Staples Class L Reign Ends

I wish I could say I didn't see this one coming. But I did.

Yes, I picked Staples to win this one. But I also know how dangerous Steve Smith can be.

I saw him pick apart the Staples defense in the preseason (though the Wreckers were missing some key players), and saw him appear as a giant among men against Trinity Catholic.

And last night, he helped Bunnell pull the upset.

Here's the Staples-Bunnell media clips:

• Bulldogs Wreck Staples' Title Hopes (WFSB-TV)
  
• All Hail Bunnell (Connecticut Post high school blog)
• Smith, Bunnell's one-man wrecking crew (Connecticut Post)
• Bunnell's Smith shines on the biggest stage (Connecticut Post)
• Staples falls in title game (The Hour)
• Staples can't get handle on Bunnell QB (The Advocate)
• Bunnell pulls off Class L upset (The Register)
• Bunnell holds off Staples (The Courant)
  

tags: FCIAC football

Rams Take Fifth State Championship

Fifth in Modern Time, that is (since the class playoff systen began in 1976). This is Number 16, according to ramfootball.com. I asked my father about pre-1976, and he tells me that a champion was awarded by class based on overall record back in the day.

Either way, the pizza oven at Uncle Joe's may need a night off.

The first words out of Lou Marinelli's mouth when he saw me: "Did you pick us?" Thanks for reading the blog, coach! One of his best one-liners since he took over the New Canaan wrestling team on an interim basis in 1985, walked into the first practice, and asked, "Where are the ropes?"

Anyway, I'm not sure who was on with "The Coach" George DiMaio postgame, but according to an e-mail I received last night, that reporter "did not think too kindly of the New Canaan coach's decision to (1) fake an extra point and go for 2 points with the score 33-6, and (2) tossing a 22 yard pass completion while leading about 47-14 late in the game. Both signs of pretty poor sportsmanship."

Yes, the starters played most of the game for New Canaan. Yes, at a point, they were up 53-6. But (1) Marinelli and Maloney head coach Bob Zito did share an embrace after that game and (2) Marinelli is all in favor of the 50-point rule, or was back in this June post (a lot of coaches have changed their minds about it since then).

Anyway, enough of me, here's what the rest of the media had to say:

• New Canaan Rams Way To State Title (WFSB-TV)
  
• New Canaan Routs Maloney (The Advocate)
• ‘Win or lose, we’re so proud’ (Meriden Journal-Record)
• New Canaan runs over Maloney (Connecticut Post)
• Rams Don't Mess Around (The Courant)
  

tags: FCIAC football

How the Greenwich Stole The Class LL Championship

Read the press clippings from outside the FCIAC region and you'd think the Cardinals pulled off the biggest upset in Greenwich since Ned Lamont won the Democratic senat nomination (Hey, I voted for him, not to get all political on you).

Somehow, after Greenwich lost to Staples on Thanksgiving, the Cardinals were written off. Even after a convincing 34-0 win over Fairfield Prep on Tuesday, most media members were handing the Class LL championship trophy to Southington.

But as they say, that's why they play the games.

Congratulations to the Cardinals, who become the first school since 1994 (Brien McMahon) to win the FCIAC and CIAC championships in the same season.

The clips:

• Knights Blue Over Cardinals' Title Win (WFSB-TV)
• Greenwich Beats Southington (Greenwich Time)
• Turning Off The Air (The Courant)
• Greenwich wins sixth Championship (Connecticut Post)
• Knights end on Blue note (The Herald)
• Southington falls short (Republican-American)

And hey, where are those Greenwich fans who harassed me at the FCIAC Championship Game now? Wait for it... "Yeah, In your face! I was right!"... and, react ;)

Seriously though, I think this is going to be a closer game than those upstate think it will be. If Greenwich could keep the New Canaan spread offense from scoring five times in the red zone in the FCIAC Championship Game, there's no reason it can't do it against Southington. Greenwich comes out on top, 28-14.

By the way... Sean Patrick Bowley? He was right, too.

tags: FCIAC football

Lazy Sunday

It's a Lazy Sunday here in the Parry household (It's all about the Hamiltons, baby!), and I apologize for the lack of posts (Yeah, I know, who cares!).

But now that I got my wife off to work, the pork shoulder in the smoker, and the dog to stop howling for no darn reason, I'll get a little posting done. And maybe a podcast postgame interview with New Canaan's David Reed.

Meanwhile, entertain me! Leave your thoughts about the 2006 season in the comments section.

tags: FCIAC football

Connecticut Post: Smith, One Man Wrecking Crew

I don't have an Easy Button. I have an SPB Button. As soon as a Sean Patrick Bowley story is posted, I'm on it like white on rice.

And here it is...

Like I said all week, the key to stopping Bunnell is to stop Steve Smith. But it was Smith who stopped Staples by intercepting a two-point conversion that would have tied the game for the Wreckers.

Final score from Ken Strong Stadium: Bunnell 28, Staples 26.

tags: FCIAC football