St. Joseph was 2-2 four weeks into the season and feeling uneasy.
The Cadets had lost to Hand (30-28, Sept. 13) and New Canaan (7-3, Oct. 4). They scored with 1 minute, 10 seconds left to take the lead against Hand, only for the Tigers to drive 80 yards and score on the game’s final play. They kept New Canaan from scoring an offensive touchdown but lost on a Pick Six.
Two losses against two of the state’s best by a combined seven points.
Another loss could end St. Joseph’s chance at defending its Class M title.
The New Canaan game was also the start of a rough stretch in which the Cadets would play the best teams in the FCIAC, including back-to-back games against traditional powers Darien (Oct. 25) and Staples (Nov. 1).
St. Joseph has become one of the state’s hottest teams over that time. It went on the road on Friday and beat then-unbeaten and third-ranked Wilton, 24-12, for its fifth straight win. Its allowed just six touchdowns over that time and unofficially qualified for states.
That game moved both Hand and St. Joseph up one spot to third and fourth, respectively. The Warriors dropped to No. 5.
There was no other movement in the Top 10.
Top 10 Coaches’ Poll
Listing record, total points with first-place votes in parentheses, previous ranking and CIAC class. Points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis:
1. New Canaan, 9-0, 388 (12), No. 1, Class L
KNOW THIS: Senior Henry Stein ran 12 times and got 202 yards and two touchdowns out of it in Friday’s 42-13 rout over Trumbull.
NEXT: vs. Darien (6-3), Nov. 27, 10 a.m.
2. Killingly (1), 9-0, 362, No. 2, Class SS
KNOW THIS: Hayden Allard ran 12 times for 100 yards and three touchdowns on Friday to help the Trailblazers thump Waterford, 63-28. It was the third straight week they scored 60-or-more. And they aren’t the only Top 10 team who scored 60-or-more during Week 10.
NEXT: vs. Woodstock Academy (3-6), Nov. 27, 10 a.m.
3. Hand, 8-1, 322, No. 4 Class SS
KNOW THIS: Cole Preskar and Stone Leckey both had two touchdown catches as the Tigers raced past West Haven on Friday, 49-18. FYI — if you’re named, “Stone”, then you’re preordained to play football. Or arm wrestle saltwater crocodiles.
NEXT: vs. Guilford (8-1), Nov. 26, 6 p.m.
4. St. Joseph, 7-2, 310, No. 5, Class M
KNOW THIS: The Cadets turned two turnovers into 10 points, blocked an extra point and scored on a blocked punt in their win over Wilton.
NEXT: at Trumbull (3-6), Nov. 27, 10 am.
5. Wilton, 8-1, 272, No. 3, Class MM
KNOW THIS: St. Joseph’s defense forced the Warriors to go vertical instead of using their preferred horizontal approach, thus Charlie Calabrase threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s loss.
NEXT: vs. Hillhouse (2-6), Friday, 7 p.m.
6. Greenwich, 7-2, 254, No. 6, Class LL
KNOW THIS: Sophomore Phil Tarantino threw two touchdown and ran for two more in Friday’s 35-14 win over Darien.
NEXT: vs. Staples (5-4), Nov. 27, 10 a.m.
7. Fairfield Prep, 7-2, 204, No. 7, Class LL
KNOW THIS: The Jesuits were tied with Law at the half on Friday when they got all like, “Alright, enough,” blanked the latter in the second half and won, 35-14.
NEXT: at Xavier (3-6), Nov. 25, 7 p.m.
8. Cheshire, 7-2, 202, No. 8, Class L
KNOW THIS: The Rams, like St. Joseph, were 2-2 after Week 4. Now they’ve (unofficially) qualified for the playoffs, which leads this the yearly public service announcement — no one officially qualify for the playoffs until the CIAC’s football committee approves them the day after the end of the regular season. Please make a note of it.
NEXT: at Southington (6-3), Nov. 27, 10 a.m.
9. New Britain, 8-1, 184, 9, Class LL
KNOW THIS: The Hurricanes’ Billy Seymour ran seven times for 112 yards and three touchdowns and completed 9-of-14 passes for 205 yards and two scores in a 68-30 road win over Manchester. No way that town lets him cross its borders any time soon.
NEXT: CIAC Class LL quarterfinals vs. TBA, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.
10. Windsor, 8-1, 172, No. 10, Class MM
KNOW THIS: AJ Robinson completed 17-of-23 passes for 301 yards and 6 touchdowns as the Warriors mashed East Hartford, 61-18, on Friday. It was also the sixth game in Week 10 in which the winner scored 60-or-more. And they were all played on Friday. Freaky.
NEXT: vs. Bloomfield (7-2), Nov. 22, 1 p.m.
Also receiving votes: Newtown (7-2), 138 points; Woodland (9-0), 122; Berlin (9-0), 100; Fairfield Ludlowe (6-3), 54; Guilford (8-1), 49; Tie, Seymour (9-0) and Sheehan (7-2), 33; Glastonbury (6-3), 28; Darien (6-3), 19; Tie, Brookfield (7-2) and Southington (6-3), 18; Law (7-2), 17; Bunnell (7-2), 9; Maloney (5-4), 7.
Voters: Erik Becker, Hand; Jason Bruenn, Platt; Joe Della Vecchia; St. Joseph; Mike Ellis; Fitch; Kevin Frederick, Maloney; Tanner Grove; Montville; Keith Hellstern, Fairfield Prep; Erick Knickerbocker, Rockville; Joe Lato; Woodland; John Mihalko, Ansonia; Bryan Muller; Brookfield; Marce Petroccio; Trumbull; Nathan Tyler, Stratford.
Ned Griffen has obsessively covered state high school football since the mid-nineties, back when Dan Orlovsky was just a wiry teenager at Shelton High School. He was genetically hardwired to love the sport having been born in Texas. He enjoys heavy metal, pro wrestling, the wit and wisdom of Jennifer Walters and being adored by cats and dogs everywhere.