Above: Highlight reel for returning All-SWC first team receiver Max Vaughey, who caught 47 passes for 921 yards last year.
Vitals
- Coach: LARRY BADARACCO (3rd year, 7-14)
- Conference: SWC Colonial
- Playoff Class: LL (687 boys enrollment)
- Home: New Milford High School Field
- 2015 Record: 4-6 (2-3 Colonial)
- 2016 Kickoff: Sept. 9 at Weston, 7 p.m.
- Team website: greenwavegridiron.com | MaxPreps Twitter: @greenwave_fb
Top players
- MAX VAUGHEY, Sr. WR (5-11, 190)
- MATT BREVARD, Jr. WR (6-0, 180)
- TREVOR HNYDA, Sr. OL/DL (5-10, 205)
- JULIAN REZA, Jr. OL/DL (5-10, 240)
- NATE CAPRIGLIONE, Jr. LB (5-10, 180)
- RYAN CHRISTOPHER, Sr. Ath (5-9, 190)
- TYLER SULLIVAN, Jr. QB (5-11, 200)
- KENDELL GREENE, Soph. Ath (5-9, 180)
Key losses
QB Tyler Hansen, WR Matt Ryan, LB Chris Ryan, OL Brian Santivanez
Outlook
This will be New Milford’s 50th football season. (Photo via greenwavegridiron.com)
With a veteran team New Milford was competitive through seven games in 2015, including narrow losses to Brookfield and Masuk and an upset victory over Bunnell in Week 3. But the Green Wave ended their season with three consecutive losses, including the Candlewood Cup to SWC champion New Fairfield.
With the graduation of 2,500-yard passer Tyler Hansen and just about everyone on the offense and defensive lines, the Green Wave appear to be in rebuilding mode as they begin their 50th season. This is going to be a young team, stacked with underclassmen and first-year starters with an eye toward the future.
Junior Tyler Sullivan is expected to take the reins at quarterback after seeing limited time behind Hansen. The 5-11, 200-pound junior will at least have weapons to bring him along. Despite its youth, New Milford is blessed with returning skill position players, including leading receiver and captain Max Vaughey.
Junior Tyler Sullivan is expected to take over at QB for the Green Wave in 2016. (Photo via BeRecruited)
Vaughey, an all-SWC first team selection, caught 47 passes for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. He’ll be flanked by junior Matt Brevard, who caught 22 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The Green Wave will also count on senior Ryan Christopher and sophomore Kendell Greene, an upcoming talent who saw significant time as a freshman, mostly at tailback.
The key, of course, is how quickly the new players on the offensive and defensive lines can become a cohesive unit. “These two groups need to step up immediately,” coach Larry Badaracco said. “We have a large group of hard-working young men, but the starters need to rise to the top very quickly.”
In addition to the losses on the defensive line, New Milford graduated its top four tacklers. Linebacker Nate Capriglione, who made 4.9 tackles a game as a sophomore, senior lineman Trevor Hnyda (39 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks) and Ryan Christopher are the top returners.
So there’s some work to do if the next Green Wave wants to move up the SWC echelon. New Milford’s schedule, which kicks off vs. Weston, doesn’t begin to really go uphill until it faces Newtown on Sept. 30. November will be the cruelest month with Stratford (actually Oct. 28), Brookfield (Nov. 4), Bunnell (Nov. 11) and New Fairfield (Thanksgiving).
Right now, Badaracco will be taking it day-by-day with his young team. “Where we fit in (the conference) does not matter,” he said. “What matters to us is that we continue to improve and build a strong foundation for the future.”
Part of that future includes a sparking new turf field and sports complex built on campus. So when the Green Wave are ready, so will their venue.
2016 Schedule
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| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9 | at Weston* | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 16 | at Bethel* | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 23 | vs. Pomperaug** | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 30 | vs. Newtown** | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 7 | BYE | |
| Oct. 14 | vs. Notre Dame-Fairfield* | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 21 | at Masuk** | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 28 | vs. Stratford** | 6 p.m. |
| Nov. 4 | at Brookfield* | 7 p.m. |
| Nov. 11 | vs. Bunnell** | 6 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | BYE | |
| Nov. 24 | at New Fairfield* | 10 a.m. |
**Division game
*Conference game
Location
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