The Meat Grinder

We knew it was coming and here it is. The Alliance brass has interrupted the season with their latest call to remove Thanksgiving Day as Connecticut's crown jewel of sporting events.

The idea: Dump a century's worth tradition in favor of a balanaced schedule based on class, 50% more (whyyy??) playoff teams, the ending the season before the wrestling mats get rolled out. A win for 12 schools' winter programs and 24 middling football teams, perhaps.

Naturally, our intrepid podcast hosts have their own opinions on this latest move to remove Thanksgiving Day football, and they lay out their pros and cons of this budding tradition of yearly CT high school football playoff ideas.

This week's special guest star is none other than JOE STOCHMAL, the only coach Oxford's ever known. His program is 8-0 for the first time and on pace to reach the state playoffs for the first time, even as they head to Jarvis Stadium to face unbeaten NVL rival Ansonia on Thursday night. 

Stox gives us the lowdown on his program and, as a member of the CIAC football committee, shows us the roadmap on how playoff proposals become CIAC law. He also gives us his personal opinion on the Alliance proposal. 

In the meantime, check out highights from a handful of Week 9's biggest games, including: No. 3 Maloney rallying past Southington; North Haven, sans coach Tony Sagnella, knocking off Matt Jeffery-less No. 2 Cheshire; and, finally, Choate's 17-14 victory over Avon Old Farms in the most anticipated Prep school game of the year, since last year.

It's a jam-packed and long episode. But, with this last full week of non-Thanksgiving football, why not spread our wings a bit?

So join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN 

0:00 — Introduction.

2:00 — Turkey Day games in September?? No, Thanks: The Alliance playoff proposal.

20:07 — The Week 10 GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 10-8)

21:30 — Sagnella-less North Haven takes out Jeffery-less No. 2 Cheshire

28:33 — GTCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 5-1)

29:55 — No. 3 Maloney rallies, holds off Southington

37:09 — Bunnell knocks off Notre Dame-Fairfield

38:27 — CLASS S playoff update: 

39:40 — CLASS SS playoff update: 

41:44 — CLASS M playoff update: 

44:19 — CLASS MM playoff update: 

46:36 — CLASS L playoff update

48:28 — CLASS LL playoff update

54:34 — Interview with OXFORD coach JOE STOCHMAL

1:31:24 — Shoutouts!

1:38:40 — Choate beats Avon Old Farms in anticipated NEPSAC unbeaten showdown

1:46:07 — Wrapping up

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 9 of the staff pick'ems for the 2023 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

THE RUNDOWN

0:00 - 4:10 — Intro 

4:10 - 6:02 — CCC: Maloney (6-1) at Southington (5-2)

6:03 - 7:05 — Bullard Havens (5-2) at Wilcox Tech (3-3)

7:06 - 8:53 — Griswold/Wheeler (6-1) at Stonington (6-1)

8:54 - 10:25 — Trumbull (3-4) at Staples (6-1)

10:26 - 11:26 — Kennedy (3-4) at Wilby (0-7)

11:27 - 13:31 — Granby/Canton (6-1) at Cromwell/Portland (5-1)

13:32 - 17:33 — Cheshire (7-0) at North Haven (5-2)

17:34 - 19:51 — Stratford (0-7) at Bethel (1-6)

19:52 - 21:04 — Hillhouse (2-5) at East Haven (2-5) 

21:05 - 23:23 — Manchester (5-1) at Windsor (6-1) 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a weekend of firsts across the state as October drew to a close.

Notre Dame-Fairfield is 7-0 after beating Masuk for the first time since 2005. Coming off its first loss of the season, No. 7 West Haven handed No. 4 Newtown its first loss. Shelton, meanwhile, handed No. 6 North Haven its first on-field loss of the season while returning to the top 10 poll for the first time in a month.

Up north, Manchester rallied to defeat Berlin 27-21 and is 5-1 for the first time since 2008 (a fact we didn't learn 'til after). Windham rallied to hand Stonington its first loss of the season.

Back south, Wilton defeated Darien for the first time since 2007. And FIVE teams simultaneously earned their first victories of the season.

Greenwich is still first in the latest GameTimeCT Top 10 football poll, but St. Joseph was the first team to hold the Cards under 30 points since Stamford did it Week 2. (Greenwich still won, 23-9, and might have become the first team to unofficially clinch a CIAC playoff spot.

In Preps, Salisbury became the first team to beat Cheshire Academy. Everybody's anxious to see who'll emerge first in the Founders League when Choate and Avon Old Farms meet Saturday.

This is also our first week without a guest. Coincidence? Hmm...

But never fear, it's yet another jam packed episode with all the highlights and playoff outlooks you'll need on this first of November.

So join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Opener, ND-Fairfield beats Masuk for first time since 2005

7:30 — Pete’s first-half trip to Newtown-West Haven

10:45 — Pete’s second-half trip to Shelton-North Haven

18:18 — The Week 9 GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll

26:47 — Sean’s first-half trip to Manchester-Berlin

31:41 — Sean’s second half trip to Windham-Stonington

41:43 — Wilton breaks another curse, beats Darien

45:14 — CIAC playoff standings: Class S & SS

49:52 — CIAC playoff standings: Class M & MM

57:23 — CIAC playoff standings: Class L & LL 

1:06:46 — Week 8 Shoutouts (5 teams win their first games!)

1:15:41 — Salisbury rallies to knock off Cheshire Academy

#cthsfb #ctfootball #connecticut #highschoolsports #highschoolfootball #fridaynightlights

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 8 of the staff pick'ems for the 2023 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

THE RUNDOWN

0:00 - 3:07 — Intro

3:08 - 4:46 — Maloney at Hall

4:47 - 5:41 — Thames River at Cheney Tech

5:42 - 7:34 — Stonington at Windham

7:35 - 9:46 — Wilton at Darien

9:47 - 11:19 — Seymour at Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic

11:20 - 12:47 — Stafford co-op at Ellington

12:48 - 14:30 — North Haven at Shelton

14:31 - 17:42 — Masuk at Notre Dame-Fairfield

17:43 - 18:53 — West Haven at Newtown

18:54 - 21:06 — Trumbull at Stamford

21:07 - 22:36 — Wrap

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Triumph and sadness ruled yet another rainy week of football. First, at the opening of the new Ken Strong Stadium turf, North Haven — ranked in the preseason, but dropped following its forfeit to Darien Week 1 — completed its march back to the top 10 with a near-perfect 21-13 upset victory over No. 2 West Haven.

The following night, Windsor, in its first game since the death of teammate Elijah-Jay Rivera, honored his memory with a moving ceremony with his family in the pouring rain at Jack O'Brien Stadium.

Pete and Sean discuss these headlining events of Week 7, and delve into some of the other key games, including Ansonia's Sunday wipeout of Holy Cross, New Canaan's overtime victory over Wilton, and Greenwich's statement 42-0 victory over Trumbull and much more.

This week's special guest star is Newtown's first-year coach DAN FARINA. whose No. 5-ranked Nighthawks put their unbeaten record to the test against a West Haven squad anxious to atone for their first loss of the year.

Plus, we run down some of the other big games of the week in the weekly Shoutout section.

So join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Opening, Windsor honors teammate Elijah-Jay Rivera

9:52 — North Haven grounds down No. 2 West Haven

21:34 — Top 10 Football Poll: No. 8 Ansonia’s Sunday Stroll

23:47 — No. 7 Staples survives Harris, Stamford

26:43 — No. 6 New Canaan bests Wilton in OT

30:49 — No. 1 Greenwich’s mission statement

36:38 — Latest CIAC playoff standings

44:05 — Interview with Newtown coach DAN FARINA

1:04:44 — Week 7 shoutouts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 7 of the staff pick'ems for the 2023 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another edition of The Meat Grinder, Connecticut's award-winning high school podcast brought to you by GameTimeCT. 

We've reached the midpoint of the 2023 season, and what better way to celebrate than diving into a very special Meat Grinder midseason double album. Yes, like the rock legends of old — The Beatles, Floyd, The Stones, Zep, The Who — we've got so much good stuff we're loathe to make any cuts, so we've decided to release it all in one drop.

Join hosts Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga as they look back on the Week 6 that was, including the two big Saturday FCIAC games, Rockville and Notre Dame-Fairfield's mission statement victories, Masuk freshman Aaaron Champagne popping the cork on Barlow.

This week's special guest star is ninth-year Fitch coach MIKE ELLIS, whose team rallied to beat NFA on Saturday to set up a big ECC Division I showdown at perennial contender Killingly.

Truth be told, Ellis hesitated before joining the podcast this week after realizing that all of this season's previous guests lost the same week they appeared on pod. Is there a Meat Grinder Podcast Curse? If there is, Ellis says he's here to break it.

We've only just begun. The podcast's second half is our annual Midseason report, beginning with the first good look at the 2023 CIAC postseason picture in all six (bleh) playoff divisions.

And, finally, Pete and SPB will conduct a midseason football snake draft, where they'll each select their top players and units from the season's first half.

So join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

0:00 — Fanfare

1:33 — Who’ll Stop The Rain?

4:23 — RIP Windsor’s Elijah-Jay Mariano Rivera

6:30 — GameTimeCT Top 10 (Part 1)

10:58 — FCIAC: Smith, No. 7 Staples grinds past Wilton

13:00 — GameTimeCT Top 10 (Part 2)

16:16 — Pequot: Rockville focuses anger, shuts down Granby/Canton

21:17 — SWC: Don't mess with DeJesus, ND-Fairfield

25:59 — SWC: Masuk's popping Champagne

30:48 — FCIAC: Danbury tops Norwalk ... playing college OT rules

37:21 — Week 6 Shoutouts

41:11 — Interview with Fitch coach MIKE ELLIS

1:08:59 — The Midseason Report: First look at CIAC playoff picture

1:30:39 — The Midseason Mock Draft!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 6 of the staff pick'ems for the 2023 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another edition of The Meat Grinder, Connecticut's only award winning high school football podcast, brought to you by GameTimeCT and CT Insider.

It was a bye week for half the state, yet somehow we have jam-packed show because plenty happened.

With everybody focused on Camren Kemp's Hamden homecoming on his birthday, it was junior quarterback Nick Conlan, who connected the biggest haymakers of Friday night as No. 2 West Haven beat Hamden to stay unbeaten.

Join hosts Pete Paguaga and Sean. Patrick Bowley as they break down that anticipated matchup, plus plenty of others, including big nights from Granby/Canton's Will Attianese and Rockville's Amir Knighton as they head for another collision course Thursday night. 

The guys also check in on Oxford, which is having a dream season thanks to gutsy QB Matt McGuire, who — once again — rallied the Wolverines to a big victory. There was also Evan Anderson's emotional night for Southington, big first wins by Hillhouse and Kennedy, and Avon Old Farms' rally past Brunswick in the rain. 

Our special guest star this week is first-year coach ANDY GRANT of Darien, whose 4-0 team heads to face No. 1 Greenwich in one of two big FCIAC games Saturday.

And, finally, we open up the MAILBAG and answer some questions for the first time this year. Post your questions in the comments below for next week.

Join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

FURTHER READING

CONLAN SPARKS WEST HAVEN PAST HAMDEN AS KEMP ADDS KEY TD IN BIRTHDAY RETURN — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/west-haven-hamden-ct-high-school-football-game-18411872.php

NORTH HAVEN SETS TONE EARLY TO BEAT FAIRFIELD PREP — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/north-haven-ct-high-school-football-vs-18411877.php

NEW CANAAN BEATS ST. JOSEPH FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2014 — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/new-canaan-football-beat-st-joseph-four-tds-luke-18412484.php

LATEST TOP 10 FOOTBALL POLL — https://www.ctinsider.com/projects/2023/gametimect/football/ct-high-school-football-rankings-oct-10/

WEEK 6 SCHEDULE / SCOREBOARD — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/2023-week-6-ct-high-school-prep-football-18415268.php

WEEK 5 SCHEDULE / SCOREBOARD — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/2023-week-5-ct-high-school-football-scoreboard-18401665.php

WEEK 5 TOP PERFORMERS — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/ciac-connecticut-football-performers-week-5-18412684.php

INSIDE WEEK 5 — https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/ct-high-school-football-week-5-wrap-18408829.php

#cthsfb #connecticut #highschoolsports #highschoolfootball #fridaynightlights #podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 5 of the staff pick'ems for the 2023 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices