Vitals

• COACH —  GAITAN RODRIGUEZ (6th year, 23-30)
• CONFERENCE — NVL Iron
• PLAYOFF CLASS — Class M (514 boys enrollment)
• HOME — Robert H. Frost Sports Complex at Torrington High School
• 2017 RECORD — 2-8
• 2018 OPENER — Sept. 7 vs. Woodland, 7 p.m.
• TEAM WEBSITE — Maxpreps

Top Players

• ORA CURRY, Sr. QB/FS, 6-0, 190
• JOSH MOLDONADO, Sr. RB/LB, 5-8, 175
• JACOB ALLEN, Sr. OL/DL, 6-1, 250
• TYLER FINKLER, Sr. WR/SS, 5-10, 175
• XAVIER FRANCIS, Sr. TE/DL, 5-10, 225

Key Losses

RB/DB Dylan Mryrie (All-State), OL/DL Dan Frazzina, OL/DL Anthony Ryans.

Outlook

Torrington football coach Gaitain Rodriguez is looking to get the Raiders back on the right track after a tough two seasons.

“We’re working to get back where we were two years ago,” Rodriguez said, referring to 2015 when Torrington was 9-2, won the NVL Iron Division championship and made a Class L playoff appearance.

That year, the Red Raiders reeled off six straight wins before hitting perennial state champion Ansonia, their only regular-season loss.

The penalty for their success was a strength schedule, including Ansonia, Naugatuck and Seymour among the first four games in each of the next two years. This year, only Naugatuck remains from that trio, offering the first element of hope for better days.

The rest of the hope is more significant. “This team has similarities to two years ago,” Rodriguez said.

It begins with an experienced quarterback and offensive/defensive lines.

Senior Ora Curry is back in his third year heading the offense, ready to expand the bag of Raider tricks after relying on a strong running game led by graduated Dylan Myrie for the past two years.

Now, just as Connor Finn did in 2015, Curry will operate from the shotgun behind a line that veteran coach Andy Theriault compares favorably with Finn’s in 2015.

“They’re not as big but they have the same attitude,” Theriault said.

Four returning O-line starters include seniors Jacob Allen and Anthony Chiravolo and juniors Bryce Coudriet and Zach Sweeney. Senior Dan Scheerer, a promising sophomore before missing last year, is the fifth projected starter.

The Raiders trade Myrie’s explosive runs for less predictability. Senior Josh Mildanado, Christian Ellafani and sophomore Aidin Traver head a deep cadre of runners. Jacob Coleman is the most experienced of the receivers. 

“We’re always looking to run the ball, but we’ll be more balanced,” Rodriguez said.

The linebackers will be led by Moldonado, Scheerer and junior Logan Bermas. “I really like our linebackers,” Rodriguez said.

Torrington is looking at a number of players to fill the defensive line.

“We have five or six guys fighting for three up-front spots,” Theriault said of the defense. “We’re strong enough and quick enough. We’re not huge, but we make up for it in effort and maturity.”

The rest of the defensive backfield is a work in progress, with speedy candidates from which to choose those who can match the aggressive attitudes/abilities of the line.

Seventeen freshmen came out for a team whose numbers have remained stable in the low 50s.

2018 Schedule

• Sept. 7 — WOODLAND*, 6:30 p.m.
• Sept. 14 — DERBY*, 6:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21 — at Wolcott**, 6 p.m.
• Sept. 29 — at Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech*, 11 a.m.
• Oct. 5 — WATERBURY CAREER ACADEMY*, 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 20 — at Wilby*, 10 a.m.
• Oct. 26 — at Naugatuck**, 7 p.m.
• Nov. 2 — HOLY CROSS*, 6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 9 — ST. PAUL**, 6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 22 — WATERTOWN**, 10:15 a.m.

Home games in CAPS
*Conference game
**Division game