By JOE PALLADINO

It is time to toss it up.

Basketball begins for real this week as prep school games hit the hardwood and girls high school teams get serious with scrimmages and jamborees.

The Taft School boys and girls teams tipped off the season Wednesday. On Friday, Westover opens the season at Searle Gymnasium with the third annual Tip-Off Classic. The opener at 4 p.m. has Westover against Chase Collegiate.

The tourney features 12 games in 24 hours, with the championship final Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Among the nine schools participating are Cheshire Academy, the Canterbury School, the Forman School, the Master’s School, and The Gunnery.

— The Wolcott jamboree is back for season two. Head coach Marty DiTuccio was adamant that the event would be an annual season starter, and he was right.

The Eagles must have done something right because Kaynor Tech, Northwestern and Watertown all return to the John Morris Gymnasium.

“Last year’s event was well-attended,” DiTuccio said. “I might add teams next year to make it an eight-team event.”

— This week, we ran a story about the coaching challenge ahead for Kaynor Tech’s Brian Stasaitis. He will not only coach girls varsity for the 12th season, but a semipro men’s team in Springfield, Mass., called the Sting. Well, Wolcott’s DiTuccio is a busy man, too.

DiTuccio, in his second season with the Wolcott girls, will also begin his 38th season as a basketball official with Litchfield Board 7.

“I ended up reffing 21 games last year,” DiTuccio said, “and I did two league playoff games as well. Right now, I have eight assignments for December. That’s not bad, considering my limited availability.”

Availability may be limited, but reffing ability is not. When DiTuccio has your game, you’ll have a great game.

— The true indicator that we are on the brink of basketball is when we type or you read these words: city jamboree.

Yes, the city jamborees are back. The girls jamboree is Dec. 9 at Wilby High’s Reggie O’Brien Gymnasium — the city’s most famous arena — and the boys jamboree is at The Reg, on George Tirado Court, on Dec. 16. Both tip at noon. The Chase Collegiate boys, due to a scheduling conflict, will not participate.

There was early concern that the boys jamboree might not happen. Dec. 16 is the CIAC’s first official day for the boys season. However, Naugatuck Valley League schools will open play Tuesday, Dec. 19. The CIAC has not yet scheduled the city jamboree into oblivion.

— With the first official day of boys practice scheduled for Saturday, teams had the opportunity, if they wished, to schedule a midnight madness practice session. A coaches survey did not turn up any madness plans, or as Woodland coach Tom Hunt noted,”I am too old to stay up that late.”

Dude, I hear that.

— There is a unique preseason idea down in Derby, though.

“We have an exciting event planned on Dec. 8,” said Derby boys coach Eric O’Toole. “We will have a pep rally at 7 p.m. to recognize all of Derby High School winter sports teams. We will call it Raider Nation Night.”

This night is the first of its kind in Raider Nation. O’Toole hopes it becomes an annual evening. I suspect it may inspire similar events throughout the region.

Send comments to jpalladino@rep-am.com, and follow on Twitter at @RAOffTheRecord.

TAFT 58, KINGSWOOD-OXFORD 35
Taft (1-0): Maggie O’Leary 1 0 2, Anna Csigirinskij 1 0 2, Anna Koziol 1 0 2, Natalie Hodak 3 0 7, Kris Manfreda 0 0 0, Amara Chidom 6 4 16, Juliana Yamin 2 0 5, Kayla Robinson 2 3 7, Sam Chan 0 1 1, Lauren Pelosi 4 1 10, Kaia Whiteley 2 2 6, Totals: 22 11 58.
K-O (0-1): Desiree Davis 5 8 19, Charlotte Cyr 1 2 4, Skylar Barron 1 0 2, Naelani Sherman-Jackson 2 0 4, Jane Dunbar 0 1 1, Madi Henry 1 1 3, Maave McDonald 1 0 2, Totals: 11 12 35.
3-pointers: T[Dash]Hodak 1, Yamin 1, Pelosi 1; K[Dash]Davis 1.
Halftime: Taft 29-17.

The Taft School girls basketball team opened the season with a 58-35 home win over Kingswood-Oxford on Wednesday night.
Amara Chidom recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds while Kayla Robinson tallied seven points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Lauren Pelosi hit for 10 for Taft, which led 29-17 at the half.
Kingswood Oxford’s Desiree Davis led all scorers with 19 points.

BY ROGER CLEAVELAND

ANSONIA – As the head coach of the Ansonia High football team, Tom Brockett has had the privilege of mentoring more Top 10 running backs than anyone else in the state.

While Markell Dobbs won’t finish this season among the best in state history in career or single-season rushing yards, Brockett sees the same traits in him as he saw in previous great Chargers Arkeel Newsome, Alex Thomas and Dobbs’ older brother, Montrell.

“He has the combination of a lot of things you want in a great running back: size, vision, toughness,” Brockett said. “He makes the right cut and the great cuts. He also doesn’t get caught because he has that breakaway speed. But with us here it always starts with wanting really tough kids as our tailbacks who are going to bang it up in there.”

[This post contains video, click to play]

Toward that end, Dobbs hit the weight room hard over the past offseason to gain close to 20 pounds to make him more durable and allow to break tackles when his speed and agility aren’t quite enough to elude defenders.

Dobbs goes into Sunday’s Class S state playoff semifinal against the Stafford/East Windsor/Somers co-op team with 1,928 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns this season.

Those numbers pale in comparison to the top two seasons in state history – 3,867 yards in 2013, 3,763 yards in 2011 – turned in by Newsome. They also can’t stack up against Thomas’ third-best 3,596 yards in 2007 or Montrell’s fifth-best 3,445 yards in 2010.

But none of the running backs who finished in the Top 25 in state history of single-season rushing had a yards per carry average even close to Dobbs’ 14.5 yards this season.

“There is no doubt about it, he is the best running back in Connecticut (this season),” Brockett said. “He is tremendous. You can’t question that. He is also unselfish. A lot of kids might mope around and ask, ‘Why can’t I carry the ball more?’ but he is really about the wins and the team first.”

Dobbs has been so efficient and the Chargers (11-0) have been so dominant, winning games by an average of 44.9 points, that he didn’t play in the second half of most games. With more at stake in the last two games against previously unbeaten Naugatuck and state playoff quarterfinal opponent Seymour, Dobbs rushed for 635 yards and nine touchdowns.

Extrapolate those numbers over the 10 games in which Dobbs played, and he could have potentially run for 3,175 yards and 45 touchdowns or more.

Dobbs ran for more last season with 2,406 yards, but he believes he is a much better back this year.

“I run the ball way harder than I did last year,” Dobbs said. “I’m running harder, and I am leading my team better than I did last year. I definitely got stronger. I am definitely ready to lower my shoulder this year.”

While he has learned to run with more power, he doesn’t go into each play looking to punish defenders. He still wants to make them miss and has the skills to do it.

“I would say my vision makes me good,” Dobbs said. “I read the defense before I even get in my stance. I look at where everybody is, and I time myself figuring out by the time I hit the hole where the defenders should always be. I always look for the hole I am supposed to run to, but I also look for secondary holes in case that hole is closing.”

Assistant coach Bob Lisi said that what makes Dobbs so good is that he isn’t just trying to run away from defenders. He’s intelligent and he trusts in his ability to elude defenders once he puts himself in the best position to make a play.

“We watch film every Sunday, and what makes him so good is his ability to get in the hole and make the backdoor cut,” Lisi said. “His peripheral vision is just outstanding. He is not looking to break it. He is looking to get into the hole, and then he makes his move. We preach that and preach that and preach that. He is an athlete and you have to make a move, but you get in the hole first and then you make your move.”

Dobbs credits quarterback Justin Lopez for taking some of the defensive focus off of him. He also credits fullback Terjuan Burney for helping open up holes behind the offensive line of Martin Antoine, Michael LaRovera, Alex Hernandez, Colby Ortiz and Kevin Rascoe.

They just have to give him a little crease, and he’s going to make the most of it.

“I can bounce it in or I can bounce it outside,” Dobbs said. “I’m pretty good at reading the defense and knowing which way to go. I’m also pretty good at making the first guy miss, and once I do that I have an open field against a safety one-on-one.”

1 of 5

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
More than 40 area athletes were chosen for the 2017 fall All-State teams in girls and boys soccer and girls volleyball:
Girls soccer
The Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association included a bevy of area players among their selections for All-State. Class S had the best local representation with six choices: Emily Geyselaers and Josie Horosky of Housatonic, Kendall Davis and Nina Zwolinski of St. Paul, Kiley Harnish of Holy Cross and Amber Marino of Litchfield.
In Class M, area selections were Nonnewaug’s Azria Malloy and Mary Bibbey, Lewis Mills’ Chloe Waldron, Woodland’s Haley Andrews and Wolcott’s Taylor Riviezzo. For Class L, Pomperaug’s Jamie Collimore and Watertown’s Meadow Mancini were chosen. In Class LL, Cheshire was represented by Jillian Klem. In prep soccer, Taft’s Kristin Manfreda was picked.
Boys soccer
Six area players made the grade in Class S and Class M for the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association All-State squads. In Class M, there was Braden Fox and John Mudgett from state champion Lewis Mills, Michael Neumann and Jameson Weber from Northwestern, Jean-Paul Viruet of Seymour and Allen Fernandez of Ansonia. The Class S team had Housatonic’s Johan Diaz, Sacred Heart’s Noah Knappe, Thomaston’s Mergim Kutlovci, Terryville’s Adam Pelz, Litchfield’s Charlie Shanks and St. Paul’s Adam Van Linter.
Chosen for the Class L team were Anthony Orellana of Crosby, Naseem Thompson of Torrington and Eric Zoldy of Watertown. Class LL included Yan Silva of state runner-up Naugatuck, Toby Goldstein of Cheshire and Evan Dadonna of Southington.
Prep soccer was split into Class S and Class L. Chase Collegiate’s Justin Butler and Griffin Puc both made the Class S team. In Class L, Taft’s Marvin Sibanda and Mthabisi Tshuma were chosen.
Girls volleyball
Six locals made the second team in Class M, as chosen by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association. Those players were Madison Conroy of Nonnewaug, Candyce Jewett of Torrington, Molly Kennedy of Seymour, Stephanie Krebbs of Woodland, Carolyn Osvald of Wolcott and Molly Porch of Northwestern. Cheshire’s Elena Piran and Southington’s Stephanie Zera were chosen to the second team in Class LL, while Maia Regan of Holy Cross was on the Class S second team.

By STEVE BARLOW
Republican-American
TORRINGTON — Girls basketball practice started in the Connie Donahue Gymnasium on Monday, and one thing hadn’t changed. Torrington High coach Mike Fritch was still in charge for the 25th season in a row.
One thing has changed. There’s a foot-long scar on his chest from six hours of open-heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm in August and another, smaller one at the base of his neck, where doctors removed his thyroid two months later.
That has some people wondering if other changes might follow — perhaps to his legendary fiery coaching demeanor?
“No,” assured senior Shannon Reardon. “He’s the same as always.”
“We came back wanting to make sure there’s as less stress as possible,” said junior Alyssa Maraia. “But he’s definitely still going to get mad at us.”
Fritch, 66, insists he’s as good as new and there’s no place else he’d rather be on a cold winter night than on the sidelines. Will he mellow any?
“I told the kids I’m as crazy as ever,” Fritch joked before adding, “We’ll see. That might be a good question to ask halfway through the season.”
Mostly, he’s grateful to his wife, Susan, for encouraging him to visit a cardiologist for a checkup in January. Coronary trouble runs in his family; a brother, Jim, died at age 41 of a heart attack.At the time, Fritch was feeling no symptoms — people who suffer from aneurysms rarely do until it’s too late — but tests discovered a nearly 5-inch-long bulge in the wall of his aorta, the largest artery in the body.
While he waited for the surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital, doctors advised Fritch to avoid taxing his heart too strenuously. Easier said than done. Not only is he excitable while coaching, but he visits a fitness center several times a week, and one of his main hobbies is long bicycle rides of 50 miles or more.
“The doctor told me to avoid hills,” said Fritch.
The doctor has never pedaled in Litchfield County.
Fritch moderated his cycling through the summer until surgeons replaced a section of his aorta with a “gortex sheath” and installed a new valve, too. Two months later, he was riding his bike two hours a day in California while visiting family there.
In one sense, the aneurysm was helpful. During presurgery tests, two cancerous nodules were detected on his thyroid, so that was removed in October. He now takes a synthroid pill to regulate his metabolism.
In January, he expects to be away from the team for a week while getting a radiation injection to make sure the cancer is wiped out. And he’ll return to Yale-New Haven on an ongoing basis along with his son, Michael; another brother, Ric; a cousin and an aunt as part of a research group studying the genetic causes of aneurysms.
One other thing has changed: Fritch’s outlook on life. He and his wife took the trip to California last month, and next week Fritch, his son and other family members and friends have tickets for the Jimmy V Classic basketball tournament in New York. He intends to enjoy himself.
“You need to do the things you want to do,” Fritch said.

[This post contains video, click to play]

[This post contains video, click to play]

By STEVE BARLOW

SOUTHBURY – Most high school basketball programs hold a ceremony at the end of the season to honor the team’s seniors. The Pomperaug High girls didn’t last year for one good reason: There were none.

“We all wanted to have a Junior Night,” joked co-captain Ally McCormick.

It was a unique situation that has left this year’s first week of practice feeling a bit like Groundhog Day for the six seniors who had to fill the leadership void as juniors a year ago.

“It was definitely difficult not having people to look up to last year, but we still took it as a positive,” said All-State forward Karli Opalka, another co-captain. “It’s a cool experience. You get to be the oldest players and then you get to come back again.”

They’re back on the court holding loftier ambitions, too, if there is such a thing at Pomperaug.
With such a young team, the Panthers weren’t exactly sure what to expect last year, but they wound up reaching the semifinals of the Class L state tournament, which whetted their appetites for this season.
Certainly, the roster is loaded with talent. There’s Opalka, a 6-foot senior who has 1,000 rebounds in her career and is only 16 away from 1,000 points.

There’s a steady point guard in McCormick, outside shooting from junior Maggie Lee and senior Megan Todhunter, and plenty of size with Opalka, Todhunter and 6-foot senior Claudine Legato. And the bench is deep.

“We want to go as far as possible,” said McCormick.

The Panthers lost in the South-West Conference quarterfinals a year ago; it’s possible they could win it all this year. They reached the state semis a year ago; it’s possible they could win it all this year.

“All these teams around us are losing all these great players,” said Opalka, “and we aren’t.”

But they also realize it won’t be easy. Coach Joe Fortier is preaching to them that nothing will be handed to Pomperaug simply because the whole roster is back.

“Expectations can weigh on you a bit,” Fortier pointed out. “Other teams don’t like you saying in the paper you want to win the championship.”

At the same time, he has “never seen a group with this much chemistry.”

Perhaps that’s to be expected since most of the Panthers have been playing together in youth leagues since third grade.

Last year, Pomperaug had a rocky start and was 4-4 after getting crushed by Bethel, 58-33, in the first week of January. But the Panthers proved their mettle by bouncing back three games later to hand New Fairfield its first loss, 64-52. They won nine straight and 11 of their last 12 to finish the regular season at 15-5.

In the Class L tournament, Pomperaug got a bit of revenge by knocking off St. Joseph, which had beaten it earlier in the season, in the quarterfinals to reach the semis, where it lost to eventual state champion Hand.

What will it take to go one step further?

Opalka points to cutting down on turnovers. McCormick mentions having a killer attitude right from the opening tip every night. Fortier wants to get even more aggressive and productive with the press.

Other, less experienced teams wish they could have the same kind of problems to work on. That’s why the Panthers have been anticipating this season since the final basket of last season.

“We’re pretty excited,” said Opalka.

[This post contains video, click to play]

BY MARK JAFFEE

ANSONIA — Cody Teodosio can see the end nearing.

After a dozen years spent at Nolan Field, first as a water boy for the Ansonia High football team and most recently as a senior captain, he’s savoring each and every practice that remains.

“I remind all of my teammates, especially the underclassmen, to not take anything for granted because your high school career truly does fly by rather quickly,” Teodosio said. “I have never taken a play off. You need to practice perfect because if you don’t, it will come back to hurt you. If you practice well, you will play well. I don’t believe I ever had a bad day of practice.”

His postseason accolades prove that. A two-time All-Naugatuck Valley League linebacker and a Class S All-Stater, Teodosio will lead the top-seeded Chargers (11-0) against Stafford-East Windsor-Somers on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Class S semifinals at Jarvis Stadium.

“Being a captain in this program means a lot to me, and it’s a huge responsibility I take very seriously,” said Teodosio, who also starts at tight end and is the Chargers’ long snapper on punts. “There is always pressure, but I have to handle it the best that I can and know that I just need to get the job done.”

A year ago, Teodosio played the best game of his career, recording 10 tackles and a quarterback sack in the Chargers’ 28-21 win over Rocky Hill in the Class S state title game at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

“It seems just like yesterday when I was a young freshman getting yelled at by (freshman coach John Sponheimer),” Teodosio joked.

Known for his hustle, Teodosio usually lets his all-out effort speak for itself, but there was one instance during the Ansonia blue-and-white spring game last June when his teammates found out exactly who they had elected captain.

“One of the younger players was joking around during the game, and I told him to stop laughing and that it wasn’t funny and it wasn’t a time to be joking around,” recalled Teodosio.

The point was crystal clear, and his coaches took notice.

“That’s what you expect from your senior captains,” assistant coach Bob Lisi said. “You want them to take charge in the huddle when it’s necessary.

“From the time we saw Cody on special teams as a sophomore, we could see on film the way he approached playing on special teams or on defense when we gave someone a rest, he was very aggressive,” Lisi said. “He had really good instincts and was disciplined, knowing to stay in his lanes and how to get off a block.”

Teodosio’s family background is well-known in the NVL. His uncle, Brent Teodosio, was a quarterback for the Chargers from 1993-95. Another uncle, Ed Teodosio, was a baseball player at Ansonia while his dad, Chris, was a baseball standout at Holy Cross. His sister, Morgan, is a freshman at Seymour High, where she will play basketball and softball.

Five decades ago, Teodosio’s grandfather Ed played guard for legendary Ansonia coach Charles “Boots” Jarvis. He electrified the crowd of 7,000 with a 25-yard field goal to help beat Naugatuck, 17-6, in the 1965 Thanksgiving game.

“When I was in eighth grade, my grandfather taught me how to be a long snapper.

When I was a freshman in high school, Coach Sponheimer asked if anyone could long-snap and I said that I would give it a try. I’ve done it ever since,” said Teodosio.

“Playing on special teams gave me a chance to be on the varsity and I took it very seriously.”

Just like everything else he has done on the football field for the Chargers.

BY MARK JAFFEE

The memory lingers for Stafford-East Windsor-Somers football coach Brian Mazzone and his team from when they left Nolan Field in Ansonia last year for the 85-minute bus ride home.

The Bulldogs’ 48-0 loss to the Chargers in the Class S quarterfinals became a rallying cry for this season.

“Honestly, last year was a great season and exciting for the players to be getting there to the playoffs,” said Mazzone. “I was really proud of our 9-1 (regular) season. (His team) couldn’t believe it. They tried and played and faked it. Nobody came ready. We were embarrassed and intimidated. We played awful and it was kind of a speed bump on Ansonia’s road to a state championship.”

The Chargers eventually went on to win their unprecedented 20th state crown with a 28-21 comeback win over Rocky Hill.

The Stafford-Ansonia rematch, this time in the Class S semifinals, is Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Nolan Field.

In Mazzone’s first season in 2015, the Bulldogs went 4-6. In 2014, Ellington and Somers had been a cooperative, but the merger ended when Ellington had too many players, so Somers joined with Stafford and East Windsor.

“There’s no doubt that we had a success in the first year at 4-6,” said Mazzone. “To us, it was like winning the Super Bowl. When the team went 0-11 in 2013, it scored 30 points the whole year. We made baby steps and were building toward last year. I didn’t expect to go 9-1. Maybe a seven-win maximum. Then we graduated two All-Staters, quarterback Nate Lajoie and receiver Brandon Kallenbach, and 13 players overall. I thought even six or seven wins would be awesome this year. At the midway point of the season, were already 6-0. The biggest thing is we have good athletes and I’ve gotten lucky. The kids have listened and bought into everything we have asked.”

Among those early-season wins was a 29-6 decision over Gilbert-Northwestern on Sept. 23 in Winsted.

The Bulldogs are led by junior quarterback Colton Engel (1,824 rushing yards, 22 TDs, and 984 passing yards, 11 TDs). Engel runs the offense mostly on direct snaps.

“When Colton played youth football, he played out of the single-wing and never threw the ball,” said Mazzone. “We need him to throw a little bit. And he has become an All-State-caliber player. Our offensive coordinator, Bob Grant, said that when Colton came in as a freshman, he would be the best kid who would ever come through here. In every practice and game, he does something impressive.”

Bulldogs junior tailback Julien Rivas is also a playmaker with 545 rushing yards, five TDs and 207 receiving yards.

“Julien is a tall, thin, fast kid and not your typical kid who can pound the ball by running,” sauid Mazzone. “He’s a selfless kid and doesn’t care about his own personal statistics or gain.”

Defensively, the Bulldogs’ leader is clearly junior inside linebacker John Kopek.

“Our belief is that our defense is better than our offense,” said Mazzone. “John Kopek is our leader. He’s so fast and has seven quarterback sacks as an inside linebacker. He judges the snap count and is always a like a shot out of a cannon. He’s always causes problems.”

Now, the Bulldogs (10-1) have another opportunity and another long trek to Ansonia. Not making any bold predictions, Mazzone noted, “We want to earn some respect.”

Mazzone already has plenty of respect for the Chargers (11-0), winners of 24 in a row dating back to a 31-20 loss to Bloomfield in the 2015 Class S title game.

“Markell Dobbs is a star,” said Mazzone of the Chargers’ tailback. “When you look at their team, are they better than they were last year? No. 66 (Alex Hernandez) and No. 74 (Kolby Ortiz)? Oh, my God. Their offensive line is unbelievable. And their quarterback (Justin Lopez) is so athletic, and they don’t ask him to throw often, but he can throw the ball a mile.”

Stafford beat Bullard Havens in the first round, 20-12.

Gabbie Dunn produced 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead Westover to a 78-26 drubbing of Chase Collegiate in the opening round of the third annual Westover Tip Off Classic on Friday in Middlebury.
Kayla Surajnoth had 10 points while Chaylee Mcadam added eight points and nine rebounds for Westover (1-0), which jumped out to an 18-4 lead. Maddie Patrick had 15 for Chase (0-1).
In other tournament action, Green Farms downed The Gunnery, 44-26, and Cheshire Academy thumped Canterbury, 49-25.

WESTOVER 78, CHASE COLLEGIATE 26
Westover (1-0): Maddie Therrien 1 0 2; Madison Burns 0 4 4; Katie Protzmann 3 0 6; Grace Bollard 1 0 2; Chaylee Mcadam 4 0 8; Gabbie Dunn 13 1 27; Natalie Calo 3 1 7; Kayla Surajnoth 4 2 10; Paige Carroll 2 0 5; Mia Izzi 3 1 7. Totals 34 9 78.
Chase (0-1): Sam Crone 1 1 3; Sam Dassatti 0 0 0; Angelene Guglielmo 3 0 6; Phoebe DiRiu Crowley 0 0 0; Maddie Patrick 5 4 15; Grace Frohock 1 0 2; Emma Denihan 0 0 0; Jilly Carelton 0 0 0. Totals 10 5 26.
Halftime: W 43-15.
3-pointers: W — Carroll 1; C — Patrick 1.

Tonight will be a special night at Taft as the boys’ hockey team hosts rival Berkshire at 7 p.m. at the Odden Rink. It is the D’Arco Cup, with all proceeds from the night donated  for breast cancer awareness.

Brad D’Arco graduated in the Taft School class of 1999, and went on to be the captain of the Colgate ice hockey team. After a brief corporate career, D’Arco became the head coach at the Berkshire School. His mother, Nancy, was a huge supporter of Taft and Berkshire athletics and developed a special appreciation for ice hockey. She passed away due to breast cancer, and the D’Arco Cup was established to commemorate the D’Arco family’s involvement and love for both institutions.

BY MARK JAFFEE
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
ANSONIA — On a brisk, late Friday afternoon, Tom Brockett was all bundled up in the middle of Nolan Field’s Jarvis Stadium.
As he prepared his team for another opportunity for a state final berth in today’s Class S state semifinal against Stafford-East Windsor-Somers at 12:30 p.m. in Ansonia, Brockett took a breath and uttered, “Do you believe it’s been 12 years?”
Twelve years and plenty of accolades since being the handpicked successor for legendary head coach Jack Hunt at Ansonia in 2006.
The 40-year-old Wallingford native has set an incredibly high standard of his own. His overall record is flat-out stunning — 147-10.
He’s won six state crowns, including one last season when the Chargers rallied to beat Rocky Hill, 28-21, for the program’s unprecedented 20th state title since the CIAC postseason began in 1976.
Rocky Hill plays St. Joseph of Trumbull in today’s other semifinal.
Of those 10 losses in Brockett’s tenure, five have come in the postseason and two in state finals — 2014 (Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 21-20) and 2015 (Bloomfield, 31-20).
His Chargers had a 48-game winning streak snapped Oct. 7, 2014, when they lost at Newtown, 14-8. That put the Chargers one win from tying the all-time Connecticut record of 49 set by Cheshire from 1991-96.
Ansonia currently holds a 24-game winning streak.
Heading into today’s matchup, Brockett doesn’t take anything for granted, even though the Chargers cruised to a 48-0 win over the Bulldogs a year ago in the Class S quarterfinals.
Running primarily out of a direct snap formation, the Bulldogs feature junior Colton Engel (1,824 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns). But Engel is also capable of an aerial attack, having thrown for 984 yards and 11 TDs. Jeff Kology has been the favorite target with 35 receptions for 488 yards and six TDs.
“Engel is the real deal,” said Brockett. “He presents problems because he can run and he can throw the ball good enough down the field. He’s a tough competitor. They have other good players who can run and catch the ball, but he’s the one who makes them go offensively.”
Defensively, the Bulldogs feature inside linebacker John Kopek, who has recorded 106 tackles, 14 for losses, and seven sacks.
“Kopek goes real hard to the football,” noted Brockett. “He’s a very good player. “They have a very good team and we will not take them lightly. We are not looking ahead to the championship game (against either St. Joseph or Rocky Hill on Dec. 9.).”
Kopek and the Bulldogs will be hard-pressed to handle the Chargers’ senior tailback, Markell Dobbs, who has rushed for 1,928 yards and 32 TDs this season. He had 404 yards and six TDs in a 46-28 win over Naugatuck on Thanksgiving, and followed that up with 232-yard, three-touchdown effort in a 51-16 Class S quarterfinal win over Seymour last Tuesday.
Reach Mark Jaffee at mjaffee@rep-am.com or follow him on Twitter @TheRealJaffman.

CLASS S SEMIFINAL CAPSULE

NO. 5 STAFFORD-SOMERS-EAST WINDSOR AT NO. 1 ANSONIA
When: Today, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Jarvis Stadium, Nolan Field, Ansonia
Records: Stafford/E. Windsor-Somers 10-1; Ansonia 11-0
Head coaches: Stafford (Brian Mazzone, third season, 23-9); Ansonia (Tom Brockett, 12th season, 147-10)
Key players
Stafford-Somers-East Windsor—Colton Engel, RB-SS, Jr.; Julian Rivas, WR-SB, Jr.; John Kopek, ILB, LS, Jr.; Jeff Kology, WR-SS, Jr.; Devon Labua, WR, Sr.; Cody Gebo, RB-OLB, Jr..
Ansonia—Markell Dobbs, RB-DB, Sr.; Cody Teodosio, TE-LB, Sr.; Alex Hernandez, OL-DL, Sr.; Justin Lopez, QB-DB, Sr.; Michael LaRovera, OL-DE, Sr.; Kolby Ortiz, OL-DL, Sr.
Last Tuesday’s quarterfinals: Ansonia 51, Seymour 16; Stafford/Somers/East Windsor 20, Bullard Havens 12.
Previous meeting: Ansonia 48, Stafford-East Windsor-Somers 0 (2016 Class S quarterfinal).
Of note: Dobbs has rushed for 1,929 yards and 32 TDs this season; Engel has rushed for 1,824 yards and 22 TDs and also thrown 11 TDs.
Mark Jaffee’s take: The Bulldogs were just happy to get to the playoffs last year and weren’t expected to be in the picture in 2017 with a large graduation loss. But they kept winning and getting better. Their only loss was to Coventry, a 24-7 decision in late October. Engel is their main offensive weapon, but others must help out and they can’t turn the ball over or have three-and-outs early in the game. Running the ball and using the clock is essential.
Prediction: Ansonia 48, Stafford 14

Desiree Parker scored 12 points and Ashley Nadeaei added 10 to lead the Cheshire Academy girls basketball team over Westover, 46-40, in the final of the Tip Off Classic on Saturday in Middlebury.
Westover’s Gabbie Dunn led all scorers with 18 points and was named tournament MVP with over 100 points in the tourney.
She scored 35 points in a 56-45 semifinal victory over Greens Farms Academy.
Taft 49, Rye Country Day 17: Amara Chidom, Kayla Robinson and Lauren Pelosi scored 11 points apiece as Taft (2-0) put together a 24-5 second half en route to the lopsided win.
Master’s 47, Forman 22: Courtney Schullery and Sophia Gadsden each scored six points for Forman (0-2).
BOYS BASKETBALL
Master’s 52, Chase 46: Jack Cook netted a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, but Chase Collegiate dropped its season opener.

TAFT 49, RYE COUNTRY DAY 17
Taft (2-0): Anna Csigirinszkij 0 0 0, Anna Koziol 0 0 0, Natalie Hodak 3 0 8, Kris Manfreda 1 0 3, Amara Chidom 4 3 11, Juliana Yamin 2 0 5, Kayla Robinson 5 1 11, Sam Chan 0 0 0, Lauren Pelosi 4 2 11, Kaia Whiteley 0 0 0. Totals: 19 6 49.
Rye (0-1): Mowicz 2 1 5, Cooper 1 0 2, Mandel 1 0 2, Jones 1 2 4, Yaffa 1 0 2, Bryeson 1 0 2. Totals: 7 3 17.
Halftime: T, 25-12
3-point goals: T—Hodak 2, Yamin 1, Pelosi 1, Manfreda 1.

MASTER’S 47, FORMAN 22
Forman (0-2): Courtney Schullery 2 1 6, Brady Garrity 1 0 3, Hailey Strauss 0 0 0, Grace Miller 1 0 2,
Annabelle Ford-Rippolone 0 0 0, Sarah Kothari 1 0 3, Addie Lamond 1 0 2, Sophia Gadsden 3 0 6,
Olivia Minor 0 0 0, Kseniya Kotova 0 0 0. Totals: 9 1 22.
Master’s (1-1): Savanna Yelling 5 4 15, Victoria Santiago 3 0 8, Alli Loftus 7 0 17, Elektra Cheney 1 3 5,
Lexi Allen 0 0 0, Hannah Aguilar 1 0 2, Nicole Allen 0 0 0. Totals: 17 7 47.
Halftime: M, 33-7.
3-point goals: F—Schullery 1, Kothari, 1, Garrity 1. M— Loftus 3, Santiago 2, Yelling 1.

WESTOVER TIP-OFF CLASSIC FINAL
CHESHIRE ACADEMY 46, WESTOVER 40
Westover (3-1): Maddie Therrien 0 0 0, Madison Burns 0 0 0, Katie Protzmann 3 0 6, Grace Bollard 2 1 6, Chaylee Mcadam 1 3 5, Gabbie Dunn 5 6 18, Natalie Calo 0 0 0, Kayla Surajnoth 0 0 0, Paige Carroll 0 0 0, Mia Izzi 2 1 5, Maddie Hurtgen. Totals: 13 11 40
Cheshire (4-0): Alexis Tolentino 0 0 0, Nadya Ponthempilly 0 0 0, Nia Hubbard 2 1 7, Livi Redding 1 2 4, Juliana Fazzino 2 0 5, Desiree Parker 5 2 12, Megan Olmstead 0 0 0, Bri Bravaro 1 0 2, Bella Brozder 0 0 0, Audrey Allen 0 0 0, Rachel Abraham 0 0 0, Ashley Nadeaei 3 2 10, Arceli Gonzalez 1 1 3, Kyla Raccio 1 0 3, Mia Tongas 0 0 0. Totals: 16 8 46
Halftime: C, 25-15.
3-point goals: W—Dunn 2, Bollard 1; C—Hubbard 2, Nadeaei 2, Fazzino 1, Raccio 1.

WESTOVER TIP-OFF CLASSIC SEMIFINAL
WESTOVER 56, GREENS FARMS ACADEMY 45
Westover (3-0): Maddie Therrien 0 0 0, Madison Burns 0 0 0, Katie Protzmann 0 0 0, Grace Bollard 1 0 2, Chaylee Mcadam 2 1 5, Gabbie Dunn 11 8 35, Natalie Calo 0 0 0, Kayla Surajnoth 1 0 2, Paige Carroll 0 2 2, Mia Izzi 3 2 8, Maddie Hurtgen 1 0 2. Totals: 19 13 56.
Greens Farms (2-1): Mary Grace Delasanti 0 0 0, Elyse Kimball 0 0 0, Isabella Litt 3 0 6, Hannah Kozdeba 0 0 0, Katherine Marcus 4 14 23, Sarah Peltier 1 0 3, Kelly Van Hoesen 0 1 1, Georgia Grabowski 4 2 12. Totals: 12 15 45.
Halftime: W, 24-17.
3-point goals: W—Dunn 5; G—Grabowski 2, Litt 1, Peltier 1.

MASTER’S 52, CHASE 46
Chase (0-1): Rub Jones 0 0 0, Justin Butler 3 2 8, Aneesh Avancha 2 1 6, Evan Harte 1 0 3, Jason Harte 0 0 0, Jamal Clarke 4 0 8, Jack Cook 9 0 21. Totals: 19 3 52.
Master’s (1-0): Ethan Oates 4 1 11, Andre Johnson Jr. 6 2 14, Isaih Fergusen 1 0 2, Joe Markelen 3 1 7, Trey Sabia 2 0 5, Matt House 3 0 10, Rob Shelansky 1 0 2. Totals: 20 4 46.
3-point goals: C—Cook 3, Avancha 1. M—Oates 2, Houde 2, Sabia 1.

No. 5 Stafford/East Windsor-Somers (10-1) at No. 1 Ansonia (11-0)

Class S semifinal

When: 12:30 p.m.

Where: Jarvis Stadium, Nolan Field, Ansonia

Head coaches: STS — EW (Brian Mazzone, third season, 23-9); Ansonia — Tom Brockett (12th season, 147-10)

Key players

Stafford-Somers-East Windsor: Colton Engel, RB-SS, Jr.; Julian Rivas, WR-SB, Jr.; John Kopek, ILB, LS, Jr.; Jeff Kology, WR-SS, Jr.; Devon Labua, WR, Sr.; Cody Gebo, RB-OLB, Jr.

Ansonia: Markell Dobbs, RB-DB, Sr.; Cody Teodosio, TE-LB, Sr.; Alex Hernandez, OL-DL, Sr.; Justin Lopez, QB-DB, Sr.; Michael LaRovera, OL-DE, Sr.; Kolby Ortiz, OL-DL, Sr.

Last Tuesday’s quarterfinals: Ansonia 51, Seymour 16; Stafford/Somers/East Windsor 20, Bullard Havens 12

Previous meeting: Ansonia 48, Stafford-East Windsor-Somers 0, 2016 Class S quarterfinal

Of note: Markell Dobbs has rushed for 1,929 yards and 32 TDs; Colton Engel has rushed for 1,824 yards and 22 TDs and also thrown 11 TDs.

[This post contains video, click to play]

Mark Jaffee’s take: The Bulldogs were just happy to get to the playoffs last year and weren’t expected to be in the picture in 2017 with a large graduation loss. But kept winning and getting better. The only loss was to Coventry, a 24-7 decision in late October. Colton Engel is their main offensive weapon, but others must help out and they can’t turn the ball over or have three and outs early in game. Running the ball and using clock is essential. Giving the ball to the Chargers’ QB Justin Lopez and TB Markell Dobbs and supporting cast of fullback Darwin Amaya and TE Cody Teodosio and WR Brent Washington would be a mistake.

Prediction: Ansonia 48, Stafford 14

Probable starters

By Mark Jaffee

ANSONIA – In the Ansonia High football program, being prepared and ready when you’re called upon is an absolute must.

Fifteen-year-old sophomore Tyler Cafaro grabbed a hold of that opportunity Sunday, and engineered the Chargers’ 52-19 win over Stafford/East Windsor/Somers in the CIAC Class S semifinals. The win puts Ansonia in the state championship game for the 31st time, as it will seek its 21st state title Saturday.

During pregame warmups and less than an hour before kickoff, Cafaro found out that he’d be taking snaps as quarterback for the Chargers in place of injured starter Justin Lopez. Lopez tweaked his right knee during a punt return drill toward the end of Saturday’s practice and was held out for precautionary measures.

Laying across a folding physical therapy table on the Chargers sideline was Lopez, with a set of crutches beside him. Wearing a stretched knee brace, along with pair of flip-flops, Lopez said he and the entire Ansonia squad had full confidence in Cafaro.

While Cafaro didn’t score a touchdown or even throw a pass, he managed the offense and played flawlessly with handoffs and pitches. As usual Markell Dobbs (three rushing TDs of 11, 18 and 54 yards) led the way while juniors Darwin Amaya and John Picheco and freshman Sheldon Schuler Jr. also scored.

“To be honest, I had no idea that I’d be playing until I got onto the field during warmups,” said Cafaro. “But when coach (Tom) Brockett told me, I focused on what I had to do and began taking a lot of snaps from our center Alex Hernandez. I actually wasn’t nervous.”

Hernandez agreed.

“Everything was fine,” said Hernandez. “We took about 30 snaps beforehand. Tyler looked very confident and we all were behind him and had his back. He played a great game.”

Right from the outset of the game, the Chargers took control, as sophomore Shaykeem Harmon recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff at the Stafford 35. Four plays later, Dobbs scored the first of three touchdowns. Dobbs ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 edge with 10:15 left in the quarter.

“That definitely eased my mind and calmed any nerves that I may have had,” said Cafaro.

Even when the Bulldogs’ Julien Rivas caught a 21-yard TD pass from Colton Engel, Cafaro and the Chargers didin’t flinch. Just when it looked liked the Bulldogs (11-2) would take the lead on a long passing play, Dobbs tracked down Rivas just before he hit the end zone and stripped the ball, as Ansonia sehior linebacker Taveius Winder recovered at the Chargers’ three.

“That was a huge play by Markell and I was in the right place at the right time,” said Winder. “You just have to be ready and take these opportunities when they come and grab a hold of them. That’s what we did and that’s what we always do.”

Ansonia junior fullback Darwin Amaya climaxed that drive with a 35-yard TD run and a 14-6 lead.

“That’s what you practice for,” said Amaya. “You never know when you will get your chance.”

The Chargers (12-0) would go on to score on seven straight possessions to take a 52-6 halftime lead and were aided by five Stafford turnovers. Brent Washington, John Picheco and Harmon all had interceptions – Harmon’s first interception of the season went for a 37-yard TD halfway through the second quarter. That came on the heels of Harmon’s 47-yard TD run.

“That’s a pretty good day all of the way around,” said Harmon. “I’ll remember this for a long time, especially the interception. When I caught the ball, all I saw was the end zone. It was a great view.”

The Chargers (12-0) advance into Saturday’s final against St. Joseph of Trumbull (11-1), a rematch of the 2010 title game when the Cadets beat the Chargers, 49-28, at Rentschler Field.

Reach Mark Jaffee at mjaffee@rep-am.com or follow him on Twitter@TheRealJaffman

ANSONIA 52, STAFFORD/EAST WINDSOR/SOMERS 19

Stafford 6 0 0 13 – 19

Ansonia 16 36 0 0 – 52

Scoring summary

Ansonia – Markell Dobbs 11 run (Dobbs run)

Stafford – Julien Rivas 21 pass from Colton Engel (bad snap, no PAT attempt)

Ansonia – Darwin Amaya 35 run (Dobbs run)

Ansonia – Markell Dobbs 18 run (Dobbs run)

Ansonia – Markell Dobbs 54 run (Dobbs run)

Ansonia – John Picheco 36 run (Shaykeem Harmon run)

Ansonia – Shaykeem Harmon 47 run (run failed)

Ansonia – Harmon 37 interception return (no PATattempt)

Stafford – Engel 20 run (Luke Philips kick)

Stafford – Rivas 10 pass from Engel (kick failed)

Individual statistics

Rushing: Stafford – Colton Engel 19-94; Anthony Pizimenti, 1-1. Ansonia – Markell Dobbs, 13-160; Darwin Amaya, 3-33; Shaykeem Harmon, 7-83; Sheldon Schuler Jr., 5-31; Tyler Cafaro, 4-10; Chicago Rivers, 3-5.

Passing: Stafford – Colton Engel, 6-of-20-3; Ansonia – Tyler Cafaro, no attempts.

Receiving: Stafford – Julien Rivas, 4-90; Devon Labua, 2-12.

Interceptions: Brent Washington, John Picheco, Shaykeem Harmon, all of Ansonia.

Fumble recoveries: Shaykeem Harmon, Taveius Winder, both of Ansonia.

Records: Stafford, 10-2; Ansonia 12-0.