The Meat Grinder

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of High School Football in Connecticut.

And, because we live in the great state of Connecticut and because we're fast approaching the last Thursday in November AND because we love high school football, you should know what this episode is all about.

Yes, turkeys, it's Thanksgiving Football Week in Connecticut, the final regular season game of the year. It's a time to come home home, get the gang together and head out to your favorite high school football game, whatever it might be called — The Air and Speed Bowl, the Olde Canal Cup, the Turkey Bowl, the Green Bowl, the Elm City Bowl, The Battle for the Bell or the Battle for the Sword... whatever. There's always something to whet your football appetite during Thanksgiving in the Nutmeg State — especially this year, with no NFL games to really care about (sigh).

And, of course Thanksgiving week means copious amount of playoff math, which begets playoff scenarios. Thankfully, its not too hard this year, what with 33 of 48 teams qualified heading into the grand regular season finale. Still, we'll do our best to break it down for you.

Because time is precious and short, Thanksgiving Week also means our annual hybrid episode, combining the Meat Grinder with the weekly Pick'ems Podcast!

Join host Sean Patrick Bowley, alongside staffers Dave Stewart, currently in first place, and Scott Ericson, currently fending off the 8-Ball below, as we pick 20 — Twenty! — key high school football games.

So if you're not one of the lucky contestants playing this week, pull up a chair, kick back and relax. We've got everything you need to know, and then some.

Happy Thanksgiving Football 2024 to all. We do hope you will join us.

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Introduction: It's that time of year again!

2:35 — East Hartford, East Haven pull off stunners.

5:58 — The latest GameTimeCT Top 10 Football Poll

8:00 — The CIAC Playoff Formula — a refresher.

8:57 — Class LL playoff breakdown

10:29 — Class L playoff breakdown

11:48 — Class MM playoff breakdown

13:19 — Class M playoff breakdown

14:51 — Class SS playoff breakdown

16:11 — Class S playoff breakdown

17:35 — The Thanksgiving Pick 'ems Podcast!

21:22 — H-K at Valley Regional/Old Lyme

22:57 — Newington at Wethersfield

25:44 — NWC at East Catholic

27:48 — ATI at NW United

30:23 — West Haven at Fairfield Prep

33:26 — Newtown at Masuk

35:47 — Bristol Easter vs. Bristol Central

38:14 — Maloney vs. Platt

41:02 — New London at NFA

43:15 — Ledyard at Fitch

45:36 — New Canaan at Darien

48:56 — Greenwich at Staples

51:11 — Trumbull at St. Joseph

53:41 — Ansonia at Naugatuck

56:03 — Harding at Bridgeport Central

57:44 — Southington at Cheshire

59:30 — Lyman Hall at Sheehan

1:01:07 — Notre Dame-West Haven at Hamden

1:03:40 — Wilbur Cross at Hillhouse

1:05:14 — Bunnell at Stratford

1:07:16 — Wrapping up

#cthsfb #connecticut #highschoolfootball #hsfootball

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GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 11 of the staff pick'ems for the 2024 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

THE RUNDOWN

0:00 - 2::21 — Intro

2:22 - 4:00 — Hall (2-7) at Conard (3-6)

4:01- 5:16 — NW United (8-0) at Cheney Tech (6-3)

5:17- 6:31— MSW (1-8) at SMSA (1-8)

6:32- 7:45 — Wilbur Cross (1-7) at Harding (1-7)

7:46 - 8:52 — Platt Tech (4-4) at Wilcox Tech (2-6)

8:53 - 10:29 — Windsor (9-0) at Bloomfield (7-2)

10:30 - 12:06 — East Haven (5-3) at Hillhouse (5-3)

12:07 - 14:38 — Wilton (4-5) at Xavier (3-6)

14:39 - 16:07 — East Hartford (3-6) at Manchester (6-3)

16:08- 17:06 — Middletown (3-6) at Berlin (6-3)

17:07 - 17:59 — Wrap

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West Haven coach Rich Boshea joined Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga in the Coach's Corner for the tenth episode of the Meat Grinder spin off podcast, the Coach's Corner, to talk about his team's 8-1 start to the season.

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It's Week 11 — the last weekend of the 2024 high school football season before our favorite time of the year, the grand Thanksgiving week finale. And you know what that means! It's time, at last, to take a detailed dive into the CIAC football playoff picture heading into Thanksgiving Week.

Half of the 2024 field is set: Twenty-four teams have (unofficially) qualified for 48 spots across the six playoff divisions. Those include Fairfield Prep, which rallied from 15 points down to all but dash North Haven's dreams of a three-peatwhile solidifying its place in the Class LL race; and Brookfield, which marched past rival Masuk to stay unbeaten and clinch its first playoff berth in six years. 

We'll take a deep look at who's still alive and who needs what to secure one the remaining 24 spots heading into the final week. That includes Manchester, which rode Emmanuel Sampel and Joe Mugovero to a comeback victory over New Britain, drawing the Red Hawks oh, so closer to a return trip to the Class LL playoffs.

And it includes the likes of Hillhouse and East Haven, who will play Friday in a game that to decide whose Thanksgiving Day game will mean more than just bragging rights.

All this, plus the latest GametimeCT top 10 poll, a recap of Choate's NEPSAC Bowl championship victory over Brunswick to complete yet another unbeaten prep school season.

You won't want to miss this episode.

Join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Introduction: Brookfield, Prep clinch playoff berths

1:54 — It's Almost Playoff Time!

8:14 — Fairfield Prep rallies past North Haven, into LL playoffs

16:01 — The Week 11 GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 10-8)

17:49 — Brookfield marches past Masuk, into Class M playoffs

24:42 — The GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 6-1)

27:47 — Class LL playoff outlook (Manchester rallies past NB)

31:25 — Class L playoff outlook (bottleneck after No. 6)

33:33 — Class MM playoff outlook (8-1 Wethersfield must win)

36:41 — Class M playoff outlook (East Haven can join race)

39:47 — Class SS playoff outlook (Ellington must win twice)

41:48 — Class S playoff outlook (NWC vs. East is key)

46:18 — Choate beats Brunswick in NEPSAC Bowl, finishes unbeaten again

51:45 — Shout outs!

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GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 10 of the staff pick'ems for the 2024 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

THE RUNDOWN 

0:00 - 3:23 — Intro

3:24 - 5:49 — East Hartford (2-6) at Hall (2-6)

5:50 - 7:10 — Cheney Tech (6-2) at Bullard Havens (5-3)

7:11 - 9:35 — Fitch (4-4) at Stonington (6-2)

9:36 - 11:25 — Ridgefield (3-5) at Stamford (0-8)

11:26 - 12:52 — Crosby (3-5) at WCA (5-3)

12:53 - 16:09 — Windsor Locks (3-5) at North Branford (3-4)

16:10 - 17:40 — Cheshire (4-4) at West Haven (7-1)

17:41 - 21:22 — Brookfield (8-0) at Masuk (7-1)

21:23 - 24:21 — North Haven (5-3) at Fairfield Prep (7-1)

24:22- 26:46 — Cromwell/Portland (7-1) at Rockville (7-0)

26:47 - 27:59 — Wrap

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Cromwell/Portland coach Sal Morello joined Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga in the Coach's Corner for the eighth episode of the Meat Grinder spin off podcast, the Coach's Corner, to talk about his return to Cromwell and the co-op's 7-1 start to the season.

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We're down to the final full week of the 2024 high school football season, a time when, with playoffs on the minds, the impossible suddenly become possible and where goats become G.O.A.T.S.

Exhibit A is Staples quarterback Nick Weil, who fumbled three times and threw four picks against some hungry, hungry Hogs, yet somehow — with a little help from his friends — lived to tell his fantastic tale of perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Staples' nutty 14-10 victory over St. Joseph, courtesy of the Staples defense and Weil's 42-yard TD pass with 47 seconds left, highlighted a big week of football games as we round the final turn into the homestretch. But it wasn't the only impressive performance. 

Jayden Taylor and Ryan Schoffstall piloted Newtown as the Nighthawks' blasted off for FIFTY first-half points to overwhelm Bunnell and prove they're a team a team with which to be reckoned with. Quintez Whittle and Ansonia, down their QB, met every Woodland punch with an overwhelming array of counters and haymakers in a 50-27 win. Glastonbury's Luke Shannon and Connor Finnerty teamed up for FIVE touchdowns in a 49-21 rout of then-unbeaten New Britain in what's surely at bellweather result in the upcoming Class LL playoffs.

There was also big nights in big spots for Watertown's Brady Gambee, Ludlowe's Ryan Tompkins, Manchester's Joe Mugovero, Sheehan's Joshn Durant, everyone on Windham and more, much more.

We dive into these fascinating finales, look ahead to some great games ahead -- including Brunswick and Choate's anticipated NEPSAC Bowl showdown of four University of Notre Dame recruits — plus a heapin' helpin' of CIAC playoff outlooks and another round of SHOUT OUTS! on this week's show.

Join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Introduction: Staples pulls a rabbit from its rear

1:21 — It’s Week 10!

4:17 — 4 Notre Dame commits highlight Brunswick, Choate bowl showdown

8:23 — Mt. Hope sues RIIL over Stafford!?

13:14 — Latest GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 10-8)

15:00 — Weil rises above, No. 7 Wreckers rally past St. Joe

21:03 — No. 6 Newtown makes massive statement

24:11 — Top 10 Poll (Nos. 5-1): Marinelli wins 400th, Hand stays unbeaten

28:17 — Segway: What’s your favorite football movie?

33:48 — CLASS S Playoff Update: Whittle, Ansonia outlast Woodland

37:55 — CLASS SS Playoff Update: Windham knocks off Waterford; Sheehan takes care of LAw

41:32 — CLASS M Playoff Update: Watertown’s back

44:40 — CLASS MM Playoff Update: What about Wethersfield?

48:57 — CLASS L Playoff update: Ludlowe draws closer

52:49 — CLASS LL Playoff update: Glastonbury knocks off New Britain

59:48 — SHOUT OUTS!

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GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 9 of the staff pick'ems for the 2024 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

THE RUNDOWN

0:00 - 3:13 — Intro

3:14 - 4:51 — Bristol Eastern (3-4) at Middletown (3-4)

4:52 - 6:19 — Bullard Havens (4-3) at ATI (5-2)

6:20 - 8:51 — Windham (6-1) at Waterford (7-0)

8:52 - 11:55 — Wilton (3-4) at Ludlowe (5-2)

11:56 - 14:46 — Watertown (5-2) at Holy Cross (5-2)

14:47 - 17:35 — Capital Prep (7-0) at Granby/Canton (5-1)

17:36 - 19:03 — Law (5-2) at Sheehan (5-2)

19:04 - 20:50 — Bunnell (6-1) at Newtown (7-0)

20:51 - 23:09 — Staples (6-1) at St. Joseph (5-2)

23:10- 25:50 — Brookfield (7-0) at Barlow (4-3)

26:00 - 26:14 — Wrap

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Brookfield football coach Bryan Muller joined Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga in the Coach's Corner for the seventh episode of the Meat Grinder spin off podcast, the Coach's Corner, to talk about the rebuild of the Bobcats program, his team's 7-0 start and the competitive SWC.

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WELCOME back to another edition of THE MEAT GRINDER podcast, your weekly dose of High School Football in Connecticut with hosts Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga.

We've reached the last three weeks of the 2024 season and, after eight long weeks, the focus at last shifts back to West Haven, where Nick Conlan, Kadear Dembele and the Blue Devils, who started out ranked, but lost their season opener to Greenwich, returned to the state's consciousness with by avenging last year's loss to rival North Haven with a sixth-straight victory.

The win virtually assured the Westies would take their place among the elite teams of the Class LL race, but would voters reward them with a spot in the Top 10?

Elsewhere, Sean and Pete review some of the big results and break down all six of the CIAC playoff races, including Cromwell/Portland's comeback victory over Haddam-Killingworth -- won by two haymakers in the second half -- to claim the inside track on the Class S playoff race.

They also look at Killingly's big win over Barlow, Windham's loss to Fitch and what those results mean for the Class SS race; Class M's big weekend with Brookfield (vs. Barlow) and St. Joseph (vs. Staples) taking center stage; And, of course, the remaining races in Class MM, L and LL. ... Could Kennedy (??) have a realistic shot?

Join us for this, shoutouts and much, much more!

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Introduction: West Haven turns tables

1:05 — It’s Week 9 Already!?

5:47 — West Haven wins 6th straight, 32-7 over North Haven

16:12 — The Latest GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll

20:45 — Latest Top 10: No. 2 Hand survives Hamden on crazy Hail Mary

25:52 — Cromwell/Portland’s two haymakers rallies Panthers past H-K

31:03 — CLASS S Playoff Outlook: Woodland goes down

33:43 — CLASS SS Playoff Outlook: Killingly rolls past Barlow, Fitch knocks off Windham

37:35 — CLASS M Playoff Outlook: Big tests for Brookfield, Law

39:49 — CLASS MM Playoff Outlook: Xavier knocks off Hillhouse, Torrington OK

44:15 — CLASS L Playoff Outlook: Newtown’s time arrives; Which NDWH shows up?

50:03 — CLASS LL: Who gets the final two spots? Kennedy??

57:52 — SHOUT OUTS!

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