Health & Fitness
Tigers Travel to Cheshire Tonight
Friday, October 11, 2013
Tonight at 7pm the Daniel Hand Tiger Football Team (3-1) will look avoid a letdown tonight after last weeks's big win against North Haven. They will face the Cheshire Rams (2-2) at the Maclary Complex.
In a game where Hand was thought to be the underdog, the Tigers looked like their old selves last Friday and manhandled the North Haven Indians and their bruising single-wing offense. Hand took the opening kick and put together their best offensive drive of the night, 71 yards in 14 plays, capped with a 19 yard TD pass from Nick van Dell to Tim D’Annolfo. From there on out the Hand defense controlled the game and North Haven found themselves unable to stage a comeback. This is the same North Haven team that put up 42 points in a win over Xavier two weeks earlier. Final score, Hand 21 - North Haven 6. See recap from GametimeCT.com
Cheshire's two wins came against their neighbors in Wallingford. They blew away Lyman Hall 47-7, but needed a blocked PAT in overtime to beat Sheehan last week 28-27. Their losses came against West Haven 20-48 in week three, and they dropped their FCIAC Challenge opener against Ridgefield 14-17.
The Tigers have shown improvement each week. The defense was especially sharp last week. Sophomore Nick van Dell has taken over the starting quarterback duties and has shown spurts of outstanding play, but the offense stalled on several possessions and needs to become more consistent. The philosophy behind the no huddle spread offense is to wear down the defense. But, if your offense keeps going three and out and only uses two minutes of clock, the only defense getting worn out is your own.
The Tigers will go in to tonight's game as the favorite, but this is still Cheshire, an SCC Division I East opponent on their home field. It would be wise to not take them lightly. Ask North Haven.
PATCH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Reid Sweitzer had an outstanding night punting the ball and giving his team field position advantage, but Tommy Wilson is the POTW for his interception and 35 yard TD return to put the Tigers up 14-0 in the second quarter
AROUND THE SCC
Guilford was leading West Haven 14-7 at halftime last week, but it didn't last as the Westies came out and scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to win 42-14. West Haven and Notre Dame meet tonight for what used to be known as the "Battle of West Haven," but it is now named the "Soderman Bowl" after a local West Haven war hero. This will be a fundraiser for the Wounded Warriors Foundation.
Shelton (4-0) is the new power in the SCC. They are ranked #7 in both the media and coaches poll. They will meet Fairfield Prep (3-1) tonight in the SCC Game of the Week. The Tigers will see FP next week and travel to Shelton in two weeks.
If you can't make it to Cheshire tonight, the game will be broadcast live over the internet at TigerPrideFootball.com . If you do watch, please consider making a donation to that website to help keep these live streaming games online.
