Alright, let's not argue over who killed who, and what the predictions were at the beginning of the season. Three weeks, 30 percent of the campaign is complete, the weather is getting cold (although not too bad last Friday), and it's time to put up or shut up until 2010.
We have enough of a read now on the teams that we can give you a State of the SCC report on all 19 teams (of course, some are shorter than others). I still have that sinking feeling that all the quality in Division I might produce less playoff teams than it would in another league, but I am extremely confident from looking around the state that this will break the two-year streak of the SCC not winning a state title. And I would also give Branford a fighting chance in Class MM if they get in.
Onto the capsules. One thing that is annoying already is that No. 1 and No. 2 don't even play each other this season. Can we fix this, SCC? You have 10 Division I teams, can they all just play each other? And that will save me from some of these upcoming crossover games (although Jonathan Law's thumping of Fairfield Prep and North Haven's win over Wilton were both very nice for Division II).
1) Hamden
Things going well: You have to start with the defense, which wasn't great last year, despite all their success. But the Dragons went to the drawing board to fix their problem and have come up with two shutouts in their first three games. With superior athleticism, they have been particularly impressive against the pass, which does not bode well for Shelton this week, and they're two toughest remaining games (Wilbur Cross and Notre Dame) are teams that can throw the ball.
Points of concern: The prolific passing attack really hasn't materialized for Hamden this season so far. Is it because they've been ahead, or they haven't needed it? Possibly. Are we nitpicking? Possibly (Jason Lassiter did throw for three touchdowns against Amity). But we'll see.
2) Cheshire
Things going well: To put it simply, the Rams are controlling the line of scrimmage, and not just against mediocre teams, against everyone. They manhandled Shelton, controlled Amity and Wilbur Cross, and haven't even played a home game yet. The combination of Greg Palmer and Max Slade have done just fine at quarterback, and they've scored 111 points in three games.
Points of concern: Like last year, the defense hasn't exactly been lights out, allowing 62 points (including 31 to Shelton), and that could pose a problem in games like this week's tilt against explosive Notre Dame. If they get by this week's game, though, they could be 9-0 heading into the Thanksgiving Southington game.
3) Notre Dame
Things going well: Well, you don't need to say much more than 122 points in three games, do you? Sean Goldrich is no longer underrated, and everyone knows about Conor Kinary, but he always seems to be open anyway. Justin Willis, David Rose, a massive offensive line: all things that make them nearly impossible to stop this season.
Points of concern: Notice I didn't say too much about the defense. It does seem like they are pushed around far too easily for their size sometimes (see second half against Xavier or first half against West Haven - they allowed more than 20 points in both). They are already 0-1 in nailbiters this season, they're sure to see a couple more before the season is out.
4) Wilbur Cross
Things going well: A year more mature, the Governors have proven they can play with anyone, pounding Xavier at Palmer Field, and nearly stopping Cheshire last week before falling late. Maurice Morrison and James Ward are as good as any skill position players in the SCC and a threat to score every time they touch the ball. The defense has shown - while not as good as Hamden's right now - they won't get pushed around.
Points of concern: They've seemed to lose a lot of close games over the last couple of years, and - like Notre Dame - they're sure to see a couple before the end of the season. After taking on Ridgefield and East Haven, can they survive a brutal stretch that includes West Haven, Hamden, Hand, and Notre Dame? If they can, they may be playoff bound.
5) Xavier
Things going well: Julian Hayes might be the most exciting and versatile player in the SCC, and can pretty much do everything on both sides of the ball. With Hayes, a talented receiving corps, and an opportunistic defense, the Falcons are prolific offensively when they can get rolling.
Points of concern: As quickly as they can score, Xavier has given points up: 37 against Wilbur Cross, 21 quick ones against Notre Dame, and 25 against Shelton, although some were in garbage time. Sean Marinan has talked about a lack of focus, something Hamden will be keen to take advantage of in two weeks. But that might be the last big test for the Falcons the rest of the way (although West Haven looms in Week 9).
6) Daniel Hand
Things going well: Nick Merullo does his weekly best Tim Tebow impersonation, trampling poor defenders and throwing a good ball when he has to. He certainly will have a case for league MVP at his current pace. The defense is not spectacular, but they have tackled reasonably well.
Points of concern: Hand seems to need another weapon in the backfield to take the pressure off of Merullo, who takes a beating when carrying the ball 25-30 times a game (he's not one for ducking tacklers). They'll need to keep him healthy for this stretch of games starting on Oct. 23: Cheshire, Notre Dame, Wilbur Cross, Shelton. Maybe the Tigers will be getting those teams at the right time.
7) Branford
Things going well: They are 3-0, having dispatched of what I think is their toughest Division II competition, North Haven and Hillhouse, and doing so in different ways, using defense in a tough win over the Indians and outscoring the Academics. Andrew Luzzi is as good as anyone in the league, and he's getting help from a variety of people on the offense.
Points of concern: No Division II team (or anyone) likes to see Xavier and Hamden back-to-back on the schedule. The Hornets' defense gave up 30 points to a struggling Hillhouse squad, and they may have some trouble with speed. After the next two games, though, Branford should be favorites in every game the rest of the way.
8) Shelton
Things going well: Ray Pendagast has a cannon for an arm, and has very solid receivers in Mike Georgalas and Paul Piccirillo, and even running back Ryan DeAngelis. The Gaels can score and score quickly, and are also solid against the pass with some very good athletes at the skill positions.
Points of concern: Quite simply, Shelton can't stop anyone in the trenches right now, at least against the powerful Division I squads. West Haven had a lot of success, and in the last two weeks, Cheshire and Xavier have just torn them to shreds. It has seemed to have a demoralizing effect to the team, they have looked lifeless in the second half of two straight games.
9) West Haven
Things going well: The young Blue Devils have been extremely feisty and competitive in their first three games. The defense has come up with some big plays (excluding the second half against Notre Dame), and as usual, they have six or seven players that they are comfortable giving the ball to, including sophomore quarterback Tremayne Barnes, who has been solid.
Points of concern: Obviously, being 0-3 and out of the playoff picture is no fun, and - as with any young team - the inconsistency can be a little big maddening. For instance, the Westies should have gone to the half with a 21-20 lead against Notre Dame last week, but allowed a 32-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the half and got outscored 20-0 in the second half. The schedule gets a little easier the rest of the way, but not that much easier.
10) North Haven
Things going well: The talk was all about the Indians' new single-wing, wildcat hybrid offense, but it is their defense that has been most impressive early. It kept them in the game against Branford and won the game by allowing Wilton only one score last week.
Points of concern: The offense has been stagnant at times, without the speed to break off too many big plays. The schedule also gets pretty brutal by Division II standards: Hand and Cheshire (along with Sheehan, Law, and Amity) all await.
11) Amity
Things going well: The Spartans have managed to hang tough against the best the SCC has to offer, with their first three games against the teams ranked 1-3 here. They were up 14-0 on Cross, were tied with Cheshire early in the third quarter, and didn't allow Hamden to get away from them until late. The schedule has to get easier the rest of the way.
Points of concern: The offense, minus the graduated Billy Choiniere, has had trouble moving the ball, and the Spartans have not scored an offensive touchdown in the second half this season. The defense, as they proved against Hamden, can only hold out so long.
12) Sheehan
Things going well: Behind quarterback Brett Biestek and runners like Zach Prefontaine, the Titans can move the ball and are fun to watch.
Points of concern: Seemingly forever, Sheehan has had all kinds of trouble with tackling, and it reared its head again against Hand last week. After this week's game with East Haven, they have a very tough run by Division II standards coming down the stretch.
13) Hillhouse
Things going well: For a team that went to the playoffs last year? Not much, but it does appear that players like Taurese Washington are starting to get accustomed to life in the SCC (and against Ansonia). There are a couple of struggling teams on the schedule, which might allow them to get back on track.
Points of concern: Branford and Ansonia pretty much did whatever they pleased, and obviously that's concerning. Playing a young team means plenty of mistakes, and they've killed Hillhouse in the season's earlygoing.
14) Jonathan Law
Things going well: As always, the Lawmen are big and physical and they basically wore down Fairfield Prep last week, which - as down as Prep is - is impressive against a Division I squad. They did the same to East Haven in the first week.
Points of concern: It remains to be seen what the Lawmen can do against talented passing squads, the one they did face - Sheehan - didn't go so well for them. The schedule is not brutal the rest of the way, but it does include Shelton and Branford, two teams that can definitely throw.
15) Foran
Things going well: Hey, they're 3-0 and almost no one would have expected that through three games. Tucker Schumitz has shown the ability to bust big plays as the Lions did last year. They've also shown the ability to pull out close games.
Points of concern: They haven't exactly had a lights out defense, and the schedule gets plenty tougher (other than a non-conference date with Abbott Tech) the rest of the way, including games against West Haven and Notre Dame. A win over North Haven would put them at 4-0, though.
16) Fairfield Prep
Things going well: Not a whole heck of a lot. They have led twice this season.
Points of concern: Just about everything. The Jesuits have scored just 20 points this season while allowing 116, and finish the season with Shelton, Hamden, Xavier, Cheshire, and West Haven. Will be tough to keep their heads above water in that stretch.
17) Guilford
Things going well: You've seen improvement in a some of their young players, like quarterback Ethan Curry, who threw for three touchdowns last week in a win over Lyman Hall.
Points of concern: There are still growing pains to get through and the schedule gets a lot tougher very quickly, with Xavier, Amity, Branford, and Hand still left on the slate.
18) Lyman Hall
Things going well: The Trojans captured their game against East Haven somewhat easily, and could be 3-0, as they were in the contest until the end against both Foran and Guilford.
Points of concern: Other than a game against Cheney Tech, they will probably be underdogs in every game the rest of the way, and have to find a way to shut other teams down when the game is on the line.
19) East Haven
Things going well: The Yellowjackets have been much more competitive, hanging tough in the first half with both Lyman Hall and Foran before fading late.
Points of concern: It's hard to see where the win is going to come from, and if they go the season without a win, their streak is at 31 and starts to get into the longest in state history, and no one wants that.
EXTRA POINTS: Lights at Wilbur Cross? Well, kind of. The Governors put up some temporary lights, which they put to use at the end of last week's game against Cheshire. They're still not ready for full-time Friday night use, but if they get a double or triple overtime game, they're there ... There could have been an overtime game Friday at Cross, but the Governors passed up a 34-yard field goal from Doural Scott to go for the touchdown and win. And it's not just Cross, it seems like a lot of teams don't seem to trust their kickers when push comes to shove, even though the kicking is so much better in the league than it was a decade ago. Show the kickers some love, will ya? ... North Haven took Round 1 of the SCC-FCIAC challenge with a 21-7 win last week, Cross takes on Ridgefield in Round 2 this week.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Ballas, Jonathan Law - Ballas ran for 125 yards and four touchdowns as the Lawmen annihilated Fairfield Prep last week, also giving him six touchdowns in his last two contests.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Notre Dame at Cheshire, Friday, 7 p.m. - If it seems like Cheshire is a weekly fixture in the Game of the Week, then they are. The Rams' brutal schedule marches on as they face a red-hot Green Knights team that can obviously put up points in a big way. But can they stop the Rams? There might be plenty of points in Cheshire's home opener.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3
Number of failed conversions that Wilbur Cross had against Cheshire last week. The Governors missed an extra point on the ir first touchdown, but went for two points on their next two touchdowns, only to get nothing. The Governors' margin of defeat? Three, of course, 21-18.
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POWER RANKINGS
1) Hamden (3-0; Last Week 1) – Benoit and staff were smart enough to sure up the defense.
2) Cheshire (3-0; LW 2) – Doesn't look like they have firepower, they just keep putting up points.
3) Notre Dame (2-1; LW 4) – Are we headed for a 50-49 shootout at the Maclary Complex Friday?
4) Wilbur Cross (2-1; LW 3) – They've proven they belong up here, but now can the Governors win?
5) Xavier (2-1; LW 6) – Big win over Shelton, but better not sleep on Branford this weekend.
6) Hand (2-1; LW 5) – Starting to figure things out, tough to see them running the table, though.
7) Branford (3-0; LW 9) - New London in Class M this season, otherwise pretty managable for Hornets.
8) Shelton (1-2; LW 7) – Honestly fairly lucky to be this high, we'll see if they can recover this week.
9) West Haven (0-3; LW 8) – Will need a superior effort to avoid going to 0-4, welcome to D-I.
10) North Haven (2-1; LW 12) - Class MM seems much tougher than M, Indians cannot afford loss.
11) Amity (0-3; LW 11) – Would probably fare very well in Division II. Unfortunately, they're not in Division II.
12) Sheehan (2-1; LW 10) - Some teams just don't fare well against D-I competition. Titans are one.
13) Hillhouse (0-3; LW 13) - Happier days should be ahead for Acs, but playoffs are out of range.
14) Jonathan Law (2-1; LW 16) - Not surprised they beat Prep, surprised they beat them by that much.
15) Foran (3-0; LW 14) - A 3-0 team behind two 0-3 teams? Kind of dicey, but win this week will move them.
16) Fairfield Prep (0-3; LW 15) - Playing another 0-3 team, but still heavy underdogs, I'm afraid.
17) Guilford (1-2; LW 18) - Will be happy to have gotten that first win out of the way with slate upcoming.
18) Lyman Hall (1-2; LW 17) - Is that Hamden ahead on the Trojans' schedule in Week 9? Oh, boy.
19) East Haven (0-3; LW 19) - Sadly, it seems like another 0-10 season is a distinct possibility.
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