New Britain has shown a flair for the dramatic the past two weeks.
The Hurricanes trailed Maloney by 21 points after one quarter on Friday but rallied for a 30-28 win, their second straight OMG victory.
New Britain’s latest win, coupled with a loss by Staples, moved it into the Hartford Courant Top 10 state football coaches’ poll for the first time this season. It debuts at No. 10.
New Britain trailed Maloney, 21-0, just 9 minutes, 17 seconds into Friday’s game.
The Hurricanes (6-1) rallied with Jayden Allen running for a go-ahead 56-yard touchdown with 7:15 remaining and the game’s final points.
New Britain won their previous game in overtime over Glastonbury, 28-22, on Oct. 23.
Then-No. 10 Staples dropped out of the Top 10 after losing to No. 8 St. Joseph on Saturday, 27-6, in the week’s lone Top 10 match-up.
There will be more changes next week because there are two Top 10 matchups on Friday night — No. 3 Greenwich at No. 5 Wilton, and No. 6 Hand at No. 7 Fairfield Prep.
High School Football Top 10 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, 7-0, 358 (11), No. 1, Class L
KNOW THIS: Maddox Hoffman threw for three touchdowns while the Rams’ defense allowed 66 yards in Saturday’s 42-7 rout over winless Stamford.
NEXT: at Staples (5-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
2. Killingly (1), 7-0, 320, No. 2, Class SS
KNOW THIS: Another game, another change for the Trailblazers to run over someone. They ran 32 times for 467 yards and nine touchdowns on Friday to mow down Griswold/Wheeler, 60-13.
NEXT: vs. Norwich Free Academy (4-3), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Greenwich, 6-1, 316, No. 3, Class LL
KNOW THIS: The Cardinals bounced Fairfield Ludlowe on Saturday, 41-14, and had two players rush for over 100 yards — Jack Kelly (14 carries, 177 yards, 3 TDs) and Hector Lopez (16 carries, 110 yards, two TDs).
NEXT: at No. 5 Wilton (7-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
4. Windsor, 7-0, 266, No. 5, Class MM
KNOW THIS: The Warriors mangled Simsbury, 64-0, on Friday. If you’re keeping score at home, since a close victory over Newtown (34-31, Sept. 26), Windsor has outscored last four opponents, 219-7. Egad.
NEXT: at Southington (4-3), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
5. Wilton, 7-0, 250, No. 4, Class MM
KNOW THIS: The Warriors scored 42 points. …. in the second quarter of Saturday’s 49-28 win over Fairfield Warde. They led 49-7 at the half.
NEXT: vs. No. 3 Greenwich (7-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
6. Hand, 6-1, 234, No. 6 Class SS
KNOW THIS: The Tigers had an extra week to prepare for Fairfield Prep as they were on a bye.
NEXT: at No. 7 Fairfield Prep (6-1), Friday, 6 p.m.
7. Fairfield Prep, 6-1, 230, No. 7, Class LL
KNOW THIS: The Jesuits had a close call at North Haven on Friday. They had been held scoreless for over three quarters before tying the game at 7 with 9 minutes, 24 seconds left, and Ben Conelius kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining to give the Jesuits a 10-7 win.
NEXT: vs. No. 6 Hand (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
8. St. Joseph, 5-2, 212, No. 8, Class M
KNOW THIS: The Cadets, in successive weeks, have beaten two Top 10 teams — Darien (24-8, Oct. 25) and Staples.
NEXT: vs. Fairfield Ludlowe (5-2), Saturday, 11 a.m.
9. Cheshire, 5-2, 149, No. 9, Class L
KNOW THIS: The Rams’ defense allowed 146 yards to Hillhouse in Thursday’s 35-6 win. They play host to old Housatonic League rival Sheehan this week in one of the state’s top matchups.
NEXT: vs. Sheehan (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
10. New Britain, 6-1, 146, NR, Class LL
KNOW THIS: Jayden Allen fought through an ankle injury and ran 10 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns in Friday’s win.
NEXT: vs. Platt (4-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Dropped out: Staples (10).
Also receiving votes: Newtown (5-2), 125 points; Woodland (7-0), 93; Staples (5-2), 83; Sheehan (6-1), 65; Darien (5-2), 58; Berlin (7-0), 56; Maloney (5-2), 42; Seymour (7-0), 22; Tie, Brookfield (5-2), 9; Fairfield Ludlowe (5-2) and Holy Cross (5-2), 9; Law (6-1), 8.
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.