Are the Tigers Prepped for Prep?

Friday, October 18, 2013

The Daniel Hand Tiger Football team (4-1) will host the Jesuits of Fairfield Prep (4-1) tonight at 7 pm at the Surf Club.

The Tigers won their fourth straight game last Friday at Cheshire.  Sophomore QB Nick van Dell threw for close to three hundred yards with three TD passes. He also ran one in for a fourth TD.  Senior RB Conor Dowd  had 132 yards rushing. The final score was Hand 35 - Cheshire 24.  

Despite the win, Coach Steve Filippone was not entirely pleased with the team's performance.  In his post-game remarks he cited many mistakes and missed opportunities that failed to put the game away when they had the chance. Cheshire stopped two deep drives, intercepting one ball in the end zone and stripping the ball from a receiver at the five yard line.  Instead of first and goal from the five for Hand, Cheshire then took possession and turned it into a long 95 yard drive for a score.  Hand played well enough to win this game, but Coach Filippone reminded them that they were about to enter the toughest part of their schedule and improvements will be necessary to win again.

Caution: Bumpy Road Ahead

This next four week stretch for Hand will be brutal; #8 Fairfield Prep (4-1), at #15 Shelton (4-1), #10 Xavier (4-1), at #12 West Haven (4-1).  This will be the toughest schedule played by any Connecticut high school football team this year.  That's the bad news.  The good news is, if you can win a few of these games, you'll get some valuable playoff points.  

Fairfield Prep's only loss came on a last second play by St. Joseph's of Trumbull in week 2.  Last week they prevailed over previously ranked Shelton 38-28. That win propelled the Jesuits into a top ten ranking for the first time in many years. The scouting report on Prep says that they are huge.  QB Colton Smith ran behind that huge O line for 208 yards on 17 carries against Shelton. The Hand defense will be on the spot again tonight.  

Patch Player of the Week

Yes Nick van Dell had a good night, and Tom Wilson had a pair of TD catches in the first half, but Conor Dowd is the POTW for his 130+ yard rushing performance.  So many of those yards came after the first contact.   

Around the SCC

Xavier will travel to West Haven tonight.  WH coach Ed McCarthy would tie the career record for wins if the Blue Devils should prevail.  This could be West Haven's best chance in many years to get that elusive win over Xavier. 

Around the State

Ansonia running back Arkeel Newsome became the state's leading career rusher Thursday night as Ansonia blasted Masuk 56-21.  Newsome had 396 yards on 26 carries with six touchdowns on the night.  The previous record of 8,279 yards was held by another Ansonia back, Alex Thomas.  

The strangest match-up of the night... New Canaan hosting Chicopee, MA.  Chicopee is not exactly a football power from Massachusetts.  Was there no one in CT willing to schedule them?  Maybe Don Bosco Prep in NJ was busy?