Darien Emerges As Frontrunner In CT High School Football Poll

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.

1. Darien (7)
2. St. Joseph (5)
3. Daniel Hand (3)
4. Greenwich (2)
5. Newtown (4)
6. New Canaan
7. Southington
8. Xavier
9. Ansonia
10. Killingly

Also 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

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