Got photos? Here's the Long-awaited Newtown-Bunnell Gallery

Okay, I think the Newtown-Bunnell game was played when, early October? Well, I've FINALLY got around to doing the gallery of that game.

You can go to my photo store, to view the gallery. Once in, go to "Gallery," scroll down to "High School Football 2007," and select "Newtown at Bunnell."

And the photos are available for sale, too, and can be purchased direct from that site. $5 for a 4X6, $6 for a 5X7, $12 for an 8X10. Remember... the holidays are here (and so is the Weston-New Milford gallery).

Catch Craig Bruno on Live From the FC

Can't come down from the state championship football high? Neither can I. So tune in at 10 a.m. to Live From the FC and listen to interviews with the three Fairfield County coaches who won state championships this season. Have any questions for them? Send them via AIM to livefromthefc.

First up, New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli, who had one for the ages Saturday with the Rams' come-from-behind 34-30 win over Daniel Hand to take the Class MM crown.

Next up: Rich Albonizio, whose Greenwich team completed back-to-back FCIAC and Class LL championship runs with a 28-14 victory over Shelton.

And last but not least, Bunnell head coach Craig Bruno, whose Bulldogs also completed back-to-back campaigns in the SWC and Class L with a 22-14 win over league rival Masuk.

Click the link above, or the logo, to listen live. Or check later Saturday for the archive.

Bunnell Players and Craig Bruno to Appear On The Fifty Yard Line

I just got an e-mail from Matt Levine, the host and producer of The Fifty Yard Line, a football show streamed in live video to his Web site, mattlevine.net, at 7 p.m. Tuesdays from Route 22 restaurant in Stamford.

Levine has confirmed that Bunnell head coach Craig Bruno and a few of his players -- most likely Class L championship game MVP Mario Guererro and WR-DB Mike Easley -- are scheduled to appear on the show.

So log in live, or come on down and join us (I'm the co-host) at Route 22 and download the archive later. Route 22 is located at 1980 W. Main St. in Stamford, between Exits 5 & 6 on I-95.

The Bunnell Three-Peat: Are The No. 1?

Let's face it. The state's coaches and the state's writers are going to to declare Ansonia No. 1. They went undefeated, put up some gaudy numbers, have the state's Player of the Year (Alex Thomas), and to top it off, they took down the Evil Empire (okay, maybe just Darth Vader) on Championship Saturday.

We'll probably see Greenwich take No. 2. They earned some respect with their showing in Florida (though it was a loss) and picked up some more votes in both polls with impressive performances against Staples and Central. But because they didn't dismantle Shelton in the Class LL championship game, they will miss out on the grand off-the-field prize.

But what about Bunnell?

A lot of people are talking No. 3, and I have to agree. Maybe they're even a No. 2?

The SWC doesn't get the credit it deserves. Maybe it's a down season, but who knows for sure? You can't take away the fact that Bunnell took down Staples, a team ranked 4th and 5th most of the season. And you can't brush off the fact the Bulldogs had to beat Masuk three times this season to claim its hardware.

It's tough to beat a team once in a season, even more so to take someone down twice. But three times in one season? You have to be a damn good team to do that.

I don't have a vote, but I'll give you my Top 3:

1. Greenwich
2. Bunnell
3. Ansonia
   

DING DING DING... Round Three Is Here...

Welcome to the biggest day of the high school football season. Can I have a, "No, duh?"

Six games will be played, six state titles will be awarded (in a state with less than 130 teams). You'll be able to see and hear every game, whether it's on TV, the Internet, or your old-fashioned transistor radio.

Start your day here with a cup of coffee at 10 a.m. and listen to Live From the FC. Our guests — Rob Adams of WGCH AM 1490, The One and Only Phil Soto-Ortiz of SportingNewsCT.com, and Mark Dwyer of New Canaan News-Review — will break down the Class LL, L, and MM games for you.

And if you can't make it to West Haven for Round Three of the Masuk-Bunnell series will be broadcast LIVE on CPTV, for those of you with cable television or rabbit ears, starting with pregame at 6:30. SportingNewsCT.com will also pick up the feed from CPTV.

Meanwhile, here's some press clippings to enjoy:

• (New Haven Register) Masuk-Bunnell to face off for a third time
• (New Haven Register) Bulldogs feature one of most versatile attacks in state
• (Connecticut Post) Bruno's creativity attracts opponents attention
• (Connecticut Post) Murphy, Masuk look to end title drought
  

Masuk-Bunnell to be Played at a Dump

The CIAC's favorite venue, Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School, will host Round Three of the Masuk-Bunnell series.

The game will be held at the dump.... I mean Ken Strong Stadium... at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Both teams get a chance to play on the worst AstroTurf on the planet, but the game will be televised LIVE on CPTV.

Hello, Round Three...

Masuk vs. Bunnell, again, this time for the Class L title. Where and when? Who knows. Hopefully the CIAC will be smart enough to play this one at Trumbull, maybe as the day game...

The CIAC will determine sites and times tomorrow, at about 12:30 p.m. on CPTV.com.

Bunnell Should Beat Staples

Staples loses 37-0 to Greenwich on Thanksgiving, and suddenly the whole Bunnell-Wreckers rematch seems to be tainted. It's no longer a battle of undefeateds, and even more so, it's not for the Class L championship.

But it's still an intriguing battle. If Staples wins, then it gets its revenge on the Bulldogs, and has a shot at bringing back the Class L title to Westport. But if Bunnell wins, it has a shot at a three-peat over SWC arch-rival Masuk on its way to the crown.

The question is, how can Staples bounce back from an awful showing on national television against Greenwich? It won't be easy for the solid Wreckers defense to forget giving up 523 yards against the new-born Cardinals. Especially when they look at film on Bunnell, a team that runs the spread better than anyone else (other than Greenwich) in Fairfield County.

Chris Sloat has thrown the ball for almost 2,400 this season, and has added 520 on the ground. The two-headed running back combo of Mario Guerrero and Oliver Aurelia has picked up 1,000 on the ground, and runs behind a huge and underrated offensive line.

And Bunnell's defense is stifling, too. The Bulldogs have picked off 22 passes, which should have the emerging Wreckers passing attack concerned. Staples quarterbacks have thrown for 11 touchdowns this season, and the only interception came on a halfback option by Colin O'Shea..

If the Staples offense can handle the ball the way it did against New Canaan, it should be able to hold its own against Bunnell. The Wreckers carried the ball 44 times for 222 yards, led by Hampus Hellermark and his 113 yards on 23 carries.

This game is Bunnell's to lose, but I don't see that happening. The Bulldogs have been playing perfect ball this seasons, and seem to be on a mission to repeat as Class L champions.

My prediction:
Bunnell 26, Staples 21

Back From the Disabled List, In Time for States

Sorry for my absence, I've fallen behind trying to keep up with the FCIAC Football Blog, keeping up with the overflow of my day job, making sure a ton of extra work was filed for future newsletters and print issues there, and having my cervical fusion surgery.

Ugh, I'm glad I'm back. Had to even miss calling the SWC championship game for SportingNewsCT.com. Phil Soto-Ortiz gave me the invite to do color, but I didn't even get out of work until 9 that night.

But I got to listen to a classic clash between Masuk and Bunnell. And looking at how the Class L brackets are going to fall, it looks like Round Three could be held on Dec. 1. Now would Tuumbull High School (yuck) be considered the neutral site if it's the Panthers and the Bulldogs for the Class L title?

Let's hope so. Keep the travel easy for everyone.

Anyway, they both have to play games Tuesday first. Bunnell will host Staples in a rematch of last year's Class L championship game. Masuk travels to West Hartford for a date with Conard.

I'll have more about these games, plus some Thanksgiving press clips, before Tuesday.

Bunnell vs. Masuk... Again

I predicted a repeat for Bunnell at the beginning of the 2007 preseason. And now the Bulldogs are a week away from proving me right.

The two will meet Thursday at Pomperaug for the SWC championship. Bunnell defeated Masuk 16-8 earlier this season. And you know what they say - it's tough to beat the same team twice in one football season.

So I guess Thursday evening, some time around 9:30 p.m., we will have a champion crowned. I'm expecting another low-scoring game, even with the spread offenses in full effect.

Craig Bruno, Week 7 Postgame

Bunnell improved to 8-0 today with a 41-0 win over Immaculate. Just this past Sunday, it was a convincing 35-14 win for the Bulldogs.

I had this video in waiting since then. It's Craig Bruno, postgame against the Nighthawks, talking about his team's performance.

How Do You Stop Bunnell's Offense?

The simple answer: You don't. You can only hope to slow it down.

Yesterday is the second time I got to see the Bulldogs this season. Third if you count the scrimmage against Trumbull. And to be honest, I think their offense is the toughest in the state to stop right now.

Yes, yesterday Newtown stopped Bunnell on a goal-line stand, and on Bunnell's first possession of the game. But no one is consistently keeping the Bulldogs out of the end zone.

Michael Easley and Mark Harrison are big, physical bookends, and you can't double cover both. If you do, QB Chris Sloat is going to take off and run, or hand the ball to Mario Guerrero or Oliver Aurelia and have them smash the ball up the middle. And of course, if you stack eight in the box to stop the run, you leave Sloat's weapons wide open.

Maybe it won't look as easy when Bunnell plays for the SWC championship, or Stratford, or in the Class L playoffs ...

Newtown-Bunnell Moved to Sunday

And that will be a 2:30 start. The good news (for me) is that I'll be there, both for The News-Times and for SWC Buzz. So hopefully, soon thereafter, there will be a Nighthawks-Bulldogs photo gallery up, as well as some video and other good stuff.

My guess then: There will be a lot of Bunnell jerseys up at Pomperaug tonight...

Separation Friday, or a Bigger Cluster?

I'm going to stick to my guns here and say it's going to be Stratford and Bunnell meeting for the SWC Championship. So this week should be Separation Friday.

But looking at the Week 7 matchups, you never really know for sure.

Stratford visits Pomperaug, Newtown travels to Bunnell. Should Pomperaug and Newtown get the wins - and Masuk defeat Weston as it should - there will suddenly be five teams tied at 5-1 with two games left before the playoffs.

Can it happen? It's very possible. Newtown has been on a roll since losing three weeks back 40-21 to Stratford. And yes, Bunnell did put up 64 on Barlow, but trailed 21-7 at one point and had to earn the win.

Pomperaug's offense hasn't been in gear, but it's defense did hold Masuk's high-octane spread to two touchdowns. The question is, do they have the weapons to stop Torrey Mack & Octavias McKoy?

I'll play it safe here and say the two Stratford teams stay undefeated on what should be Separation Friday.

Bunnell-Masuk This Friday

In lieu of me being around this week to talk about this one, you should check out the message board. A lot of Bunnell and Masuk fans are over there talking about the SWC championship game rematch.

State Poll: Bunnell 7th, Masuk No. 9

I'm just stumbling over a post about the Bunnell-New Fairfield game... still. That's what happens when you're spread too thin here and at work... But for now, here's the latest:



For immediate release

The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches football poll


First-place votes in parentheses, record, points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis and last week’s ranking:

1.	Ansonia (10)	1-0	384	1
2.	Greenwich (3)	1-0	362	2
3.	Shelton	1-0	294	5
4.	New Canaan	1-0	272	4
5.	Staples-Westport	1-0	271	3
6.	Southington	1-0	220	6
7.	Bunnell-Stratford	1-0	183	7
8.	New London	1-0	176	9
9.	Masuk-Monroe 1-0	170	10
10.	Bloomfield 1-0	120	NR

Dropped out: West Haven (8).


Also receiving votes: Berlin (1-0), 83; Maloney-Meriden (1-0), 81; Stratford (1-0), 76; Ridgefield (1-0), 74; West Haven (0-1), 60; Fairfield Prep (1-0), 59; Tie, Hand-Madison (1-0) and Holy Cross-Waterbury (1-0), 48; New Britain (1-0), 44; Tie, Newington (1-0) and Woodland-Beacon Falls (1-0), 40; Windham (1-0), 38; Ledyard (0-0), 26; Conard-West Hartford (1-0), 23; Bridgeport Central (0-1), 22; Hillhouse-New Haven (1-0), 17; Cheshire (0-1), 16; Tie, Northwest Catholic-West Hartford (0-1), Seymour (1-0) and Weaver-Hartford (1-0), 14; Rocky Hill (1-0), 12; Norwich Free Academy (1-0), 9; Hamden (1-0), 8.


The following coaches voted: Chris Anderson, Woodland-Beacon Falls; Jim Buonocore, Fitch; Dave Cadelina, Bridgeport Central; John DeCaprio, Notre Dame-West Haven; Chuck Drury, Pomperaug-Southbury; Steve Filippone, Hand-Madison; Tanner Grove, Montville; Jude Kelly, St. Paul-Bristol; Tim King, Valley Regional-Deep River; Bill Mella, Southington; John Murphy, Masuk-Monroe; Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport; Bob Zito, Maloney-Meriden.

Video: Bunnell Head Coach Craig Bruno

I've never had a more honest answer come my way during my career. I asked Bunnell head coach Craig Bruno what it's like to defend a state title. I'll let you watch the video for his answer.

And, a little later, I'll give you those answers, along with more commentary from the Bunnell-New Fairfield AND Notre Dame-Bethel games...

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.

In the Land of Sean Patrick Bowley...

...there is some footage of Bunnell receiver Mike Easley making a big catch against Staples in a scrimmage the other day. Bowley, the lead high school sports writer at the Connecticut Post, was also out at the Masuk-Shelton scrimmage Wednesday, and reports here on both.

The Buzz on Scrimmages

Who's playing who this preseason?

Here's a sneak peak at who is playing who:

Bethel:

• 8/28 at Danbury, 3:30 p.m.
• 8/31 at Jonathan Law, 7:30 p.m.
  
• 9/3 at Cheshire, 9 a.m.
• 9/7 at Derby/O'Brien Tech, 7 p.m.

Bunnell:

• 8/29 at Staples, 4 p.m.
• 9/1 at Trumbull with Barlow and Harding, 8 a.m.
• 9/4 vs. Torrington, 4:30 p.m.
• 9/7 at Wilton, 4:30 p.m.

Joel Barlow:

• 9/1 at Trumbull with Bunnell and Harding, 8 a.m.

Newtown:

• 9/1 at Seymour, 9:30 a.m.

Nonnewaug:

• 8/29, at Canton, 4 p.m.
• 9/7, at Gilbert/Northwest Regional, 4 p.m.

Pomperaug:

• 8/28, vs. Kennedy, 4:30 p.m.
• 9/1, vs. Amity, 3 p.m.
• 9/7, vs. Rocky Hill, 7 p.m.

Stratford:

• 8/27, at Trumbull, 3:30 p.m.
• 9/1, at Platt, 9 a.m.