Week 5 wasn’t too exhilarating, at least by football’s standards.
Many teams across the state were on a bye last week, including most of the teams ranked in the top 10 of the Hartford Courant coaches’ poll.
Week 6 is shaping up to be a banger, though.
Six ranked teams will be involved in four of the state’s marquee games this weekend. The two biggies are No. 6 St. Joseph (4-0) at No. 5 Darien (3-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.; and No. 3 Staples (4-0) at No. 8 New Canaan (3-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
The other must-see games are No. 2 Windsor (4-0) vs. Maloney (2-2) at Meriden’s Falcon Field, Friday, 6:30 p.m.; and No. 7 Bunnell (4-0) at Brookfield (4-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
(Note that Maloney is better than its record shows — its losses were to two-time defending CIAC champion New Canaan, 42-13, on Sept. 13, and defending LL champ Staples, 28-21, on Sept. 27.)
The only movement in the Top 10 this week is Newtown (5-0) dropping out after being tied at No. 10 with Masuk. Perhaps its 17-0 win over winless Pomperaug last Thursday concerned some voters.
Other Hartford County teams that received votes are New Britain (4-0), Glastonbury (3-1), Bristol Central (4-0) and Capital Prep/Achievement First (4-0).
HARTFORD COURANT TOP 10 STATE FOOTBALL COACHES’ POLL
First place points 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, last week’s ranking and CIAC classification:
1. Greenwich (8) 4-0 376 1 LL
KNOW THIS: Cardinals senior Pete Vomvolakis is a dude. He’s started every game since his freshman year on the offensive line (40 games), is one of the team’s few two-way starters this season and has committed to attend the Naval Academy.
NEXT: vs. Wilton, Friday, 6 p.m.
2. Windsor (3) 4-0 350 2 MM
KNOW THIS: While we endorse the Manly Discipline of the Running Arts when it comes to an offensive attack, it’s worth going to Falcon Field on Friday night just to see two of the state’s top receivers — Cashmire Lewis of Windsor and the Spartans’ Jesus Martell.
NEXT: at Maloney, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Staples (2) 4-0 340 3 LL
KNOW THIS: Junior Nick Weil has adapted well in his first season as the Wreckers’ starting QB. He’s completed 59-of-84 passes for 756 yards and 11 TDs and run 20 times for 117 yards.
NEXT: at New Canaan, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
4. Hand 5-0 305 4 M
KNOW THIS: The Tigers were sluggish in the first half of last Friday’s home game against Hillhouse. They came to life in the second half and won, 26-0. Paul Calandrelli completed 10-of-22 passes for 138 yards and three TDs for the defending CIAC Class M champs.
NEXT: at Cheshire, Oct. 25, 7 p.m.
5. Darien 3-1 262 5 L
KNOW THIS: Directions from Hartford to Darien High School — Take I-91 South and get on Route 15 South (Wilbur Cross Parkway). Hop off at Exit 37 onto Route 124 towards Darien. Turn right onto South Avenue. Turn right onto Middlesex Road. Turn left onto Middlesex Road (yes, a right and left on the same road). Turn right onto High School Lane. Turn right and you’ll see the school up ahead on the right. You’re welcome.
NEXT: vs. St. Joseph, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
6. St. Joseph 4-0 240 6 M
KNOW THIS: The Cadets play Darien, Greenwich and Staples over the next four weeks. Eep. That’s still better than Wilton, though, which plays Greenwich, New Canaan and Darien in succession. EEP.
NEXT: at Darien, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
7. Bunnell 4-0 222 7 MM
KNOW THIS: When we last saw the Bulldogs, they stuffed No. 10 Masuk, 21-0 (Oct. 4), holding the latter to 79 total yards. They’ve had nearly two weeks to prepare for the Bobcats, who’ve averaged 288.5 yards rushing and 47 points a game.
NEXT: at Brookfield, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
8. New Canaan 3-1 212 8 L
KNOW THIS: Directions from Hartford to New Canaan High School — Follow the same directions you’d take to get to Exit 37 off the Wilbur Cross Parkway but head towards New Canaan when you get onto Route 124. Left onto South Avenue towards New Canaan. Bang a left onto Farm Road. The school is up ahead on the left. Or you could just spend Friday night at a hotel in Norwalk or Stamford after St. Joseph-Darien. We’re just trying to be helpful here.
NEXT: vs. Staples, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
9. West Haven 4-1 164 9 LL
KNOW THIS: Norwich Free Academy, for some reason, played host to West Haven on Homecoming Day. It didn’t go well — the Blue Devils led by 41 points at halftime and won, 46-21. Four-year starter Nick Conlan threw two touchdown passes and scored on a 78-yard run for the Westies.
NEXT: vs. Guilford, Friday, 6 p.m.
10. Masuk 3-1 163 T10 MM
KNOW THIS: It’s bad enough for New Milford that it’s playing the Panthers after a loss. It’s worse that it’s playing the Panthers after they’ve an extra week to stew over the Bunnell loss.
NEXT: at New Milford, Friday, 7 p.m.
Dropped out: Newtown (T10).
Also receiving votes: Newtown (5-0), 145 points; Ansonia (5-0), 84; Killingly (5-0), 81; Fairfield Prep (4-1), 70; New Britain (4-0), 56; Brookfield (4-0), 55; Maloney (2-2), 53; Naugatuck (5-0), 47; Glastonbury (3-1), 23; Notre Dame-W.H. (3-2), 19; Bristol Central (4-0), 15; North Haven (3-2) and Windham (4-0), 9; Capital Prep/Achievement First (4-0), 8; Trumbull (2-2), 7.
Voters: Erik Becker, Hand; Tom Brockett; Ansonia; Joe Della Vecchia; St. Joseph; Mike Ellis; Fitch; Rob Fleeting; Windsor; Kevin Frederick, Maloney; Tanner Grove; Montville; Andy Guyon; Xavier; Joe Lato; Woodland; Brian Mazzone; Stafford/East Windsor/Somers; Bryan Muller; Brookfield; Marce Petroccio; Trumbull; Nathan Tyler, Stratford.
Ned Griffen has obsessively covered state high school football since the mid-nineties, back when Dan Orlovsky was just a wiry teenager at Shelton High School. He was born in Texas thus he was genetically hardwired to love the sport. He enjoys heavy metal, pro wrestling, Jennifer Walters and being adored by cats and dogs everywhere.