Preseason Interviews with Naugatuck and Woodland

We continued our preseason video interviews around the Valley with two more on Friday. First, we caught up with Rob Plasky's Naugatuck Greyhounds at practice, two weeks before the defending NVL champions head to East Longmeadow (Mass.) for their Week 1 nonconference game against the Spartans.

Here are senior tri-captains Jake Yourison (Sr., QB/RB/LB), Nico Cari (Sr., OL/DL), and Mike Giugno (Sr., OL/DL). (Don't mind the annoying bugs buzzing in the background.)

We also took a trip up to the hill to talk to Tim Shea's Woodland Hawks a day before their scrimmage against Guilford and North Haven. Woodland opens the season when it hosts Sacred Heart on Thursday, Sept. 15, in a rematch of the game that cost the Hawks last year's Copper Division title.

Here are senior tri-captains Matt Zaccagnini (Sr., RB/LB), Zach Plourde (Sr., FB/LB), and Tom Gendreau (Sr., OL/LB). (Don't mind the wind blowing.)

And since we were never able to preview Woodland during the spring, here's all the info:

About the Team

Class/Division: S / NVL Copper

Head coach: Tim Shea (fourth year, 18-14)

2010 record: 7-4 (5-1 Copper; Copper runner-up)

Playoff result: Class S quarterfinalist

Returning starters: 12
Players to watch: Tom Gendreau (Sr., OL/LB, capt.), Zach Plourde (Sr., FB/LB, capt.), Matt Zaccagnini (Sr., RB/LB, capt.), Zach Happy (Sr., TE/LB), Vigan Mulahu (Sr., OL/DL), Dave Alves (Sr., OL/DL), Ryan Wilkinson (Sr., OL/DL), Eric Collodel (Jr., OL/DL), Anthony Scirpo (Jr., WR/DB), Jeremy Clark (Jr., OL/DL), Kyle McClintick (Sr., WR/DB), Tanner Kingsley (So., QB), Brian Zaccagnini (So., WR/DB), Taylor Tucciarone (So., RB/DB), Levi Fancher (So., TE/LB)

Coach's Corner
Shea's team outlook: "We would like to be one of the eight [playoff teams] for Class S. We want to compete for a Copper Division championship. We return our fronts on both sides of the ball this year. We will rely on their experience to help us win games. We need our young skill kids to mature and get better every week. We will come out and play hard each and every Friday night."
Shea's league outlook: "I think the league is more balanced than ever this year. Any one of five teams could win the Copper. The league will be very competitive every week. This will be a fun season to watch. You are going to get good football from Week 1 until Thanksgiving."

Stay tuned for NVL season predictions this week!