The 2015 CIAC Football Playoffs in a Nutshell

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

Capsules written by Mike Pucci (Stratford-Killingly) and Sean Patrick Bowley (St. Joseph-New Fairfield, Bacon-Ledyard, Brookfield-ATI)

CLASS M

No. 8 Stratford at No. 1 Killingly

• WHERE/WHEN — Killingly Sports Complex, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
• RECORDS — Killingly 9-1, Stratford 7-3
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — Stratford: Mar’Quess Daniels, Sr., WR/LB; David Davidson, Sr/, RB/DB; Jack Duffy, Sr., WR; Conor Anstis, Jr., QB; Killingly — Austin Caffrey, Sr., RB/MLB; Spencer Lockwood, So., RB/FS; Josh Angel, Sr., OL/DE; Vasileios Politis, Jr., WR/CB

Stratford senior defensive end Pat Lepesko (Photo Sean Patrick Bowley)

YOU SHOULD KNOW — Stratford’s in the playoff field for the first time since 2006, and for the eighth time overall. The Red Devils qualified after it defeated rival Bunnell, coupled with an East Haven loss to Branford.

It’s been a roller coaster of a season for Stratford. The Red Devils played its first two games without head coach T.J. Cavaliere, who was suspended after six of his players suffered skin injuries during a drill meant to discipline them. Still, Stratford started 4-0. Then the Red Devils lost three of four to playoff teams Brookfield and Newtown and to Barlow. Stratford ended a two-game losing streak by defeating Masuk for the first time since 1998.

Anstis has completed 94 of 199 passes for 1,343 yards and 12 touchdowns. Duffy (35 catches, 601 yards, five touchdowns) and Daniels (22-311-2) lead the receiving corps. Davidson leads the team in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Daniels (45 tackles, five sacks) and senior Pat Lepesko (seven sacks) anchor the defense.

Killingly has reached the postseason for the first time since winning this division in 1996. It’s been quite the turnaround for the Redmen, who won just two games last season. Killingly has won nine straight games since losing to Griswold in the season opener. The Redmen crushed fellow Class M participant Bacon Academy 40-7 on Oct. 10.

Killingly is run-first offensively. The Redmen average close to 300 yards rushing per game. Caffrey, the team’s featured running back, has rushed for more than 20 touchdowns. Lockwood has also contributed in the backfield.

Politis leads the team in receptions and interceptions, while Angel has made a team-high 8.5 sacks.

• GAMETIMECT PICK — Killingly.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

No. 7 St. Joseph at No. 2 New Fairfield

• WHERE/WHEN — Rebel Stadium, New Fairfield, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
• RECORDS — New Fairfield 9-1 (SWC Champions), St. Joseph 7-2
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — New Fairfield: Sr. RB Zach Tripodi(1,763 yards, 24 TDs rushing), Sr. E/DB Greg Radovic, Sr. DE Russell Howard (45 tackles, 6 sacks), Sr. OL/DL Kyle Brennan, Sr. LB Brian McGonnigle (81 tackles). St. Joseph: Sr. TE/LB Cam Ryan (88 tackles, 12 TFL, Sr. OL Jack Ganser, Sr. QB Cory Babineau (1,441 yards, 13 TDs passing), Sr. DL Mike Jones (45 tackles), Jr. LB Brian Harner (45 tackles, 11 1/2 TFL, 7 1/2 sacks); Sr. RB Christian Trefz (1,136 yards, 15 TDs rushing; 452 yards 3 TDs receiving), Sr. WR Kevin Trefz.

St. Joseph all-state LB Cam Ryan (Photo Sean Patrick Bowley)

YOU SHOULD KNOW — New Fairfield won its first SWC championship last week and is making its first state playoff appearance since 2001. St. Joseph, meanwhile, is a grizzled playoff veteran having won four state titles in six years.

They’re a defending champion in this class and have defied expectations by compiling an impressive 7-2 record thanks, mostly, to its defense — led by all-state LB Cam Ryan — and opportunistic offense, led by Cory Babineau and Christian Trefz.

But Trefz left last week’s playoff-qualifying win vs. Trumbull with a shoulder injury and is questionable for this state-championship caliber showdown. The Hogs will be charged with stopping a big New Fairfield offensive line, which loves to batter teams with RBs Zach Tripodi and James Lewis out of the double-wing, while striking with select passes from QB Matt Zanca to all-state senior Greg Radovic.

As good as St. Joseph’s defense has been, New Fairfield’s is equally impressive. The Rebels feast on passing teams with a strong pass rush and ball-hawking secondary, led by DBs Rudy Sarro (4), LBs A.J. Pearl (2) and Radovic (3). Nine different players have intercepted 15 passes for the Rebs, who count on a pass rush and the play of stopper Brian McGonnigle.

If New Fairfield can run, they’ll be in good shape. But that’ll be rough against this defense, especially against Ryan, who’s near-impossible to keep away from the ball, and understudy Brian Harner. For New Fairfield, playing St. Joseph is like trying to beat Newtown again.

St. Joseph hasn’t won two consecutive titles for nothing. Armed with one of the state’s best coaching staff, this group is motivated and well-prepared to defend its title. But… this might be New Fairfield’s year. (Might).

• GAMETIMECT PICK — New Fairfield (barely).

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

No. 6 Bacon Academy at No. 3 Ledyard

• WHERE/WHEN — Bill Mignault Field, Ledyard, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
• RECORDS — Bacon Academy 8-2, Ledyard 9-1
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — Bacon Academy: Sr. QB Sean Kelly, Sr. RB/DB Peter Kazibwe, Jr. WR Paul Chasse, Sr. WR Dan Narlock, Jr. DE Julian Lindo, Sr. DL Dylan Kornbrath. Ledyard: Sr. LB Manny Sanabria (1,378 yards, 14 TDs rushing), Sr. QB Ty Ebdon (924 total yards, 7 TD passing, 7 TD rushing), Sr. FB/FS Luke Saccone (465 yards, 5 TDs rushing), Sr. RB Justin Carter (5 TDs), Sr. G/DE Mike Leandri, Sr. DE/LB Collin Krauth.

Bacon Academy QB Sean Kelly

YOU SHOULD KNOW — It’s THE REMATCHINING, as The Day of New London’s Ned Griffen has dubbed it. ECC Large rivals meet again in a rematch of a 25-22 Bacon Academy victory in Colechester back on Sept. 26.

It was in that game that Bacon bolted to a 25-9 lead and hung on late to earn the school’s first victory over the Colonels. But they might have created a monster in the process.

Burned by the loss, Ledyard literally went back to the drawing board, switched from a spread offense back to a double-wing, rode Sanabria and Saccone to rip off nine-consecutive victories for their third-consecutive playoff berth. Now they get a chance to right the wrongs of that loss.

Bacon, which has been led by a strong pass attack led by QB Sean Kelly, won the ECC Large. But the game that sticks out was a humbling, 40-7 loss to Killingly at home on Oct. 10, during which Killingly’s Austin Caffrey ran the Bobcats over.

You can bet Ledyard — which knows it got away from the run in the first meeting — was watching. It will look to do the same thing. If Bacon can’t stop Sanabria et. al., it’ll be up to Kelly and the pass attack to keep up. Ledyard’s defense has also improved, so it figures to be ready this time.

• GAMETIMECT PICK — Ledyard

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

No. 5 Brookfield vs. No. 4 ATI United

• WHERE/WHEN — Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
• RECORDS — Brookfield 8-2, Abbott Tech/Immaculate 8-1
• PLAYERS TO WATCH — Brookfield: Sr. RB/LB Bobby Drysdale (1,092 yards, 11 TDs rushing), Sr. RB/DB Andrew Collins (851 yards all-purpose, 9 TDs), Sr. FB/LB Austin Reich; Sr. LB Matt Melby (56 tackles), Sr. DE Nick Seis (11 sacks, 79 tackles); ATI United: Sr. QB/FS Darius Smith (1,239 total yards, 8 TDs passing, 11 rushing), Sr. LB Steve Bohling (571 yards, 9 TDs rushing) 75 tackles, 9 TFL), Sr. RB/LB Dominique Rogers (588 yards, 6 TDs rushing, 67 tackles, 7 TFL),

Brookfield is hoping to successfully defend its Class M title.

YOU SHOULD KNOW — Abbott Tech/Immaculate is making its first state playoff appearance as a co-op team, formed from the remnants of Immaculate’s once-strong Class S program and Abbott Tech’s growing program. It’s only taken a couple of years for coach Rich Holmes to get this mishmash into the postseason.

ATI United, as it’s called, is actually a surprise. Led by scrappy quarterback Darius Smith, the Wolverines famously ended Capital Prep’s four-year CSC win streak before Harding got a chance. Alongside Rogers, a threat to run and pass, Abbott has the athletes — especially LBs Bohling and Dom Rogers — to make life miserable for opponents.

Their first postseason game, which will be played at nearby WCSU, will pit them against a nearby, if not familiar, opponent: Brookfield. The Bobcats, a defending champion in this bracket, was just about everybody’s pick to contend for the SWC championship, but injuries set their league title dreams back.

They were also stunned by Bunnell in the second half of the season and needed to rally past Masuk just to assure they could defend their title. Now they’re back for a redemption tour in these playoffs.

The team centers around All-Stater Bobby Drysdale, a Harvard commit, Matt Melby and kicker Dane Borges, alongside a strong senior core that includes Austin Reich, sack-master Nick Seis and Andrew Collins and kicker Dane Borges. Brookfield loves to run behind its massive line in the double wing. They have the advantage up-front here.

This is the last-go around for this class, which is eyeing a third-straight state final appearance and a second-consecutive title. It’s almost impossible to see the Bobcats being denied here.

• GAMETIMECT PICK — Brookfield

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.