Connecticut High School Football Championship Game Previews

TRUMBULL/NEW BRITAIN, CT — Come this Saturday, exactly 728 days will have passed since the excitement of the 2019 CIAC high school football championships. After Newtown's thrilling last-second victory in the Class LL finals, there wound up being no season in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, eight teams are ready to compete for the four divisional crowns.

Doubleheaders are scheduled at two venues: Trumbull High School (Classes LL and S) and Veterans Stadium at Willow Brook Park in New Britain (Classes L and M). Tickets for all championship games are only available digitally, and may be ordered here starting Monday afternoon.

Of the eight finalists, three schools are making a return trip from 2019. However, each of those three (Darien, Killingly and Bloomfield) came up short in the finals two years ago, and will be seeking to avenge those outcomes.

Maloney is the lone finalist to have never captured a state football title. By contrast, Bloomfield seeks its 10th championship in its 16th finals appearance, while Darien is in search of its eighth title. Of the seven contenders with previous championships, Fairfield Prep has endured the longest drought, having last won the Class LL crown in 1988.

Here is complete information about each title contest, including championship game histories and links to team rosters and season records.

CLASS LL
at Trumbull, 3 p.m.

No. 1 Fairfield Prep Jesuits vs. No. 3 Darien Blue Wave
Season record: FP 11-1; DAR 11-1
Bracket/Rosters/Rankings

The road to the finals:

• FP: d. Greenwich 21-14; d. Shelton 24-3
• DAR: d. Hamden 46-19; d. New Canaan 24-10

Title game record: FP 3-2; DAR 7-9
Previous state championships:

• FP: 1988 (LL), 1982 (L-I), 1977 (L)
• DAR: 2017 (LL), 2016 (LL), 2015 (LL), 1996 (S), 1992 (SS), 1991 (M), 1979 (L)

CLASS L
at New Britain, 11 a.m.

No. 3 Maloney Spartans vs. No. 5 Windsor Warriors
Season record: MAL 11-1; WIN 11-1
Bracket/Rosters/Rankings

The road to the finals:

• MAL: d. Bristol Central 49-14; d. Masuk 56-21
• WIN: d. Cheney Tech 62-0; d. St. Joseph 35-31

Title game record: MA 0-3; WIN 1-3
Previous state championships:

• MAL: none
• WIN: 2014 (L-small)

CLASS M
at New Britain, 3 p.m.

No. 1 Killingly Redmen vs. No. 2 Rockville Rams
Season record: KIL 11-0; ROC 10-2
Bracket/Rosters/Rankings

The road to the finals:

• KIL: d. Gilbert co-op 49-14; d. Branford 13-12
• ROC: d. Ellington 27-0; d. Torrington 42-12

Title game record: KIL 3-2; ROC 1-2
Previous state championships:

• KIL: 2017 (M), 1996 (M), 1981 (M-II)
• ROC: 1990 (L)

CLASS S
at Trumbull, 11 a.m.

No. 1 Bloomfield Warhawks vs. No. 2 Cromwell/Portland Panthers
Season record: BLO 12-0; CP 12-0
Bracket/Rosters/Rankings

The road to the finals:

• BLO: d. Morgan 50-18; d. New Fairfield 22-14
• CP: d. Notre Dame-Fairfield 29-20; d. Ansonia 46-7

Title game record: BLO 9-6; CP 1-3
Previous state championships:

• BLO: 2018 (S), 2015 (S), 2003 (SS), 2001 (S), 2000 (M), 1999 (S), 1998 (S), 1997 (S), 1982 (M-I)
• CP: 2008 (S) (note: Cromwell won the title; co-op with Portland began in 2015)