Two Storied Programs Meet At Last

In the state of Connecticut, the name Ansonia is synonymous with high school football excellence. The Chargers have won 16 state titles, more than any other high school in any sport in the modern era.

Ledyard Assistant Coach Jim Buonocore Sr., who knows a thing or two about high school football excellence, was 2-2 in title games against Ansonia when he coached at New London High School. “What’s Ansonia?” he said. “Ansonia is just a name.”

His son, Ledyard Head Coach Jim Buonocore Jr., may see things a bit differently. He played for the Whalers in two of those championship games, coming out on the short end each time.

Asked how badly he would like his Colonels to beat Ansonia today, Buonocore just beamed a smile that spoke volumes.

First meeting

Ledyard and Ansonia have never met on the gridiron, which is surprising for two programs so steeped in football lore and tradition.

“These two very tradition-rich football programs that have similar community support and pride have never played before,” Buonocore said. “So there’s a first time for everything.”

Game time is 10:30 a.m. today at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

For Buonocore, a victory would be his first state championship in five trips to the title game as a high school head coach. But to get there, the 11-1 Colonels will have to deal with a phenomenal tailback named Arkeel Newsome. Only a sophomore, Newsome gained 3,399 yards this season for Ansonia, 12-0.

With that kind of production, who needs tradition?

“I think the biggest thing we’ve got to do is limit the times they snap the ball,” Buonocore said. “I think ball possession and time possession will be critical for us on the offensive side.”

Ledyard also has a pretty talented running back in Alex Manwaring, who rushed for 2,435 yards this year, setting a new ECC record.

“They look great,” said Ansonia Head Coach Tom Brockett of the Colonels. “I think Coach Buonocore’s done a great job. They’re similar to us. They like to run the football and they play great defense.”

In fact, the Colonels have yet to give up a single point in these playoffs, blanking both Waterford and Wolcott in the first two rounds.

“I think it makes for a real interesting match-up,” Brockett said. “We’re going to have to find a way to crack that defense, which not many people have been able to do. They run to the ball, they’re fast and they’re physical.”

Continuing with solid defense and winning the special teams battle both will be important today, Buonocore said. But ball possession and controlling the clock will be key.

“We can’t let them get 50 or 60 snaps on offense,” he said. “That’s just asking for trouble. We have to try to limit them, and find a way to keep Arkeel off the field. Then we will give ourselves a chance to win a football game.”