Ellington’s football team huddles up to run a play in practice earlier this preseason. The Knights, now without Somers, are hoping to make a return trip to the state playoffs, this time in Class S (Photo via Ellington football on Twitter)
![Ellington Somers 100px]()
Vitals
Vitals- Coach: Sean Byrne (3rd year, 15-8)
- Conference: Pequot East
- Playoff Class: S (378 boys enrollment)
- Home: Ellington High School field
- 2014 Record: 9-3 (lost to St. Joseph in Class M-Small semifinals)
- 2015 Kickoff: Sept. 12 vs. Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby, 1 p.m.
- Captains: TBA
- Team website: Ellingtonfootball.net | MaxPreps
Top players
- Mark Hickman, Sr. WR/DB (5-11, 170)
- Christian Rider, Sr. QB/DB (5-10, 165)
- Zachary “Truck” Luginbuhl, Sr. TE/LB (5-9, 170)
- Justin Ames, Sr. OT (6-2, 240)
- Ryan Weitz, Jr. OG (6-2, 270)
- Kevin Barrett, Sr. DE (6-3, 235)
- Izaiah Castro-Vega, Jr. DB (5-9, 165)
- Tyreik Noel, Jr. LB (5-11, 195)
- Wellington Silva, Jr. FS (5-8, 150)
Key losses
WR/DB Daniel Hayes, LB/WR Shane McGowan, TE/NG Ben Kloter, RB/LB Derek Litty, WR/DB Nate LaJoie (Somers), LB Jake Hinkel (Somers), WR Joe Mongillo (Somers)
Outlook
Elllington returning quarterback Christian Rider (Photo Mary Albl)
Last year, Ellington’s co-op football program had a season for the books. The Knights, mostly juniors, won wild games and suffered heartwrenching losses. They persevered through tragedy and injury and, somehow, came out gleaming on the other side. The Knights qualified for the state playoffs for the third time in four years, the first under coach Sean Byrne.
With so many of the starters returning from that squad, everything looked rosy for 2015. But then the CIAC came a-knockin’. Ellington had grown too large to sustain its co-op with neighboring Somers and the arrangement was dissolved. Somers’ players — many of them top contributors in 2014 — had to go elsewhere to play football.
For the first time since 2006, Ellington is on its own.
Though the program lost Somers receivers Nate LaJoie, Joe Mongillo and linebacker Jake Hinkel — not to mention assistant Brian Mazzone, who left to coach Somers’ new co-op with Stafford and East Windsor — Ellington looks like it’ll be just fine.
For one, the school dropped from Class M to Class S, a position befitting its rural makeup. For another, there’s still plenty of returning talent to make another playoff run.
All-Pequot performers quarterback Christian Rider and receiver/defensive back Mark Hickman are both back, giving Ellington instant offensive threats.
Rider accounted for 1,394 total yards and 19 touchdowns of total offense. “(He’s a) threat to hurt you with the pass or run,” Byrne said.
Hickman, meanwhile, amassed 1,554 all-purpose yards as a junior, leading the team in both receiving, rushing and scoring with 15 touchdowns. Hickman can run, catch, throw and defend. He made 34 tackles last year. Byrne calls him “one of the best athletes in the state.”
Ellington is big up front with tackle Justin Ames and guard Ryan Weitz. It also features an end — Zachary Luginbuhl — whose nickname is “Truck.” In addition to Hickman, Ellington will also look to junior Izaiah Castro-Vega to replace the many receivers lost to graduation and otherwise. Tyreik Noel, a junior, is also a threat to run.
Defensively, Ellington lost quite a few of last year’s stars. Losing Hinkel and his eight sacks to Stafford hurts. But Byrne is encouraged by this year’s unit. Noel is expected to lead the Knights at linebacker. Byrne calls him “impressive.” He made 56 tackles — including 5 for a loss — and had three sacks last season. Kevin Barrett, a 6-foot-3, 235 end, will anchor the Knights’ big defensive line.
The secondary, which lost Daniel Hayes and his team-leading five interceptions, remains a veteran unit led by returning safety Wellington Silva, Hickman and Castro-Vega.
Ellington will compete in the revived Pequot East division against usual foes Windsor Locks/Suffield East Granby, Cromwell/Portand (a new co-op), Enfield, Canton, Granby Memorial and Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton. The anticipated game against their old assistant coach and teammates from Somers is Week 4 at Stafford.
Ellington must also contend with Pequot powers Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Morgan and Coginchaug. “There’ll be a learning curve,” Byrne said of the new league alignment. “Ellington again looks to finish among the top of the division.”
2015 Schedule
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| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 12 | vs. Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby | 1 p.m. |
| Sept. 19 | at Coginchaug** | 1 p.m. |
| Sept. 26 | vs. Cromwell/Portland** | 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 2 | at Stafford/East Windsor/Somers** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 9 | BYE | |
| Oct. 16 | vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 23 | at Granby Memorial** | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 31 | vs. Canton* | 1 p.m. |
| Nov. 6 | BYE | |
| Nov. 13 | at Morgan* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 21 | vs. Enfield** | 1 p.m. |
| Nov. 25 | at Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton** | 7 p.m. |
*Conference game
**Division game
