SCC - Regular season finale (The award show)

In the end, the days of fretting and wondering whether or not even a win on Thanksgiving for the Notre Dame football team would get them into the state tournament were ended from an unlikely source last Wednesday night when unheralded Newtown upset Masuk (and it wasn't real close as the Nighthawks dominated the previously unbeaten Panthers).
But, there have been times in the past, the most prominent of which comes to mind as the 2002 Green Bowl, when Notre Dame has not done well with their playoff destiny in their hands. After the 2002 game was pushed back a day due to snow, the Dragons embarassed the Green Knights - who were the defending state champions and started the '02 campaign as the No. 1 team in the state - 33-0.
And Notre Dame, despite having some decent teams, hadn't had a sniff of the playoffs since. Until Thursday, that is.
To be honest, it was a nervy first half in front of a massive crowd in Hamden, with Notre Dame trailing 15-14. But the Knights displayed the character that has allowed them to recover from a potential crushing loss to Xavier in Week 2, outscoring Hamden 17-0 after the intermission to win somewhat easily, 31-15, actually their fourth straight win in the series.
How bad was the Xavier loss? It was 21-0 ND at halftime, and a 21-7 fourth-quarter lead was erased by an interception and a punt return. ND ran a kickoff back to take the lead, but Xavier drove back down the field to tie it, and won it on a two-point conversion they're still talking about in Middletown, with Julian Hayes breaking approximately 312 tackles on his way to the end zone. Even after that, the Knights had a touchdown called back and a Hail Mary prayer almost answered.
That's what a certain ESPN writer would call a "stomach punch" game. A big stomach punch.
(By the way, Jim Bransfield of the Middletown Press wrote after that game: "Julian Hayes saved Xavier's season." Pretty prescient, huh? Remember, the Falcons were blown out by Wilbur Cross in their opener, and a loss to Notre Dame would have put them at 0-2. They haven't lost since and traveled to Staples Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Class LL playoffs. OK, back to Notre Dame.)
However, they survived a shaky first half against both West Haven and Hand, pulled a game out late against Cheshire and it was cruise control from there on out. Never known as a prolific offensive juggernaut. Well, until now that is, the Knights never scored less than 28 points in the regular season (which made for an interesting Class L semifinal tilt with Conard Tuesday night).
The bottom line is that, despite valiant efforts from Simsbury and Conard among others, that Notre Dame certainly deserved to be in the playoffs. They went through the brutal Division I schedule (having played both Xavier and Cheshire, as well as Hamden), beat up on Naugatuck out of the NVL, and are legitimately one of the top five teams in the state. The playoff system will change for the better next season, but if Notre Dame doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs, who does?
The last time Notre Dame was in the postseason, 2001, they had to hold off Pomperaug before dismantling Fitch in the Class L final. It may be the Panthers again that stand in the way of the SCC picking up its first state title in three years (although obviously Cheshire and Xavier may be joining them in the finals).
With all of the talk of the playoff expansion and the crossover games and everything else that stands in the way of this time of the high school football season, the SCC is exactly where it wants to be heading.
Now can they finish the job?
Without further ado, our awards for 2009:
Player of the Year
Winner: Julian Hayes, Xavier - We already talked about him saving Xavier's season, so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise, he's our choice. What makes you a Player of the Year is coming up big when your team needs you most, and Hayes certainly did that, not only against Notre Dame, but against Hamden in an overtime win, and against West Haven as well. He played offense, defense, returned kicks, and pretty much anything else the Falcons needed. Perhaps this quote from coach Sean Marinan after the ND win sums his contribution up best: “He took a lot of the blame on himself for last week (in the loss to Crosss) and tonight he showed what he is -- a very good football player.”
2) Greg Palmer, Cheshire - It seems like you should be able to stop Palmer, but no one does. Taking over for Billy Ragone, he's looked a lot like him, rushing for 1,216 yards and 21 touchdowns on just 159 carries (including at least one in every game this season). His passing stats aren't great, just five touchdowns and seven interceptions, but his impact on the Rams' playoff run cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
3) Spencer Jones, Hillhouse - The Academics - along with Jones - struggled in the early part of the season, but led by him, they won five of their last seven games. Jones finished with 1,220 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, while averaging more than seven yards per carry. Hillhouse finished just 5-5, but Jones was certainly among the best in the conference.
Defensive/Special Teams Player of the Year
Winner: Dan Sweeney, Cheshire - Sweeney isn't the biggest of kids, but like all good linebackers, he's in on almost every tackle when things are going well for the Rams, and - most of the time this season - they did. He also ran for 800 yards on offense, but when Cheshire allowed just 53 points in its final five games, it was Sweeney leading the way on the defensive side of the ball.
2) Robert Bowman, Notre Dame - Like Sweeney, is almost as important on the offensive live as he is on the defensive. But with eight sacks, and providing a significant obstacle to any running game at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Sweeney helped hold the Knights' defense together in a couple of the tough games in the middle of the campaign.
3 tie) E.J. Murray and Tito Slaughter, Wilbur Cross - The Governors' record wasn't great, but - with the exception of a couple of blowouts - their defense was very good, and was led by these two linebackers. It was extremely tough to run the ball on Wilbur Cross this season, and with a few breaks, their record would have looked a lot better at the end of the season.
Coach of the Year
Winner: Sean Marinan, Xavier - The Falcons were picked near the middle of the Division I pack, but were crushed at (Fort) Palmer Field, where they had been unbeatable in the past few years. Down 21-0 at halfttime in Week 2, somehow Xavier pulled out an upset of Notre Dame and haven't lost since, and that has a lot to do with the coaching, the Falcons were the 2005 Class LL champs.
2) Mark Ecke, Cheshire - Second straight year on this list for Ecke, after some in Cheshire were calling for his head a few years ago. Ecke lost Billy Ragone, but the team hasn't missed a beat. A lone tough loss to Notre Dame is the only blemish on the Rams' resume, and all the pieces Ecke has put into the puzzle have seemed to fit and Cheshire is back in the SCC playoffs for the second straight year.
3) Jeff Bevino, Foran - A lot of us pundits (yes, us) thought the worst when Tyler Hames and Jake White graduated, but the Lions' offense rolled on and the defense actually got better, leading Foran to a 6-4 mark this season. They really weren't that far from the Class SS playoffs, which is an achievement in itself.
Stories of the Year
Winner: Tom Marcucci and Notre Dame- Marcucci returned after a decade away and the Green Knights have also returned to the postseason as well for the first time in eight years. And they've been entertaining every step of the way, whether it be the combination of Sean Goldberg to Conor Kinary or the running attack of Justin Willis and David Rose, or some of the other burners they run out there from time to time. And they got the playoff berth to boot.
2) Where did Hamden's offense go? - Before the season, all the talk was about Hamden's (not Notre Dame's prolific offense), but the Dragons managed just 29 points in their three losses, and remarkably had only 11 touchdown tosses all season long. It was frustrating for everyone involved, but if it was that easy, then everyone would be doing it, wouldn't they? Hamden's three losses may be the biggest testament to the strength of Division I football.
3) Division realignment - There is talk, albeit preliminary, about - now stuck with 19 teams - the SCC switching back to a three-division format, still based on a population system, but it's going to be a tough sell for people like me. The big schools would still play the big schools, and the little schools would still play the little schools, but there would be the people in the middle, and who knows? Call me an old curmudgeon, I like the way it is.
Team of the Year
Winner: Foran - If you had season tickets and watched every Foran game this season, you certainly would have gotten your money's worth. Four of their games were decided in the final minute or in overtime, and Tucker Schumitz barely missed out on our players of the year by both throwing for and running for more than 1,000 yards this season. Like last year, some would argue about their schedule strength, but they battled to their second straight winning season.
2) North Haven - The Indians went to the old-school single wing and managed just three points in their opener against Branford. But then they unleashed Kendrick Amaker, and won seven of their final nine games, both losses coming to Division I teams (Cheshire and Hand). The offense was entertaining, but so was the teamwork and the effort North Haven put forth every week.
3) Shelton - The Gaels were an afterthought in the second half of the season, with no shot at the playoffs after a three-game losing streak that saw them give up 131 points in the process. But, with nothing but pride to play for, Shelton regrouped and won its final six games, none of them closer than 18 points. It's a case of coulda been, but also a case of not giving up when it would have been easy to do so.
Games of the Year
Winner: Xavier 29, Notre Dame 28, Week 2 - Ironically, the same final score as last year's winner (Hamden-West Haven). This one featured TDs by interception, kickoff return, and big plays. It also featured one of the best conversion runs of all-time that ended up winning the game by Julian Hayes. Notre Dame was crushed by the loss, but it didn't cost them, both teams made the playoffs.
2) Notre Dame 40, Cheshire 36, Week 4 - Luckily, this loss didn't cost the Rams, either, as they appeared to have the game won when a Kyle Pulek 41-yard field goal banked in with 41 seconds left. But the Knights came right back down the field in a game that neither defense did much stopping, and a David Rose touchdown run broke Cheshire's hearts and sent ND on the run that would take them to the postseason.
3) Branford 21, Foran 20 (2OT), Week 9 - It was unfortunate that a blocked extra point finished this one off, but both teams went back and forth in another one of Foran's exciting finishes. The win kept the Hornets' slim playoff hopes alive, but no one from Division II ended up making the playoffs this season.
Best team to start 2009
Winner: Notre Dame - They'll lose a few players, especially on the line, but with Sean Goldrich back and some of their other speedsters, the Knights' offense shouldn't miss too much of a beat. With the experience the Knights gained this season, they are certainly a team to be reckoned with next season.
2) Wilbur Cross - They'll have some holes to fill, but a team with Dontay Long and James Ward playing on it has to be failry dangerous, don't they? They might be the two top skill position players returning (with apologies to Mr. Goldrich) in the SCC and both have two years of varsity experience. The Governors certainly won't be a pushover, that's for sure.
3) North Haven - The Indians lose Kendrick Amaker, but quarterback Joe Schwab was only a sophomore and gained a ton of experience in 2009. They have a few young kids that can run the ball, and their offense will continue to give opponents fits.
EXTRA POINTS: People want to make a big deal out of the Notre Dame-Hamden "fight", but didn't look like there was too much to it. A couple of rogue frustrated Hamden players, escalated a little more than it should have, couple of people on the Hamden sideline that weren't coaches and shouldn't have been on the field, but nothing disastrous. Both sides did a decent job of calming things down reasonably quickly ... Also did not see the Derby-Shelton "fight" that had ejections attached, didn't necessarily like this quote from Derby coach Carmen Dicenso: “No disrespect to anybody’s organization, but there was a lot of trash-talking going on out there and I thought our kids handled it well and didn’t back down." Not to excuse ridiculous trash-talking, either, obviously ... East Haven coach Greg Volpe didn't exactly kill rumors that he won't be back after an 0-10 season, saying: “I am not sure right now,” Volpe said. “I will tell my kids any news first.” The Yellowjackets have lost 31 straight games, but have been reasonably successful at the sub-varsity level ... Fairfield Prep actually led West Haven late in the second quarter before getting blown out in the second half, but at least the Jesuits showed some signs of life.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ricky Festa, Foran - Festa scored five touchdowns for the Lions in their 44-37 victory over Jonathan Law on Thanksgiving. Festa had three touchdown receptions, a rushing touchdown, and a kickoff return for a score in the contest, which saw Foran take a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, only to see the Lawmen run off 30 unanswered points to grab a lead of their own, with Foran eventually prevailing in a wild one.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Class L Final, Saturday, TBA - We're hoping it ends up being a Notre Dame-Pomperaug showdown, a game that many people think might feature the two best teams in the state right now. The Class LL final will be a great game, too, but a battle between the two high-powered offenses should pack them in wherever they decide to put it.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1
Number of interceptions thrown by Notre Dame quarterback Sean Goldrich this season, against 17 touchdowns. The Green Knights don't throw the ball as much as some other teams, but when they do, they're almost flawless. By the way, that interception was in Week 2 againt Xavier and was run back for a touchdown by Julian Hayes.
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POWER RANKINGS
1) Notre Dame (9-1; Last Week 1) – Might have to beat two undefeated teams, but might be favorites.
2) Xavier (9-1; LW 2) – Long bus ride on Tuesday night to play one of top defenses in state.
3) Cheshire (9-1; LW 3) – Get a long awaited rematch with Glastonbury, stars from last year gone.
4) Shelton (7-3; LW 4) – Got a little feisty with Derby, but ended up with their sixth straight easy win.
5) Hamden (7-3; LW 5) – Whatever "it" was, the Dragons just didn't quite have that "it" this year.
6) West Haven (5-5; LW 6) – First of a trio of 5-5 teams that were put through ringer of Division I.
7) Hand (5-5; LW 7) – That "it" thing that was lacking in Hamden was also lacking a little in Madison.
8) Wilbur Cross (5-5; LW 9) – Big effort on Thanksgiving might be a springboard for 2010 Governors.
9) North Haven (7-3; LW 8) - Must be a dangerous playoff-caliber team next season with some breaks.
10) Branford (7-3; LW 10) - Hornets another team that might think they have chance at playoffs next year.
11) Foran (6-4; LW 11) - Schumitz has some enormous stats for the entertaining Lions this season.
12) Hillhouse (5-5; LW 14) - Had a chance to get a result in Elm City Bowl, but couldn't quite pull it off.
13) Sheehan (4-6; LW 15) - Another inconsistent season for Titans at least finishes up with a victory.
14) Lyman Hall (4-6; LW 12) - Thought the Trojans would win, but I miss that game every season.
15) Amity (3-7; LW 13) – Looked like there are some pieces to move the Spartans up the ladder soon.
16) Jonathan Law (3-7; LW 16) - Scored 30 unanswered points, but still was dropped by rival Foran.
17) Guilford (2-8; LW 17) - Lots of work to do for Indians, might start in the weight room in the offseason.
18) Fairfield Prep (0-10; LW 18) - Jesuits nearly had a lead at halftime, have to think things will get better.
19) East Haven (0-10; LW 19) - Things have to get better at some point.