Berlin Garners Support in Gridiron Poll

Squawk...this is a recording...squawk...Darien was a unanimous selection as the state's best team in the latest Connecticut high school football poll, garnering the top spot on all 24 ballots cast.

The Blue Wave (6-0) have overwhelmed opponents this season to the tune of a 229-35 scoring margin.

Berlin (6-0) did not crack the top 10, but received considerable support from voters in the most recent balloting. The Redcoats are outscoring opponents by an incredible margin of 196-36 this season.

Here are the top 10 teams, plus all other programs receiving votes, with records through Oct. 22.

1. Darien (6-0)
2. Southington (6-0)
3. West Haven (6-0)
4. Greenwich (5-0)
5. Ansonia (6-0)
6. Windsor (5-0)
7. St. Joseph (5-1)
8. Masuk (6-0)
9. Middletown (6-0)
10. Shelton (5-1)

Also receiving votes: New Canaan (4-2), Fitch (6-0), South Windsor (6-0), Ridgefield (4-2), Killingly (6-0), Daniel Hand (5-1), Fairfield Prep (5-1), Naugatuck (6-0), Rocky Hill (6-0), Berlin (6-0), North Haven (4-2), Cheshire (4-2), Cromwell/Portland (6-0), Maloney (5-1), Seymour (4-1).

Voters: Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Bill Bloxsom, HAN Network; Doug Bonjour, Connecticut Post; Sean Patrick Bowley, GameTimeCT.com; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Kyle Brennan, Waterbury Republican-American; Gerry DeSimas Jr., Collinsville Press; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Erik Dobratz, WTNH/Sportzedge.com; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Noah Finz, Frontier Cable/Vantage Sports Network; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Ken Lipshez, Record-Journal of Meriden; Mike Madera, Walter Camp Foundation/New Haven Register; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; John Nash, The Hour of Norwalk; Pete Paguaga, Record-Journal of Meriden; Dave Phillips, Shoreline Newspapers; Marc Robbins, Frontier Cable/Vantage Sports Network; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Bob Rumbold, Fox61; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Joe Zone, WFSB-3.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen