Darien Emerges As Frontrunner In CT High School Football Poll

Darien CT

08 September, 2021

7:27 AM

Description

CONNECTICUT — Exactly 635 days after Newtown's last-second Hail Mary touchdown pass and other 2019 state championship football games, high school teams in Connecticut officially return to competition on the gridiron this week, with one Thursday game, a boatload on Friday and more on Saturday. Trying to determine the top teams is never easy, but especially after a 21-month layoff. Nevertheless, nearly two dozen sports media members have submitted their ballots for a preseason top 10. Five schools received at least two first-place votes, led by seven for front-running Darien. St. Joseph, Daniel Hand, Greenwich and Newtown also received top nods. Here are the top 10, with first-place votes in parentheses, as well as all other programs collecting votes. Darien (7)St. Joseph (5)Daniel Hand (3)Greenwich (2)Newtown (4)New CanaanSouthingtonXavierAnsoniaKillinglyAlso receiving votes: Trumbull, Notre Dame-West Haven, Cheshire, Fairfield Prep, Sheehan, Norwich Free Academy, Bloomfield, Maloney, Berlin, Windsor, Shelton, Simsbury, Fitch, Weston, North Haven, Bristol Central, Masuk, Naugatuck, Ridgefield, Brookfield, Newington, Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Holy Cross. Voters: Bill Bloxsom, Hearst Connecticut Media; Sean Patrick Bowley, GameTimeCT; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Erik Dobratz, WTNH-8; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Michael Fornabaio, Connecticut Post; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; Kyle Maher, Journal Inquirer; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Pete Paguaga, GameTimeCT; Dave Phillips, Shoreline Newspapers; John Pierson, WTNH-8; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Rich Zalusky, The Chronicle of Willimantic; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Mike Madera, Walter Camp Football Foundation; Gerry deSimas Jr., Collinsville Press; Will Aldam, News Times; Jeff Jacobs, GameTimeCT; Greg Lederer, Cheshire Herald; Mark Jaffee, Republican-American of Waterbury.Compiled by Will Aldam Don't miss local and statewide news from all across Connecticut. Register for free Patch alerts and daily newsletters.