East Catholic Hires Former Maine High School Football Coach to Lead the Eagles

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Steve Calande is the new head football coach at East Catholic High School.

Calande spent the last two years as head coach of Old Town High School in Maine.  In his first year at Old Town, he led the school to a 5-3 record, which was the school's first winning season since 1997.  Last year Old Town went 2-6.

Calande replaces Bill Baccaro, who resigned in April.

East Catholic was 2-8 last season.

David Roach Takes Over as Head Football Coach at Pomperaug HS

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

David Roach, an Pomperaug assistant from 2001 to 2007, is the new head coach of the Panthers.

Roach takes over for Chuck Drury, who coached at Pomperaug for 35 years during two stints as head coach.  Drury left in May to become an assistant under his son Mike, who became the head coach at Southington.

Roach, who is 32-years old, returned to Pomperaug as a teacher in 2009.

Southington Names Drury Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

Southington High has elevated Mike Drury from defensive coordinator to the position of head football coach.

Drury takes over for D.J. Hernandez, who left earlier this year to become the quarterback's coach at Brown.  Last season the Blue Knights were 8-2 and won the Central Connecticut Conference South championship.

Norwalk HS Promotes Sean Ireland to Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

Sean Ireland is the new head football coach at Norwalk High.

Ireland, who was Pete Tucci's assistant, replaces Tucci, who stepped down after 13-years at the school.  Tucci's record was 57-72.

Connecticut High School Football Coaches Support Paul Pasqualoni for UConn Job

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

The Middletown Press reports that the Connecticut High School Coaches Association is supporting Paul Pasqualoni for the vacant UConn head coaching job.

According to the story, the CHSCA has sent a letter to UConn's athletic director asking that the school hire Pasqualoni, who is a Connecticut native and is currently the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator.

New Canaan's Championship Streak Ends at Four

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

Masuk beat New Canaan 50-20 on Saturday to capture the Class L state title.

The top-seeded Panthers were led by Gatorade State Player of the Year Casey Cochran, who completed 22-of-32 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns.  Cochran also ran for a score.

New Canaan was seeking its fifth straight state title.

8th Seeded Hillhouse Wins Connecticut Class M Football Crown

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

Hillhouse became the first team to win a state championship as an 8th seeded on Saturday when the Academics beat New London 7-0 for the Class M title.

After three scoreless quarters, Harold Cooper scored on an 8-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter to give Hillhouse its fourth state championship.  The Academics put away the title by stopping the Whalers on three drives down the stretch, including stopping one drive at the Hillhouse two-yard line on a fourth-and-goal try.

St. Joseph Wins Another Connecticut State Football Championship

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

The two schools that have won the most Connecticut state football championships battled Saturday for the state's Class S title.

In the end, it was St. Joseph adding to its trophy case with a 49-28 win over Ansonia.  Tyler Matakevich led St. Joseph, which captured its 10th state title, with 122 yards rushing, 51 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

Montrell Dobbs carried the ball an incredible 52 times for 303 yards for Ansonia, which was looking to add to its state leading 16 state titles.

Last year St. Joseph won the Class SS crown, which is now a defunct classification.

Connecticut High School Football Pre-Season Practice Begins August 18th

by Jeff Fisher

Connecticut High School Football Huddle

Welcome to our new look for the 2010 Connecticut high school football season!

With the first day of practice beginning August 18th, I wanted to take the time to thank all of my readers, who have made this blog successful over the past three years.  I have bigger-and-better things planned this year with more original content.

Also, don't forget to check-out High School Football America for great high school football stories from around the country.  If you have story ideas that I should know about, please feel free to email me.

Here's a look at important dates for the 2010 season...

First Practice - August 18th (Conditioning for non-Spring practice schools); August 23rd (Conditioning for Spring practice schools)

Regular Season Begins - September 14th

Playoffs Begin - November 30th

Championships - December 10th & 11th

Jeff Fisher is Founder/Editor-in-Chief of High School Football America

New London/Norwich Free Academy Football Rivalry Featured in 2-Part Series at High School Football America

by Jeff Fisher
Connecticut High School Football Huddle

It all began in 1875 in Connecticut.

What am I talking about?  The birth of high school football.

On May 12, 1875, Norwich Free Academy played Bulkeley School for Boys (now New London HS) in the first-ever football game.

Now, High School Football America takes you inside the tradition with a two-part series that you can check-out at www.highschoolfootballamerica.com/videos.

In Part 1, High School Football America co-host Trisha Hoffman checks-out the pre-game festivities...the New London Whaler pep rally, plus a Powder Puff football game.  Part 2 on the game itself will be released on June 30th.