Week 1 (Sept. 14-16)
Game of the Week: Torrington at Ansonia (Thurs., Sept. 15, 6 p.m. at Jarvis Stadium)
The Skinny: Two of the top teams in the NVL square off in what could very well be the the game of the year right off the bat. Ansonia has some questions to answer this year for its critics without 2010 New Haven Register MVP Montrell Dobbs. The team returns plenty of starters on both sides of the ball which should put it in contention for the league title and another playoff berth. Torrington is more of a one-dimensional team that wins or losses with its workhorse in the backfield, Brenden Lytton. The Raiders have big boys up front and will be looking to pound the ball down the Chargers' throats. There will be a lot of on the line for both of these teams. But chew on this: Would a win by Torrington at Jarvis Stadium be an upset?
Honorable Mention: Seymour at O'Brien Tech, Watertown at Montville
Week 2 (Sept. 22-23)
Game of the Week: Derby at Naugatuck (Fri., Sept. 23, 7 p.m.)
The Skinny: Over the last two years, this series is now tied 1-1 with each team winning on the road. Naugatuck was expected to win both games but as we all saw, Derby upset the 'Hounds at Veterans Field in 2009--something Naugy and its older players certainly haven't forgotten about. The Red Raiders are looking for their first playoff berth since entering the NVL. A win over Naugy may give the Raiders the boost they need in the points standings in order to make a run at the playoffs. With Naugy's defense being its greatest strength, will Derby's line be able to open holes for its running backs, hold up against a strong pass rush, and allow quarterback Ray Kreiger to make plays to wideout Jacob Tomczak and others?
Honorable Mention: Ansonia at Woodland, Watertown at Holy Cross
Week 3 (Sept. 30-Oct. 1)
Game of the Week: Ansonia at Derby (Fri., Sept. 30, 7 p.m. at DeFilippo Field)
The Skinny: Last year's battle at Jarvis Stadium was a classic and probably the best game of the season. Dobbs put the Chargers on his back and made sure his team was going to win that game. Newsome intercepted Kreiger to put an end to Derby's chance at a comeback. This season, Newsome is going to have to do a lot more for Ansonia if Big Blue is going to win this game. With Derby's three-year starters, Kreiger and Tomczak, and a host of talented newcomers at the skill positions, Derby once again has a shot at beating its arch rivals. We know that both coaches have this game circled on their calendars.
Honorable Mention: Torrington at Holy Cross, Jonathan Law at Woodland
Week 4 (Oct. 6-7)
Game of the Week: Holy Cross at Ansonia (Fri., Oct. 7, 7 p.m. at Jarvis Stadium)
The Skinny: The Crusaders want to forget what happened to them last year at Jarvis Stadium. The problem is a 31-0 shellacking is hard to erase from the minds of football players. Holy Cross returns many starters including quarterback Zach Brown and running back David DiGiorgi, among others. And with the explosive freshman Isaiah Wright in the mix, it may very well throw a wrench into the Chargers' plans at a second-straight beat down of the Crusaders. One thing's for certain: There will be a tailgate one way or another.
Honorable Mention: Derby at Wilby, Sacred Heart at Naugatuck
Week 5 (Oct. 13-15)
Game of the Week: Torrington at Naugatuck (Fri., Oct. 14, 7 p.m.)
The Skinny: This game has the potential to be the most important Copper Division game of the entire season. Naugatuck, the defending division champ, hosts the ever-improving Red Raiders after the Greyhounds exploded in a breakout performance early last fall in Torrington. Both teams will already have been tested by this point but with two squads that should be near the top of the division, this one could be the separation between division champ and second place. Naugatuck's passing game will likely take a step down from its level of 2010, so this game might be a huge ground battle with Lytton against Naugy's stable of backs.
Honorable Mention: Ansonia at Seymour, Holy Cross at Kennedy
Week 6 (Oct. 21-22)
Game of the Week: Torrington at Woodland (Fri., Oct. 21, 7 p.m.)
The Skinny: The game up north between these two teams last year was one of the better games the Copper Division had to offer all season as Lytton matched up against the league's best defense in black and gold. Most of that Woodland defense is back, especially in the front seven, but so is Lytton. He was banged up for a portion of last year's contest, so a little bit of redemption might be on his mind. We don't expect either of these teams to rely on the passing game, but well-timed aerial strikes could be crucial in this game. Both of these squads figure to compete for the Copper crown and this game--along with the Naugatuck-Holy Cross game happening on the same night--will likely go a long way in determining the division's representative for the NVL championship game.
Honorable Mention: Naugatuck at Holy Cross, Wolcott at Derby
Week 7 (Oct. 27-28)
Game of the Week: Derby at Torrington (Fri., Oct. 28, 7 p.m.)
The Skinny: It will be battle of young and energetic coaching staffs and the first meeting between the two sets of Red Raiders since Derby entered the NVL. There is no doubt Derby's weakness entering the year is its line, losing some seniors and some players to EOB Tech. However, Derby has the firepower to put up points with Kreiger and Tomczak against a sketchy Torrington secondary. Torrington coach Dan Dunaj will be looking forward to earning a win against his hometown team. This game is the end of a brutal, three-game stretch in the middle of the season for Torrington, so we'll have to wait and see how much the previous weeks' games against Naugatuck and Woodland take out of Lytton and Co.
Honorable Mention: Naugatuck at Woodland, Holy Cross at Sacred Heart
Week 8 (Nov. 3-4)
Game of the Week: Woodland at Holy Cross (Fri., Nov. 4, 7 p.m. at Municipal Stadium)
The Skinny: Every time these two teams get together, a good game usually seems to be the result. It very well may be the same outcome this year as the Hawks and Crusaders should be among the top teams in the Copper Division. While Torrington and Naugatuck seem like they're the two favorites in the Copper, Woodland and Holy Cross are always capable of putting together solid seasons with their balanced offenses and strong defenses and could sneak atop the division with an upset here or there. This game could be very important to the Copper standings as it comes in the second-to-last week of divisional play.
Honorable Mention: Ansonia at Wolcott, Seymour at Derby
Week 9 (Nov. 10-12)
Game of the Week: Sacred Heart at Torrington (Fri., Nov. 11, 7 p.m.)
The Skinny: In Week 9 of the 2010 season, Sacred Heart found itself in two very important positions when it faced Woodland. It was battling for its first playoff spot in two decades while also having the chance to deny the Hawks the Copper Division crown. A similar situation could arise this season as the Hearts face the Red Raiders in the last week of divisional play. Sacred Heart lost Rohan Ifill--and most of its offense--so we'll have to see how coach Chris Ortiz adjusts. If Torrington is in a position to clinch a division championship at home, the Hearts likely won't be intimidated with last year's late-season experience, which included an upset victory over the Raiders in Week 8.
Honorable Mention: Wolcott at Woodland, Wilby at Ansonia
Thanksgiving (Nov. 23-24)
Game of the Week: Ansonia at Naugatuck (Thurs., Nov. 24, 10:30 a.m.)
The Skinny: Naugatuck coach Rob Plasky may very well be the most content coach in the NVL if his team is riding a winning streak going into the Turkey Day extravaganza versus Ansonia, especially if his team is ready to make a run in the playoffs. But rest assured Ansonia coach Tom Brockett and his Chargers will be looking for payback after last year's 38-20 NVL championship loss to the 'Hounds. Naugy should be able to sort out its questions at quarterback very early in the season and we expect the Greyhounds to play Ansonia very tough this year, especially since Ansonia embarrassed Naugatuck in the last meeting at Veterans Field, 56-20. Ansonia sophomore running back Arkeel Newsome will have his work cut out for him against the Naugatuck defense. Ansonia quarterback Elliot Chudwick and his receiving corps will have to come up huge for the Chargers if they want to win this game.
Honorable Mention: Wilby at Sacred Heart, Shelton at Derby
Of course, our picks for Game of the Week are very much subject to change. We'll still be posting our weekly Game of the Week thread once the season begins. But what does everyone think?
