondent According to sources familiar with the situation, Cheshire Academy head coach Dan Mehleisen has stepped down and will be replaced by defensive coordinator Bill Mella. A school spokesman confirmed the report Wednesday. Mehleisen, who took over as head coach in 2021 following the departure of David Dykeman and coached the Cats to a 3-6 record in his only season at the helm, will leave the…
The Connecticut High School Alliance released its 2023 schedule on Friday. The alliance is a crossover scheduling arrangement between six of the state’s eight CIAC football leagues. The alliance has scheduled 88 games between the CCC, SCC, FCIAC, ECC, SWC and CTC. The majority of those games, 72 of them will be played in Weeks 1 and 3. The remaining 16 will be played throughout the reminder of the season….
By Jake Klein NEFJ Correspondent Ansonia’s undefeated 2022 season was about as rocky as an undefeated season gets. In six of its 13 games, the Chargers trailed in the second half. Saturday’s CIAC Class S title game – a 28-21 Ansonia victory over Bloomfield – was no different. “Find me another team that can fight back like that,” Ansonia head coach Tom Brockett said. “I’ll go to war with that…
Image courtesy of Hartford Courant Sports By Jake Klein NEFJ Correspondent The first round of Connecticut’s Playoffs get underway Tuesday night, so let’s take a look around the state at the best first round matchups in each class. All quarterfinal games are at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Class LL Quarterfinals: #8 Trumbull at #1 Southington #7 Hamden at #2 Greenwich #6 Glastonbury at #3 West Haven #5 Fairfield Prep…
Image Courtesy Record-Journal Poll put together by Jake Klein NEFJ Correspondent 1. West Haven – Last week: IDLE – Next Up: at No. 11 Fairfield Prep, Wed., 6 p.m. 2. Southington – Last Week: IDLE – Next Up: at No. 21 Cheshire, Thu., 10 a.m. 3. Greenwich – Last Week: IDLE – Next Up: at No. 18 Staples, Thu., 10 a.m. 4. Maloney – Last Week: IDLE – Next Up: at Platt, Thu.,…
Image courtesy Hearst Media Poll put together by Jake Klein, NEFJ Correspondent 1. West Haven – The Blue Devils climbed to one game away from a perfect season with Friday’s narrow 27-23 win against Hamden. Armani Reid caught the game-winning touchdown from Nick Conlan. The Westies passed the first of their two major tests in the final two weeks, but their final game may be their toughest challenge to date. Next…
Image courtesy of Heart Media Poll put together by Jake Klein NEFJ Correspondent 1. Maloney – The Spartans pulled an upset win over top-ranked Southington Friday, winning 31-28 in overtime on a field goal by Josh Scaramuzzo to stay undefeated. With two favorable games remaining on the schedule, it may well be Maloney—in a season that’s seen five different teams claim the top spot—that escapes the regular season in the…
Image courtesy of Hearst Media Poll put together by Jake Klein, NEFJ correspondent 1. Southington – With a perfect record through seven games and three victories over Top-25 opponents, the Blue Knights have charged up the rankings, assuming the top spot after New Canaan’s loss. Southington beat 5-1 Glastonbury 27-6 Friday. Lincoln Cardillo ran for two touchdowns and 112 yards on 20 carries and CJ DiBenedetto went 17-22 for 266…
Image courtesy of Hearst Media Polls put together by Jake Klein – NEFJ Correspondent 1. New Canaan – The Rams defense posted a third-straight shutout Friday in a 45-0 rout of Wilton, highlighted by a 99-yard interception return touchdown by Tucker Mulligan and a 3-yard fumble return touchdown by Charlie O’Connor. Luke Reed ran for two scores and Hunter Telesco another. New Canaan sits 6-0 with a Top-25 win under…
Poll put together by Jake Klein – NEFJ Correspondent (Image courtesy of Aaron Flaum, Record-Journal) 1. New Canaan (IDLE) Next Up: Norwalk, Sat., 2 p.m. 2. Killingly (IDLE) Next Up: Windham, Fri., 6:30 p.m. 3. Maloney – The Spartans struggled mightily out of the gates Friday and winless Newington was in the game all along. Joziah Gonzalez, who’s quickly become the state’s most dangerous kick returner, brought a fourth-quarter boot 90 yards for a…