Above: Highlight reel of senior RB/SS Izaiah Castro-Vega, who figures to be a big part of Ellington’s successes in 2016.
Vitals
- Coach: SEAN BYRNE (4th year, 23-10)
- Conference: Pequot Uncas – East
- Playoff Class: Class S (379 boys enrollment)
- Home: Ellington High School Field
- 2015 Record: 8-2 (6-0 Pequot East)
- 2016 Kickoff: Sept. 9 at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 6:30 p.m.
- Team website: Ellingtonfootball.net | MaxPreps | Twitter: @footbalKnights
Top players
- RYAN WEITZ, Sr. G/NG (6-2, 295)
- WELLINGTON SILVA, Sr. RB/FS (5-8, 152)
- IZAIAH CASTRO-VEGA, RB/SS (5-9, 175)
- AEDAN RANDLE, Jr. C/DE (6-4, 235)
- SEAN VILLENEUVE, Sr. T/DE (6-3, 220)
- JACK RELLIS, Sr. WR/DB (5-10, 183)
- JONATHAN SCHNEIDER, Jr. FB/LB (5-11, 195)
Key losses
QB Christian Rider, RB/WR Mark Hickman (Sacred Heart), T/DE Justin Ames (WestConn, All-State), FB/LB Truck Luginbuhl, LB Tyreik Noel (transfer to Bloomfield).
Outlook
Ellington was just fine, thank you, in its first season without a co-op partner. The Knights missed their pals from Somers, but gladly defeated their former brothers-in-football and everyone else in their division en route an 8-2 record and a Pequot East title.
A Class S playoff berth just barely eluded them, however, with losses to Granby Memorial and Morgan.
A good chunk of starters return (10 in all) from last year’s team, including a high-caliber senior tailbacks Izaiah Castro-Vega and Wellington Silva.
But the Knights graduated two key cogs: Three-year quarterback Christian Rider and versatile receiver/football magnet Mark Hickman, who combined for 1,500 of Ellington’s 2,834 total yards.
The task of finding their replacements is enough to give fourth-year head coach Sean Byrne a few preseason headaches. The Knights also have glaring holes to fill at linebacker now that Truck Luginbuhl has graduated and senior RB/LB Tyreik Noel, who was third on the team in tackles last season, has transferred to Bloomfield.
While Ellington appears to be entering a transition season, there are still plenty of pieces returning to make 2016 another successful year.
Byrne loves his returning skill players, especially senior back Izaiah Castro-Vega. He led the team with 647 yards and 9 touchdowns rushing and caught four touchdown passes last year and figures to be Ellington’s go-to guy. Wellington Silva, a 2015 All-Pequot East pick as a kick returner, will join him in the backfield.
Though All-State lineman Justin Ames has graduated, the Knights still return three strong seniors up front: guard Ryan Weitz, tackle Sean Villeneuve and center Aedan Randle. Combined, they average 6-3, 250 pounds across. Junior Jonathan Schneider will serve as Ellington’s fullback.
Defensively, Ellington’s strength will be at safety with Castro-Vega and Silva. They are the Knights’ top two returning tacklers. Castro-Vega led the team with four interceptions, as well.
The defensive line loses Ames, but — like the offensive line — it should be in good shape with the return of Weitz at nose guard between Randle and Villeneuve.
“I really don’t know what to expect,” Byrne said. “If we can coach them up, I think we’ll be OK. We’ll see.”
Ellington won’t have a lot of time to figure itself out. The Knights kick off the season with a road trip to play playoff contender Valley Regional/Old Lyme. They also get Cromwell/Portland and Morgan later in the year. Their second showdown with rival Stafford/Somers/East Windsor is Oct. 22.
2016 Schedule
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| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9 | at Valley Regional/Old Lyme* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 17 | at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby** | 1 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | vs. Granby Memorial** | 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 1 | at Lewis Mills* | 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 7 | BYE | |
| Oct. 14 | at Canton* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | vs. Stafford/Somers/East Windsor** | 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 28 | vs. Morgan* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 3 | at Cromwell/Portland* | 6 p.m. |
| Nov. 11 | at North Branford* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | BYE | |
| Nov. 24 | vs. Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton** | 10 a.m. |
**Division game
*Conference game
Location
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