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The Week 9 GameTimeCT / Register Top 10: We have a new No. 1

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 NCNo1

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

We have a Top 10 shakeup!

Voters were swayed wildly by New Canaan’s 62-21 rout of St. Joseph on Friday, voting the Rams No. 1 for the first time this season.

New Canaan (8-0), which had five No. 1 votes a week ago, received 14 new first-place votes for a grand total of 19.

Ansonia, which easily handled Watertown 41-7 last week, received 10 first-place votes.

That makes New Canaan No. 1 by 16 points (848-832).

This is the first time New Canaan has been voted No. 1 since the Week of Nov. 6-13 in 2009, when the defending Class MM champions rallied to beat Greenwich 35-34. They lost the ranking the following week in a 42-7 loss to Central (a.k.a. the ‘Big City Beatdown.’)

St. Joseph dropped from No. 3 to No. 7, while everyone from the week before moved up to fill the vacuum.

Dario Highsmith and Middletown took No. 3 after their 21-7 win over Farmington. Unbeaten Newtown is No. 4.

Southington returned to the state’s Top 10 for the first time since its upset loss to Hall in Week 6. —SPB

For an in-depth look at the Top 10, read Mike Pucci’s capsules below.

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Dropped Out: Hand

The following voted: Mary Albl, Fairfield Minuteman; Marc Allard, Norwich Bulletin; Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Bill Bloxsom, Hersam-Acorn; Doug Bonjour, Connecticut Post; Sean Patrick Bowley, New Haven Register; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Kyle Brennan, Waterbury Republican-American; Chris Brodeur, Danbury News-Times; George DeMaio, WELI; Gerry deSimas, The Collinsville Press; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Tom Evans, Norwalk Hour; Francesco Graziano, CPTV Sports; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; John Holt, WFSB-3; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Ken Lipshez, Meriden-Record Journal; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Kevin Nathan, WVIT-30; Pete Paguaga, Torrington Register Citizen; Dave Phillips, Shore Line Newspapers; Mike Pucci, New Haven Register; Kevin Roberts, Bristol Press; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant; Jimmy Zanor, Middletown Press.

A closer look

  • 1. New Canaan (8-0) (19) — Last week: Def. St. Joseph 62-21; This week: at Wilton, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: The Rams’ thumping of then No. 3 St. Joseph convinced enough voters to move New Canaan to the top spot. The Rams can earn a berth in the FCIAC championship game with a victory over Wilton.
  • 2. Ansonia (8-0) (10)  — Last week: Def. Watertown 41-7; This week: at Seymour, Thursday, 6 p.m.
    Bottom line: The Chargers tied a school record by winning its 36th straight games, good for second place behind Cheshire’s streak of 49 in a row.
  • 3. Middletown (8-0)  — Last week: Def. Farmington 21-7; This week: at New London, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
    Bottom line: The Blue Dragons make the trip to New London in an interesting non-conference contest this week.
  • 4. Newtown (8-0)  — Last week: Def. New Fairfield 41-20. This week: vs. Stratford, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: The Nighthawks have clinched a spot in the SWC championship game.
  • 5. Glatonbury (7-1)  — Last week: Def. Conard 39-7; This week: at New Britain, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: Jalen Ollie, who passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns last week, and the Tomahawks continue to roll through CCC opponents.
  • 6. West Haven (7-1)  — Last week: Def. Wilbur Cross 50-7; This week: vs. Hand, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: Crunch time for the Westies. They face Hand, Shelton and Fairfield Prep to conclude the regular season.
  • 7. St. Joseph (7-1) — Last week: Lost to New Canaan 62-21; This week: at Fairfield Warde, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: The bad news: the Hogs got crushed by New Canaan. The good news: St. Joseph is still the favorite to win the Class M championship.
  • 8. NFA (6-1) — Last week: Def. East Lyme 49-21; This week: vs. Killingly, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
    Bottom line: The Wildcats, finally healthy, seem to be playing their best football of the season. That’s not good news for their opponents.
  • 9. North Haven (7-1) — Last week: Def. Hillhouse 14-0; This week: vs. Foran, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: The Indians can win their fifth straight SCC Division II East title with a win over Foran.
  • 10. Southington (6-1)  — Last week: Def. Newington 56-20; This week: vs. East Hartford, Friday, 7 p.m.
    Bottom line: With a favorable schedule remaining, the Blue Knights should book themselves a spot in the Class LL playoffs. They’re playing for a home game.

Further Reading