The first day of practice is like a holiday for football coaches, especially for someone in his first season at the helm, guiding his alma mater. Such was the case for Anthony Morello Monday, as his tenure on the field officially began with Greenwich’s opening practice. An assistant coach for the Cardinals since 2011, Morello … Read more
In each of the past two seasons, New Canaan has been voted as the No. 1 football team in the state in the GameTimeCT preseason poll. Both times, New Canaan didn’t win a state championship. As far as head coach Lou Marinelli is concerned, it’s a distinction which this season can go to someone — anyone — … Read more
“Jack Wallace is the guy,” St. Joseph football coach Joe Della Vechia said when asked to answer the Hogs’ biggest question entering the season: Who will replace Syracuse-bound David Summers at quarterback? A 5-10, 165-pound junior, Wallace was a terminator for the Hogs defense last year when he made 47 often-crushing tackles and intercepted two … Read more
For the eighth time in nine years, Ridgefield finished with a winning record. But unlike most of the previous seasons this decade, the Tigers didn’t seriously contend for a state tournament berth. Losses in three of its first five games doomed Ridgefield, which ended the year with two victories to finish 6-4. “It was a mediocre … Read more
Glimmers of hope from last year could turn into bright flashes of light if the excitement from the Danbury camp translates onto the field in 2019. Buoyed by a strong sophomore class and leadership in the trenches, the Hatters — a sleeper by some — hope to make leap up the FCIAC ladder this fall. … Read more
To say the off season for Trinity Catholic was tumultuous, would be an understatement. The team’s coach, Donny Panapada, stepped down last winter and Thomas Broschardt was named as his replacement. Declining enrollment numbers at the school left the football program’s future in jeopardy until Wright Tech stepped to partner with Trinity, forming a co-op. Still, in the spring … Read more
How do you explain Fairfield Ludlowe posting its best season in 47 years when the Falcons went 7-3 in 2018? “They were hungry for a new style of play, a new direction,” third-year coach Mitchell Ross said. “It didn’t happen overnight, but some of the habits took time to correct. There was a culture change and they … Read more
Joe DeVellis’ first year at the helm of the Westhill football team was challenging with the team struggling to a 1-9 record. DeVellis was hired in the middle of the summer and the team was never able to get where it needed to be on the field during the season. The lone win came against … Read more
For the past few seasons, Darien has been blessed with a seemingly endless supply of top quarterbacks. Current signal-caller Peter Graham was a backup behind Jack Joyce on the 2017 Class LL championship team, and again last year when Cooper Hancock guided the Wave to a state tournament berth for the sixth-straight season. Now it’s … Read more
For the first time in 10 seasons, Warde returns a starting quarterback for coach Duncan DellaVolpe. “We threw Joey Gublin into the fire last year and probably put too much on him,” DellaVolpe said of the 200-pound senior, who threw for 1,300-plus yards with 15 touchdowns last year. “While things were too fast for him last year, he has … Read more