Vitals

• COACH — DERRICK LEWIS (1st year)
• CONFERENCE — FCIAC East
• PLAYOFF CLASS — Class LL (819 boys enrolled)
• HOME — Kennedy Stadium
• 2017 RECORD — 2-8
• 2018 OPENER — Sept. 7 vs. Staples, 7 p.m.
• TEAM WEBSITE — Maxpreps | TWITTER: @CHSFBPRIDE

Top Players

• RICKY REID, Sr., OL/DL, (6-2, 277)
• SAM MONTANEZ, Sr., WR/DB, (6-0, 203)
• TAHJ JENNINGS, Sr., WR/DB, (5-7, 167)
• JEAN DESIR, Jr., RB/DB, (5-8, 155)
• ALFRED FLEMMING, Jr., QB/DB, (5-10, 173)
• PRESTON DEBOSE, Sr., RB/DB, (5-10, 188)
• NATHANAEL BRUNO, Sr., RB/DL, (6-3, 224)
• MARCUS ALEXANDER, Jr., OL/DL, (6-3, 282)
• NATHANIEL COLE, Soph., WR/DB, (5-9, 162)
• IBRAHIMA CAPO-CHICHI, Sr., OL/DL, (6-2, 303)

Key Losses

RB/LB Dimitrie Ivey, OL/DL Austin Arounsack-Colon (Class LL All-State)

Outlook

Derrick Lewis is back in Bridgeport, determined to mold one of Bridgeport’s oft-struggling teams into a consistent winner.

This time, however, he’s at a different address. 

Lewis, the former head coach at Bassick and Jonathan Law, now finds himself at the helm of Bridgeport Central. He takes over for Mike Farrell, who went 2-8 last season and saw his team outscored by more than 28 points a game. 

While the Hilltoppers have fallen far since reaching the FCIAC championship game in 2009 under longtime coach Dave Cadelina, Lewis believes the idea of a turnaround isn’t all that far-fetched. He’s optimistic about the roster following an offseason in which participation surged throughout the program.

The 2018 Coaching Carousel

“We’re definitely very excited. It’s exciting because the response we’ve had for the program is a little overwhelming,” said Lewis, explaining that there are now more than 60 players between the junior varsity and varsity levels. “Kids are very interested in playing and participating. … The kids are chomping at the bit.”

Junior quarterback Alfred Flemming returns this season. So, too, do four starters along a physically imposing offensive line, including seniors Ricky Reid (6-2, 277) and Ibrahima Capo-ChiChi (6-2, 303).

The Hilltoppers will graduate Class LL All-State lineman Austin Arounsack-Colon. 

“Our line is big, said Lewis, a former all-state lineman at West Haven and an All-American at Southern Connecticut State. “We’ve got big daddies up front.”

The Hilltoppers’ road back to relevancy won’t be easy, especially in the FCIAC. Their schedule is daunting, beginning with a Week 1 visit from Staples. They also host defending Class S champion St. Joseph in October and visit three-time defending Class LL champion Darien in November.

Fortunately for Central, which is just 8-44 since Cadelina resigned in 2012, Lewis is no stranger to rebuilding projects. While he won only four games over three seasons at rival Bassick, Lewis experienced a glimmer of success during his next stop as a coach.

In 2014, Lewis went 5-6 at Law and was named SCC Coach of the Year. At the time, it was the program’s winningest season in seven years. After a 1-9 mark the next season, he resigned to become the offensive line coach at SCSU.

2018 Schedule

Sept. 7 — STAPLES**, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 — at Platt, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 — RIDGEFIELD**, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29  — WARDE**, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 5  — at Wilton**, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 — at McMahon**, 7 p.m.
Oct. 26  — ST. JOSEPH**, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 — at Stamford**, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10 — at Darien**, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 — at Harding, 10 a.m.

Home games in CAPS
**DIVISION game
* CONFERENCE game