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Killingly Hosts Sheehan in Key Class SS Battle

Posted on by Vaseline
Killingly Hosts Sheehan in Key Class SS Battle

Week 3 of the 2024 football season will feature a marquee ECC-SCC Connecticut Football Alliance matchup between playoff contenders Killingly and Sheehan; a third straight Alliance matchup, the second against an FCIAC opponent, for Norwich Free Academy; a pair of CTC-ECC games as Thames River and Quinebaug Valley once again find themselves in tough water; and a pair of ECC crossover games as ECC DIII underdogs Plainfield and Griswold-Wheeler take on ECC Division II opponents Woodstock Academy and Windham.

Here are the stats and predictions for this week:

Woodstock Academy in Plainfield

When: Friday, 6:00 PM

Where: Plainfield HS Lower Athletic Complex

Archive: Woodstock Academy 1-1; Plainfield 1-1

Last week: Woodstock Academy lost to Stonington, 59-26; Plainfield lost to Ledyard, 42-0.

Last season: The teams did not play against each other.

The skinny one: Plainfield will have some initial struggles as they return to the ECC after two seasons as an independent. The battered Panthers are a hard-charging team that will enjoy the pain and get better as the season progresses.

Prediction: Woodstock Academy 35, Plainfield 14

Stonington at Quinebaug Valley

When: Friday, 6:00 PM

Where: St. Marie Greenhalgh Sports Complex, Putnam HS

Archive: Stoneton 1-1; Quinebaug Valley 0-1

Last week: Stonington defeated Woodstock Academy 59-26; Quinebaug Valley did not play.

Last season: The teams did not play against each other.

The skinny one: The Pride got a bye week when their game against Bullard Havens was moved to Oct. 18. The extra week of practice should benefit Quinebaug, who showed they can move the ball in their opener against Plainfield two weeks ago. Still, it’s never easy when a CTC team wades into ECC waters. The Bears bounced back last week after a season opener they finished with a thumping against Killingly.

Prediction: Stonington 42, Quinebaug Valley 12

The Thames at New London

When: Friday, 6:00 PM

Where: Pat Cannamela Field, New London HS

Archive: Thames 0-2; New London 0-2

Last week: Thames River lost to NW United 39-14; New London lost to Windham 42-28.

Last season: The teams did not play against each other.

The skinny one: Another CTC-ECC battle. I have a feeling the Whalers will be a little grumpy after losing their first two games to Daniel Hand (Madison) and Windham. The Crusaders wrap up a brutal three-game series here (Ledyard, NW United, New London) to open the season. Craig Sylvester’s club returns to CTC play on Oct. 11 against Cheney Tech.

Prediction: New London 49, Thames 14

Fairfield Warde at Norwich Free Academy

When: Friday, 6:30 PM

Where: NFA Artificial Grass Field

Archive: Fairfield Warde 1-1; NFA 0-2

Last week: Fairfield Warde lost to New Canaan 41-7; NFA lost to Bunnell 58-0.

Last season: The teams did not play against each other.

The skinny one: This is the third straight Connecticut Football Alliance game for NFA, and it will be interesting to see how the Wildcats respond after being outscored 111-7 in their first two games. After winning the opener against Harding, Warde faced the state’s No. 1 team a week ago. The Mustangs also have a first-year head coach (Christian Parisi) looking to turn around a program that went 1-9 last year, albeit in the football-rich FCIAC. Expect a better performance from the Wildcats this week, even if it may not show on the scoreboard.

Prediction: Fairfield Warde 36, NFA 18

More: Football Preview: Killingly Ready for Race for Class SS Crown

Sheehan at Killingly

When: Friday, 6:30 PM

Where: Morgan Field, Killingly HS

Archive: Sheehan 2-0; Deadly 2-0

Last week: Sheehan defeated Xavier 31-28; Killingly defeated East Lyme 49-0.

Last season: The teams did not play against each other.

The skinny one: Eyes from across the state will be watching this top-tier ECC-SCC Connecticut Football Alliance showdown between two teams expected to play in December. Killingly’s Chad Neal and Sheehan’s John Ferrazzi have built themselves into playoff contenders. Sheehan won the Class S state title in 2019, while Killingly captured Class M state crowns in 2017 and 2021. The Titans currently sit fifth in the Class SS playoff ratings, while Killingly sits sixth. The Quiet Corner will be rocking as both teams attempt to make a statement early in the season.

Prediction: Deadly 31, Sheehan 24

More: Football Preview: Griswold-Wheeler Ready for Rebuilding Process

Griswold/Wheeler at Windham

When: Friday 7:00 PM

Where: Ferrignoveld, Windham HS

Archive: Griswold Wheeler 1-1; Windham 2-0

Last week: Griswold-Wheeler defeated Montville 42-19; ​​Windham defeated New London 42-28.

Last season: Windham won 12-6.

The skinny one: A bit of revenge factor for the Wolverines, whose only loss during a dream 9-1 season last year came in a setback to Windham. The Mustangs return nine starters on both offense and defense from a team that lost to Sheehan in the Class S quarterfinals, and Randall Prose’s club was impressive with quality wins over Notre Dame Prep and New London. Tough ECC crossover game for the rebuilding Wolverines.

Prediction: Windham 33, Griswold Wheeler 20

Last week: 5-0

General: 9-1

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