The 2015 CIAC Football Playoffs in a Nutshell

More Preview Capsules: CLASS LL | CLASS M | CLASS S

Preview capsules by Mike Pucci (NH-Middletown, NDWH-Harding) and Sean Patrick Bowley (NC-Windsor) and Peter Wallace (Wethersfield-Torrington).

CLASS L

No. 8 Middletown at No. 1 North Haven

• WHERE/WHEN — Vanacore Field, North Haven, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
• TEAM RECORDS — Middletown 8-2; North Haven 10-0
• ON THE AIR/WEB — WELI 960-AM
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — Middletown: Tyshaun James, Sr., QB/CB; Laurenzo Thompkins, Jr., RB/LB; Jordan Baker, Sr., CB; Hunter Belzo, Sr., RB/DB; North Haven: Mike Montano, Sr., QB/DB; David Mikos, Sr., MLB; Jeremy Imperati, Sr., TE/DL; Paul Brockamer, Sr., OLB

YOU SHOULD KNOW — North Haven will host a playoff game for the first time in program history. The Indians qualified for the postseason for the third straight season, and for the sixth time since 2007.

The Indians run a deceptive single-wing offense, which has amassed the most points in the state this year (508) behind Montano. He has rushed 96 times for 1,406 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s also thrown for six touchdowns and has made 40 tackles, three interceptions and recovered one fumble. Clearly, he’s established himself as one of the state’s best players.

North Haven has rushed for 3,552 yards and 49 touchdowns. Senior Conner Suraci (694 yards, 10 touchdowns), senior Nick Ponzio (456 yards, seven touchdowns) and sophomore Mark Montano (six touchdowns) give the Indians additional threats in the backfield.

Junior quarterback Jack Steinman has thrown for 507 yards and 10 touchdowns. Imperati has caught 14 passes, including seven touchdowns.

Mikos (129 tackles), Brockamer (three sacks), Imperati (40 tackles) and junior Max Sullivan (three interceptions) lead the defense. Senior Sabrina Fronte has made 63 extra points and all three field goals she’s attempted.

Middletown qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight year, and for the 10th time overall.

Unbeaten, and fellow Class L participant, Windsor snapped the Blue Dragons’ seven-game winning streak on Nov. 25. Middletown has also lost to Wethersfield, another quarterfinalist in this class.

James has completed 81 of 158 passes for 1,595 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 914 yards and 10 scores. Belzo (seven touchdowns) has also contributed out of the backfield.

Seniors Trequan Weston and Gene Footman and junior C.J. Spowl head the receiving corps.

Thompkins (60 tackles) and Belzo (61 tackles) lead the defense.

GAMETIMECT PICK — North Haven.

No. 7 Notre Dame-WH vs. No. 2 Harding

• WHEN/WHERE — Kennedy Stadium, Bridgeport (Central HS), 6:30 p.m.
• TEAM RECORDS — Notre Dame-West Haven 8-2; Harding 10-0
• ON THE WEB — NFHS Network (subscription required)
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — Notre Dame-West Haven: Christian Lupoli, Sr., QB; Kobe Wiggins, Sr., RB/OLB; Matt Jambor, Sr., WR/OLB; Nico Ragaini, Jr., WR/CB; Harding: Taisun Phommachanh, So., QB/FS; Xavier Bass, Sr., WR/DE/OLB; Jeff Rogers, Sr., RB/ILB; Jahzaari Mullings, Sr., WR/FS

YOU SHOULD KNOW — Notre Dame is making its second-straight trip to the playoffs. It lost to Windsor in last season’s Class L-Small state championship game. The Green Knights lost to fellow playoff participants North Haven an Shelton in back-to-back weeks earlier this year. Notre Dame has since won six in a row.

Lupoli, who has committed to play at New Hampshire, is a threat to both run and pass. He’s completed 107 of 173 passes for 1,418 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for seven scores. Ragaini is one of the state’s top receivers. He’s made 51 catches for 693 yards and four touchdowns. Ragaini’s also a threat when returning punts and kickoffs, and he’s one of his team’s top defenders. Seniors Jonathan Aceto (15 catches) and Wyatt Miller (30 catches) provide Lupoli with additional options.

Notre Dame has also had success running the ball. The backfield also includes seniors Prince Brooks, Josh Witkowsky and Wiggins. The trio has combined to rush for 13 touchdowns.

Jambor (92 tackles, four sacks), Wiggins (64 tackles, five sacks), Witkowsky (46 tackles, three interceptions) and junior Tristan Andrzejewski (88 tackles) lead a defense that has been one of the state’s best.

Harding is making its first playoff appearance in program history. The Presidents completed an unbeaten regular season in their first season in the CSC and for the first time since 1963. Harding was a former long-time member of the FCIAC. Harding went 5-6 in its final season in the FCIAC last year, it’s 15th straight losing season.

The Presidents are certainly talented but will be considered the underdog in this contest despite being unbeaten and the second seed. Harding defeated fellow playoff participants Abbott Tech/Immaculate and Capital Prep/Achievement First.

Phommachanh, in his second year as a starting quarterback, is in the midst of another outstanding season. He’s thrown for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. Mullings, Bass, junior Jeremiah Foust and sophomore T.J. Pettway headline the receiving corps.

Bass leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns and sacks. Rogers has also been a force defensively. Harding has not allowed a point in three-straight games.

• GAMETIMECT PICK — Notre Dame-West Haven.

No. 6 New Canaan at No. 3 Windsor

• WHERE/WHEN — at Jack O’Brien Stadium, Windsor, 6:30 p.m.
• TEAM RECORDS — New Canaan 8-1, Windsor 10-0
• ON THE WEB — NFHS Network (subscription required)
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — New Canaan: Sr. QB Michael Collins (2,600 yards, 47 TDs passing), Sr. OL/DL Lucas Niang, Sr. WR Kyle Smith (647 yards 11 TDs), Sr. LB David Strupp; Sr. LB Mike Cognetta; Sr. RB Matt Cognetta; Windsor: Sr. RB Bennie Fulse (1,102 yards, 18 TDs rushing), Sr. WR/DB Tyler Coyle (714 yards, 8 TDs receiving; 5 INT), Sr. WR/DB Isaiah Huff, Sr. LB Malik Ellis (53 tackles), Jr. LB Tim Gardner (6 sacks)

YOU SHOULD KNOW — This is simply the best matchup of the quarterfinals: A game between this division’s two defending champions which was only made possible by New Canaan’s narrow loss to Darien in the FCIAC final and by the nature of this stacked bracket. New Canaan has one of the state’s best quarterbacks in Collins, a bona fide 6-foot-7 stud tackle in Lucas Niang, an arsenal of receivers who have put up silly numbers this year.

But, like Darien, Windsor has an strong and athletic defense, led by — perhaps — the state’s best defensive backs in senior Tyler Coyle. The matchup of New Canaan’s ariel assault and Windsor’s defensive secondary should be a game unto itself. Windsor’s defense, while maybe not a strong up front as it was a season ago, is still formidable with linebackers Malik Ellis and Tim Gardner roaming the middle.

While Windsor has has seen a talented, Top-10 offense before when it defeated Wethersfield, it hasn’t seen anything of New Canaan’s caliber.

But Windsor’s pretty good, too. It has a star-studded offense, led by Coyle at DB and fellow all-stater RB Bennie Fulse, an specimen who can run through tacklers or juke past them. He’s one of the top 5 tailback in the state.

Windsor’s offense has been impressive, rolling up an average of 42 points per game. It has reached its stride of late, especially in the season-finale vs. 8-2 and fellow Class L playoff team Middletown.  It did, however, encounter trouble during its showdown with Wethersfield until the game was on the line in the 21-14 victory.

Similarly, New Canaan’s defense has been solid this season. But the Rams gave up huge pass plays in the waning moments of the FCIAC championship and they haven’t seen anyone run the ball like Fulse this year. How the Rams fare in this one is if they can stop him from busting loose and if they can get a rush on QB Jakhari Grant to prevent him from getting the ball to Coyle or fellow receiver Isaiah Huff.

The teams met in 2011 and 2012 and, both times, it came down the final buzzer. New Canaan won in 2011. Windsor won in 2012. Expect a classic again. This game is too close to call, and the winner should be a massive favorite to win a state title. But, since were here…

• GAMETIMECT’S PICK — New Canaan.

No. 5 Wethersfield at No. 4 Torrington

• WHERE/WHEN — Frost Complex, Torrington, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
• TEAM RECORDS — Wethersfield 9-1; Torrington 9-1.
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — Wethersfield: Devon Smith, Sr., QB/DB; WR/DB; Richard Williams, Sr., RB/ILB; Elijah Young, Sr., WR/DB; Jamal Bagley, Jr., OLB/RB. Torrington: Connor Finn, Sr., QB/DB; Zak Mancini, Sr., WR/DB; Newton Frias, RB/DB; Nate Bresson, Sr., TE/LB; Kobe Covington, Sr., OL/DL.

YOU SHOULD KNOW — Despite a widely-held view that this could be a mismatch, with Wethersfield ranked No. 9 in the state polls, the two teams have similarities. Both teams are offensive dynamos with excellent senior quarterbacks, skilled receivers and strong runners.

Wethersfield quarterback Devon Smith, in his first year as a starter, has 1,911 passing yards this year with 24 touchdowns to show for it. Torrington’s veteran quarterback Connor Finn has thrown for 1,521 yards, 19 touchdowns.

Receiver Kyle Klavins (41 catches, 774 yards, 14 TDs) was Smith’s favorite target, until the senior deep threat broke his ankle in the season finale vs. Newington. That should hurt Wethersfield’s passing game significantly.

Fortunately, the Eagles have all-state RB/LB Richard Williams — a monster truck running the ball. On the ground, Williams, at 5-10, 205 pounds, has amassed 859 rushing yards. His Torrington counterpart, Newton Frias, 5-10, 170, needs just 33 more yards to hit 1,000 for the season.

Finn, meanwhile, goes most often to wide receiver Zak Mancini and tight end Nate Bresson.

The offensive weapons seem balanced. Smith tips the balance Wethersfield’s way as the Eagles’ second biggest ground-gainer behind Williams. Torrington’s front line, anchored by 320-pound Kobe Covington, might even it out by its ability to protect Finn and open big holes for the runners.

Defensively, the Raider line holds solid against straight-ahead running attacks. Statistically, Wethersfield’s defense is more aggressive, with 41 quarterback sacks for the year, led by linebackers Williams (11) and Jamal Bagley (10).

Each team’s sole loss came from undefeated opponents – Wethersfield to Class L No. 3 Windsor, Torrington to Class S No. 1 Ansonia.

The Eagles lost to defending Class L champion New Canaan in the large division semifinals last year. This is Torrington’s first playoff appearance since 1983.

• GAMETIMECT PICK — Wethersfield.