Vote for Masuk Football's Version of 'Hard Knocks'

A crew from NBC Connecticut may bring its cameras to Masuk High School Thursday to shoot footage of football practice and to highlight a school program. Then the network would televise Friday's game between the Panthers and Brookfield as one of the Dunkin Donuts games of the week.

To make all of this happen, the game must win out in an online poll.

First Selectman Steve Vavrek notified the media about this opportunity Tuesday.

"As you can imagine, we are very excited at the possibility of this happening," Vavrek said in an e-mail. "I am sending this out today so we can get the town involved in the voting and hopefully get enough votes to win!"

Masuk Athletic Director John DeGennaro was notified by NBC Connecticut's Managing Editor Bob Connors in an e-mail on Monday.

"Congratulations on being selected as one of our possible games of the week," Connors wrote. "The voting opened Sunday night and will continue through 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The winning game will be announced during our 11 p.m. newscast Wednesday night.

"Voting is limited to one vote per IP address. Meaning students cannot all vote from the same computer. If several computers are tied to the same IP address at the school, it still will only allow for one vote from that IP address. Students, parents, teachers and anyone else may have to vote from home computers, laptops, etc. 

"If the Brookfield-Masuk game is voted the winner, we will have someone contact the school on Thursday morning. We would then ask to have a crew come to the school to do a special story on some unique or interesting program there. We will have a different crew come to football practice Thursday afternoon, and then, of course, we will be there Friday to cover the game."

DeGennaro said this is the first time Masuk had the chance to be one of the network's games of the week.

"Anytime we have publicity of the positive programs here at Masuk High School, it is a great thing for our students and our community," DeGennaro said Tuesday.

The Panthers will take on Brookfield at Benedict Field Friday at 7 p.m.