THE DAY’S TOP 10 H.S. FOOTBALL POLL
First-place votes in parentheses, record through Saturday, points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis and last week’s ranking
1. Southington (11)
KNOW THIS: The Blue Knights’ Ryan Montalvo (30-yard interception return) and Vance Upham (51-yard fumble return) both represented the defense in Friday’s 48-19 win over East Hartford.
NEXT: at Bulkeley/Hartford Mag./Weaver, Saturday, noon
2. Darien (2)
KNOW THIS: “I get to enjoy this for what, 24 hours, then I get to (prepare to) face Darien,” Staples coach Marce Petroccio said after Saturday’s 28-20 win over St. Joseph. “I don’t even know it’ll get to be that long.” Reckon it wasn’t long with the Blue Wave machine looming.
NEXT: vs. Staples, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
3. New Canaan
KNOW THIS: Perhaps you spent your weekend in a tunnel you dug in your backyard. Should that be the case, the Rams’ Michael Collins threw a state record-tying NINE touchdown passes in Friday’s 69-26 bludgeoning of Trumbull. Collins tied Jason Manson, the former Bloomfield star and current Capita/Achievement coach. Collins completed 18 of 29 passes for 483 yards with two interceptions.
NEXT: vs. Fairfield Ludlowe, Friday, 7 p.m.
T4. Shelton
KNOW THIS: Gaels have lost their quarterback (Zach Tuskowski) and most dangerous player (receiver-defensive back Chris Kanios) to injuries and still beat Hand on Friday, 17-13. “Next man up,” sounds great in theory, but it often doesn’t go that well.
NEXT: vs. Hamden, Friday, 7 p.m.
T4. Windsor
KNOW THIS: Jahkari Grant threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another in Saturday’s 47-0 lumping of South Windsor.
NEXT: at Northwest Catholic, Saturday, noon
6. North Haven
KNOW THIS: David Mikos had 13 tackles (including five solo) and three cathces for 35 yards to help North Haven squish Lyman Hall, 48-7, on Friday.
NEXT: at Foran, Friday, 7 p.m.
7. Newtown
KNOW THIS: New Milford only trailed by 14 points after three quarters against Newtown on Friday. That’s as close as anyone has played the Nighthawks this season. Course Newtown still won, 42-21. Now what can New Fairfield (7-1) do against the Nighthawks this week?
NEXT: at New Fairfield, Friday, 7 p.m.
8. Ansonia
KNOW THIS: Tajik Bagley ran 12 times for 202 yards and four touchdowns in Friday’s 44-6 mashing of St. Paul. Seymour’s Jaylen Kelly and Bobby Melms combined to run 43 times for 332 yards and four touchdowns in their team’s daffy 61-41 win over Wolcott. So, yeah, we’re curious just how many yards Bagley will rush for this week.
NEXT: vs. Wolcott, Friday, 7 p.m.
9. Glastonbury
KNOW THIS: The Tomahawks flirted with historical disaster versus New Britain on Friday. They led by as much as 32 points in the third quarter, only to have New Britain score 28 unanswered points. Glastonbury’s Sam Pirsig forced a fumble and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left to give his team a 41-28 win and and keep them from besting the state record for the biggest blown lead (28 points).
NEXT: vs. Simsbury, Friday, 6 p.m.
10. Wethersfield
KNOW THIS: Wethersfield and Maloney were both 6-1 prior to Friday’s game. Wethersfield showed that not all win-loss totals are equal as it blitzed the Spartans, 44-0. Devon Smith threw for 175 yards and four touchdowns. NEXT: at Manchester, Friday, 6 p.m.
Also receiving votes: Notre Dame-W.H. (5-2), 131 points; Middletown (6-1), 81; Staples (6-1), 66; New Fairfield (7-1), 63; Granby (8-0), 39, West Haven (6-2), 44; St. Joseph (5-2), 33; Trinity Catholic (5-1), 28; Bacon Academy (7-1), 19; Tie, Bloomfield (7-1), Conard (6-2), Ledyard (7-1) and Torrington (7-1), 16; Harding (8-0), 12; Brookfield (6-2), 11; Berlin (6-1), 9; Tie, Killingly (7-1) and Morgan (7-1), 7.
The following coaches voted: Rich Anganaro, Brookfield; Tom Brockett, Ansonia, Jim Buonocore, Ledyard; Craig Bruno, Naugatuck; Scott Daniels, Glastonbury; Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph; Steve Filippone, Hand; Rob Fleeting, Windsor; Steve George, Newtown; Tanner Grove, Montville; Tim King, Valley Regional/Old Lyme; Sean Marinan, Xavier; Marce Petroccio, Staples.