Four local high school football teams will compete in state quarterfinal games on Tuesday night, and two of those teams will be facing the top seed in their bracket.
In Class LL, No. 8 Kennedy (7-3) makes its state playoff debut against No. 1 Fairfield Prep (9-1) at Fairfield University’s Rafferty Stadium at six o’clock. In Class S, No. 8 WCA (7-3) will take on No. 1 Capital Prep/Achievement First of Hartford at Weaver High School at 6:30.
Bristol Central (9-1) is the only local team with a home game, which it earned as the No. 2 seed in Class MM. The Rams open on their home turf against No. 7 Bunnell-Stratford (8-2) at 6:30.
In Class S, No. 6 Woodland (7-3) plays No. 3 Cromwell-Portland at Pierson Park in Cromwell at 6:30.
Here’s a little bit on each opponent:
FAIRFIELD PREP
Conference: Southern Connecticut.
Wins: Southington (38-8); Trumbull (17-13); Xavier (42-19); Shelton (41-15); Bishop Hendricksen-R.I. (27-7); Sheehan-Wallingford (35-6); Hamden (42-9); North Haven (38-32); West Haven (31-20).
Loss: Daniel Hand (34-3).
Key players: Robert Manning (Jr. QB); Finbar Malloy (Sr. WR); Kyler Robinson (Sr. WR); Mason Frey (Sr. LB); Vincent Lombardo (Jr. RB); T’Varis Newkirk (Jr. LB); Samuel Barrett (Jr. DB).
What they do well: The Jesuits can throw the ball, with Manning throwing for over 2,100 yards and nearly 30 TD to just three INT. His favorite target is Malloy, but Robinson has also exceeded double digits in TD catches. On the ground, Lombardo is the main player. Defensively, Frey is always around the ball, whether it’s bringing down a ball carrier or sacking a quarterback. Frey has help from juniors Newkirk and Barrett.
What Kennedy must do: Establish the run and control the clock. The less the Jesuits have the ball, the better for the Eagles.
CAPITAL PREP/ACHIEVEMENT FIRST
Conference: Pequot Football
Wins: H-K-Higganum (19-13); Cromwell-Portland (18-12); Valley Regional/Old Lyme (35-26); Coginchaug/East Hampton/Hale Ray (14-6); Weaver (55-6); North Branford (8-7); The Morgan School-Clinton (44-6); Granby Memorial (14-8); Ellington (48-15); Computer Sciences (55-20).
Key players: Hashim Jones (Sr. RB); Malique Marshall (Sr. QB); Dwayne Small (Sr. RB); Taffari Dawes (Sr. WR-DE); Kewan Willis (So. LB).
What they do well: Run. The Trailblazers almost got 2,000 yards rushing out of Jones, and Marshall is a threat to run as well. Dawes and Willis are tough on defense, and they can also be a factor on kick returns.
What WCA must do: The Spartans need to rally to the ball and tackle well. Another big game from junior 1,000-yard rusher Mekheem Ambursley would be great. Sr. Dylan Rossi has filled in admirably at quarterback and has thrown for over 1,000 yards. The ability to run and pass will keep the Trailblazers honest.
BUNNELL
Conference: South-West
Wins: Xavier (22-21); NFA (58-0); Middletown (55-13); Masuk-Monroe (21-0); New Milford (49-0); Notre Dame Prep-Fairfield (32-2); New Fairfield (41-19); Stratford (47-6).
Losses: Brookfield (21-0); Newtown (60-29).
Key players: Steven Mendoza (Sr. QB); Kasian ‘KK’ Smalls (Sr. RB); Alberto ‘Berto’ Torres (Sr. RB); Jordan Pierce (Sr. WR); Jayden ‘JT’ Turnage (Sr. WR); Marios Charitopoulos (Jr. LB); Rickie Miller (Jr. DE); Daniel Yirenkyi (Jr. DL); Roderick ‘Rody’ Ricketts Jr. (So. WR).
What they do well: The Bulldogs are more run than pass, but are pretty balanced overall. Mendoza can throw and run from the quarterback position, though Smalls is the big threat in the ground game. On defense, Charitopoulos has a nose for the ball while Miller and Yirenkyi are solid pass rushers, though passing is not something the Rams do a lot of.
What Central must do well: Control the line of scrimmage. The Rams want to run the ball with senior Donovan Rodriguez, along with senior Jack Hartley and junior Jayden Glasper. Central can’t run the ball if it can’t control the line of scrimmage. Eighty-six percent of the Rams’ offensive yardage (2,569 of 2,952) this season came on the ground. Hartley and senior Lincoln Archibald are among the leaders on defense, and Central should try to make Bunnell one-dimensional.
CROMWELL-PORTLAND
Conference: Pequot Football
Wins: Coginchaug/East Hampton/Hale Ray (28-12); North Branford (20-14); The Morgan School-Clinton (42-14); Weaver-Hartford (42-7); Valley Regional/Old Lyme (21-16); H-K-Higganum (34-28); Sports and Medical Sciences Academy-Hartford (39-2); Rockville (29-19); Rocky Hill (17-6).
Loss: Capital Prep/Achievement First (18-12).
Key players: Jess Elfreich (Sr. QB); Jack Nolan (Sr. WR); Matt Gish (Sr. LB); Vaughn Payne (Sr. WR); Michael Rambarose (Sr. DB); Michael Sitaro (Jr. QB); Tyler Cipolla (Jr. RB).
What they do well: The Panthers run the ball, mostly with Cipolla, but also with Sitaro in certain situations. Sitaro also has a big arm, though, so he could be a threat in the pass game. Eflreich is the more traditional QB. The quarterbacks have the six-foot-five Payne to throw to, along with Nolan. On defense, Gish and Rambarose lead the way.
What Woodland must do well: Score when they get their opportunities. The Panthers allowed 13.6 points per game in the regular season, and only one team (H-K) exceeded 20 points. Woodland is capable of scoring on just about anyone, and its offense is humming right now. More of the same from that unit would be terrific. The Hawks also need to be sure tacklers on defense, so screen passes don’t turn into significant gains.
