This just in...

48 seconds into the UConn-Maine game, and Brookfield's Scott Lutrus returns an interception 25 yards for a touchdown...

Live From the FC: September 8 Lineup

It's another 8 a.m. call, everyone! Plain and simple, it's another scrimmage day, so we're getting things done early. You can click on the logo at the left to listen LIVE! Or you can access the playback from that page, too.

Here's the September 8 starting lineup:

• From WWPT-FM 90.3, Mike Zito and Jason Intrieri (these two will host the show on Sept. 29, by the way!). We will discuss this season's coverage of Staples football, and talk about the upcoming play-by-play team.
• Matt Cole, president of BlueStreak Sports Training, will come on to talk about some of the regional players who have gone through their summer programs, and which ones have really stepped up their games.
• And Joe Bouffard of Digital Sports Video will be calling in to discuss something you may or may not have noticed at scrimmages this year. He is also an assistant coach at New Canaan, worked some summer camps, and will talk about some of the SWC players he worked with.

On September 15, we will kick off at our regularly-scheduled time, 10 a.m.

Blogger Going On IR?

... we shall see.

Went to the doctors last month for some pain in my left shoulder. Woke up one day with that "I slept wrong" kind of back ache and it got worse over a few weeks. They gave me some stretches and muscle relaxants, and told me to come back in a month if I wasn't better.

I took the holistic route on top of that, taking a valerian mix and an arnica gel to help speed the process.

No dice. Today was a month, and it hasn't been healing. There's pain radiating down the left arm, a sore elbow, numbness in my finger tips. So my doctor sent me for an MRI to rule out a herniated disc. Results were sent back to my doctor tonight, but I won't have them until Wednesday.

Problem is I have no patience, and I'm a busy man. Previews for a couple of papers are due, I'm trying to keep up with two blogs, and -- this just in -- I have a day job!

So I'll try to be patient, keep doing my stretches, and hope I don't need surgery. Heck, the MRI was bad enough. It's a bad time to find out I have a bit of claustrophobia!

Stay tuned ...

Video: Masuk Quarterback Ray Palmer

Quarterback Ray Palmer kind of rolls right off the tongue, right? He's making a big move from split end this fall. The team's leading receiver last season is adjusting well to his new role. Click below to hear what he has to say about the 2007 Panthers.

Video: Masuk Head Coach John Murphy

Masuk had a tremendous regular season in 2006, only to fall short in the SWC championship and Class L playoffs to Bunnell. Those two losses were the only blemishes on the Panthers record. Head coach John Murphy talks about what it's going to take to get back into both games, and go further than it did last season.

Video: Brookfield head Coach Rich Angarano

Brookfield could be a very good team this season, but right now it's too tough to tell. While they have talent, its not all on the field at the same time due to injuries. That showed Tuesday when the Bobcats had trouble containing New Canaan, and Angarano said the team had its problems against Fairfield Prep, too.

Video: Masuk Linebacker Scott Christy

Now that he is a returning all-state player, Masuk senior linebacker Scott Christy has a target on his back. Click below to see how Christy's plans to handle that, and how the Panthers plan to approach the 2007 season.

Video: Let's Not Forget the Masuk Defense

Let's be fair here - the Masuk defense looked very good against Greenwich, especially on this opening Cardinal drive. The Panthers picked Greenwich quarterback Tucker Stafford once, and recovered a Cardinal fumble in its 21-14 loss.

Video: Masuk vs. Greenwich

Masuk looked pretty good today against Greenwich, though Greenwich won the scrimmage 21-14. Ray Palmer has a good command of the Masuk offense, and the Panthers weren't intimidated by Blue Chip recruit Jonathan Meyers.

Here's the first drive of the scrimmage, capped by a Palmer to Niko Guerrera touchdown.

Scrimmage Report: Bunnell Looks Like Real Deal

Went to a pair of scrimmages yesterday and got to see three teams in action: Barlow (for the second time this preseason, that's just the way these jamborees go), Bunnell, and New Milford.

I'm ready to say Bunnell is going to repeat as SWC champion.

Chris Sloat not only looks like an able replacement to Steve Smith at quarterback, but the junior is proving to be a leader as well. And his teammates are responding.

The Bulldogs also return Mike Easley and Sam Stringfellow at receiver spots, and have a pair of bruising running backs in Mario Guerrero and Oilver Aurelia who proved tough to bring down.

Here's a video of Sloat talking about the pressure to replace Smith, and the outlook for the 2007 Bulldogs.