The quarterfinals begin on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the site of each home team. We have four participants from the NVL. Good luck to all of our squads!
Class S: No. 6 Hyde (7-3) at No. 3 Ansonia (9-1): Ansonia is looking for its 17th state title. More importantly, it is looking to rebound after a loss on its home field in the NVL championship. The states are more important. With a struggling Hyde team (losers of three straight games) coming into Jarvis Stadium, the Howling Wolves are looking to knock the Chargers out of a decent Class S playoff field. If Hyde can slow down Dobbs, it has a great shot at leaving Jarvis Stadium with a win. It will be interesting to see what defense Hyde comes out in and what adjustments Tom Brockett and his staff will make if they see another 9-10 guys in the box for a second consecutive game.
Picks: Kyle- Ansonia, 26-14. Remmy- Ansonia, 34-18.
Class S: No. 5 Woodland (7-3) at No. 4 St. Joseph (7-3) at Fairfield Ludlowe: The storyline here isn't NVL vs. FCIAC as much as it is the possibility that St. Joseph quarterback Joe Della Vecchia will miss this game after suffering a knee injury against Trumbull on Thanksgiving eve. That certainly boosts Woodland's chances a great deal in this game. Della Vecchia has passed for over 2,000 yards and 25 TD this season and has also run for 463 yards and four TD, both second on the team. This probably means that Cadets running back LJ Hunt will get more carries as will Tyler Matakevich, who hasn't run the ball much this year after the early foot injury. St. Joseph averages almost 33 points per game, but we have to think that goes does gown a little with Della Vecchia either out or certainly less than 100 percent. The Cadets' defense hasn't been a strong point all season, giving up almost 26 points per game, so this might be a recipe for Woodland to pull the upset. The Hawks have to chew up some clock on the ground and buckle down with the run defense.
Picks: Kyle- Woodland, 27-21. Remmy- Woodland, 26-24.
Class L: No. 6 New Canaan (9-1) at No. 3 Naugatuck (9-1): Naugatuck just won its most important game in almost a decade. Now, Naugy is one of the few home underdogs in the quarterfinals as it faces No. 6 New Canaan, which is ranked in the top six of the state polls. This could be a high-scoring affair as both teams like to spread the field. New Canaan averages almost 42 points per game while Naugy averages nearly 38 points per. New Canaan is playing as well as any team in the state and the non-Naugatuck folks giving the Greyhounds a chance are almost nonexistent. We're not calling for a blowout but it's hard to see Naugy beating the four-time defending state champions. The Hounds will have to play as good a defense as they did against Ansonia and not turn the ball over at all to win this game.
Picks: Kyle- New Canaan, 35-21. Remmy- (I am rooting for Naugy, BADLY) New Canaan, 27-21.
Class S: No. 8 Sacred Heart (6-4) at No. 1 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (10-0): We haven't seen Valley Regional in action yet but we do know they can put points on the board in a hurry. Sacred Heart basically backed in to the playoffs after losing big against a two-win Wilby team. Some good news for the Hearts: They get standout WR David Coggins back for this one. Has Valley Regional faced a team that can pass the ball on every down? Don't know. But we'll see if Sacred Heart has the ability to score points against a stingy defense while limiting Valley Regional's attack because we all know teams can score on the Hearts' defense in a hurry. Hopefully they don't get embarrassed.
Picks: Kyle- Sacred Heart, 34-28. Remmy- Valley Regional, 38-20.
