Berlin’s James Mazzarella speaks with the media after scoring the go-ahead safety with two minutes remaining in a 23-14 victory over Bloomfield (Photo via Rick Volk on Twitter)
Berlin pulled away from rival Bloomfield in the fourth quarter and stayed unbeaten with a 23-14 victory at Sage Park Friday night.
James Mazzarella, who had fumbled at the goal line just moments earlier, scored the go-ahead safety when he sacked Daron Bryden in the end zone with 2:41 remaining. Berlin then tacked on a pick-6 by Larry St. Pierre to seal it.
Coventry Co-Op, meanwhile, ripped through Windsor Locks Co-Op 42-6.
With those two results we had our first 2017 CIAC playoff qualifiers — unofficially, of course. Both clubs qualified in a Class M field that’s rife with multiple loss teams. Their unbeaten records give them all the points needed to clinch berths.
The CIAC’s web wunderkind Matt Fischer has posted his annual real-time qualifying calculator — affectionately known here as the HAL 9000.
Real-Time Qualifying Status: Class LL | Class L | Class M | Class S
When the lights went out in Madison
Your scene at the Surf Club: Mass hysteria #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/DJxJp0qP7Z
— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) November 4, 2017
Of all the nutty things that happened in Hand’s 20-12 victory over Cheshire — the whipping wind, safeties, interception and fumble returns accounting for a majority of the points — nothing compared to when the Surf Club lights suddenly cut out with just minutes left in the third quarter.
Cheshire had just pinned Hand inside its own 10 when the place went dark at 8:56 p.m.
Cheshire pins hand inside It’s own 10. Hasn’t given …. whoops the lights went out #cthsfb
— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) November 4, 2017
Hand’s boisterous student body was naturally — uh — subdued during the blackout. They screamed throughout, held up phones like they were at a concert and then engaged in sing-alongs with the Hand Marching Band.
As for the teams, Hand retreated off the field while Cheshire’s players kept themselves warm by dancing in the end zone with a speaker and what looked like a red strobe light.
It was a rave, man. The lights came back on at 9:11ish.
First-quarter explosions
It was a rough night for winless Waterford and Bassick, who both allowed six touchdowns in the first quarter of their respective losses.
NFA rung up 42 on Waterford in an eventual 42-15 victory. Sheehan scored 41 in its first quarter with Bassick, which was playing with only a handful of kids on the sidelines. The Titans missed an early extra point in the quarter.
The outbursts were among the most points scored in a single quarter in state history. NFA’s 42 is tied for fourth all-time with Naugatuck’s 42 scored in the second quarter against St. Paul in 2012. Sheehan’s 41 points tied New Canaan vs. Ludlowe in 2015 and Torrington vs. Simsbury in 1917.
The record for points in a quarter is 51, set by New London in an 77-6 victory over Plainfield in 2005.
Ludlowe wins 1st game
Congratulations players and coaches pic.twitter.com/0lHiFJzOGC
— Falcon Football (@FalconFootball2) November 4, 2017
Fairfield Ludlowe won its first game of the season when it defeated Danbury 29-28 on Friday night. It was the first victory for new coach Mitch Ross and snapped an 18-game losing streak.
Their last victory came vs. Bridgeport Central, 21-20, on November 6, 2015.
Aresco ties career field goal record
FGs made tonight by @MichaelAresco 38, 37 and 32 yards #cthsfb
— Middletown Football (@mhsbluedragons1) November 4, 2017
New Haven Register first-team All-State kicker Mike Aresco kicked three field goals and tied the state’s career record with 21 in Middletown’s interstate, 23-12 victory over Hudson Catholic, N.J.
Aresco’s career total ties Wethersfield’s Auston Stefano (2014-16).
Love that offense Berlin is running. Eagle has the kids in Berlin flying, although new to Berlin, looks like the spread is there to stay. Hope they can make some noise in the playoffs!
Berlin should make some noise, class M is by far the weakest in the state! Berlin should get to the final playing 8 players!
Berlin is 8-0 and has scored 260 pts – Eagle screwing up another offense. Imagine how good they could be if Eagle wasn’t there. They’d probably score 50pts a game!
Lanny is making a joke by the way! Current Guilford coaches sabotaged coach eagle, Berlin is 8-0 with eagle running o, meanwhile Guilford is losing to law and being exposed for their lack of knowledge.
Berlin has been running the spread for well over ten years and most of those years, they put up much higher point totals than this year.
Eagle did not perform well in Guilford as HC and OC – maybe he could not handle both
We expected Eagle to stay and win more games but he decided to leave as HC
Amazing how Guilford suckery knows no bounds and has now “spread” to blogs where they are not even mentioned in the article. Due to the demographics in Guilford being so similar to their next door neighbor, the coaching staff, administration, and the rest of the town are besides themselves and can’t figure out what direction to turn with the continued standout success of Madison football.