SportingNewsCT.com

Even though I was only 11 years old, I remember it well. It was my first year of Youth Basketball, and quite frankly, our team wasn’t very good. One Saturday morning, we played one of the best teams in the league, and it wasn’t pretty. I still remember the score: 77-11, although I don’t remember whether there was any “running up the score” involved.

I do remember, though, our frustrated coach coming into the locker room after the game. What do you say to a bunch of little kids who just got beat by 66 points? He looked at us and said, “Every dog has his day. Obviously, today was not ours. But, mark my words, you will have yours.”

Two years later, in a league designed to be balanced, our team was older and more experienced, and we were league champions. Coach Tony was prophetic. Unfortunately, the world of high school athletics is often not-so-forgiving. Programs that are down often stay down, while programs that have a winning tradition often just keep on winning. For instance, Greenwich has not lost more than three games in a season since the 1960s. Meanwhile, in the same conference, former Wilbur Cross coach Dennis Wanzie led Bassick to an upset of Harding last week, and it was Bassick’s first win in six years. Bassick and Greenwich rarely play in football anymore, but imagine losing anything 62 times in a row. Would you be able to keep playing with the same intensity you did the first time?

Therefore, although we’re not supposed to root in the media business, it’s hard not to smile when you a team like Jonathan Law, and to a lesser extent, North Haven, in the hunt for a state title. Because those two programs have seen the other side (Law was 0-10 in 2004, while North Haven went 0-10 a year later) and it makes the success they are now enjoying that much more sweet.

Three years ago, I‘ll admit it, I saw the Jonathan Law football team only once. It was their first year in the SCC, they didn‘t have a home field, and - because they were playing their games at Foran - they had a few Saturday night games. With nothing else on the schedule and Law hosting Amity, I figured it was a good chance to see just how poor the Lawmen were. And the answer was: pretty bad. Amity beat them 61-0 that night, and when fullback Dan Gryzwacz - one of the best fullbacks in the conference, but not exactly the Spartans‘ speed back - ran 84 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter on a dive play, let‘s just say Amity might have been able to score 100 if it wanted to. So, three years later, as we sit with one game remaining, and Law is sitting at 8-1, coming off a rather dominating 36-8 win over defending Class M champion Hillhouse, you can see why some people regard Law as the “new money” of the SCC.

Many times, teams play the “respect” card even if they are well respected, but there is something about Jonathan Law that people around the league don’t seem to have a real high opinion of.

Maybe it’s the way they play: they don’t do anything really fancy, they just block well and are generally stronger than most of the teams on their schedule. Maybe it was the 42-0 loss that Fairfield Prep handed the Lawmen in Week 2, Law’s only defeat. Maybe it’s the Division II schedule they play on a weekly basis. Maybe it’s just petty jealousy, as Law was able to turn the table on opponent after opponent that pummeled them three years ago. Law won the Division II West title by beating Hillhouse, and while the divisions don’t mean a whole lot under the current setup, it was Law’s first football title of any kind since 1981. But the truth is this, folks: You can believe what you want to believe, but Law is good, and will not be a pushover in the Class M playoffs. If it can get in, of course, and the Lawmen are going to need a little help, even if they beat Foran on Thanksgiving (see the next item).

“One of my dreams when I got this job was I wanted to leave something here, for the program, not just for myself,” Law coach Mark Robinson said. “It’s phenomenal. For everything this program has been through in seven years, it’s awesome. It’s kind of like ‘look at us now’.”

Meanwhile, North Haven doesn’t seem to rub quite as many people the wrong way, but their inaugural appearance in the state playoffs (Class MM) would be just as surprising. In fact, if it weren’t for a last-second defeat the Law in the opener, the Indians might be in the playoffs already.

Like Law, though, North Haven’s 7-2 mark is no fluke. The Indians won both of their crossover games, beating Cheshire and Wilbur Cross - two of the hotter teams in Division I right now, and have played about half the season with a backup quarterback after starter Jeff Bartek suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4’s victory over Cheshire.

North Haven will also need a little help, but also faces a stiffer test on Thanksgiving against Division I Amity. But the Indians beat the Spartans last season, and with a playoff berth on the line, I’m not picking against them. In fact, I’ll be rooting for them, too. Take nothing away from what teams and programs like Hand, West Haven, Shelton, and Hillhouse have done over the last decade or so the SCC has been alive. All four of those teams have multiple playoff appearances and at least one state title.

But this season, I’ll root for Law and North Haven. After what those programs have gone through, especially Law, in the last few years, they deserve to have some success. They deserve to have their day.

PLAYOFF POINTS BREAKDOWN: Break out the abacus once again and follow me through a condensed version of the playoff points scenario as it relates to the SCC.

In Class LL, Shelton will go to the postseason for the second straight year if it beats Derby on Thanksgiving. The Gaels could still get a home game if Southington loses to Cheshire or Greenwich loses to Staples.

Things are a little bit trickier for Fairfield Prep, who must beat West Haven and then get someone else to lose, or somehow outpoint one-loss Bridgeport Central. If Greenwich loses to Staples, there’s a chance the Jesuits could outpoint them and sneak in, but it’s not likely. So it’s not looking good, but stranger things have happened.

In Class MM, Hand has not only clinched a playoff berth, but has also clinched the top seed and a home game in two weeks. North Haven currently stands fifth, but with a win over Amity the night before Thanksgiving, the Indians can go out and root for a few scenarios, the most likely of which is their conference brethren Xavier beating Middletown to push them in. Ellington, in fourth, is also vulnerable, with Avon and Tolland still on the schedule. New Canaan also has Darien on Thanksgiving, so there’s plenty of hope for the Indians, who actually could draw Hand in a first-round game if they finish fourth. Believe it or not, North Haven could even lose to Amity and get in if Ellington loses twice, but that’s not terribly likely.

Finally, in Class M, Law is also fifth, but definitely needs to beat Foran on Thanksgiving. The Lawmen then need help from one of two sources: either Fitch has to beat Ledyard or New Britain has to topple Weaver. Both teams Law is rooting for has a good shot, but Fitch and New Britain have both been eliminated from playoff contention, meaning motivation might be an issue. Weaver is at New Britain Friday night for those that feel like making the drive. Oh, and New Britain wears maroon and their nickname is the Hurricanes if you want to make signs. Just letting you know.

EXTRA POINTS: North Haven has scored 136 points in its last two games, but they nearly scored too many in last week’s wacky 75-26 win over Derby (yea, do the math - 49 points). The Indians led 48-0 at the half, and Derby scored 20 points to start the second half to apparently put coach Tony Sagnella out of danger. But North Haven, with names even the more ardent followers of the SCC has never heard of, put four more touchdowns on the board - one of them was a fumble return and took a 75-20 lead (uh oh) before Derby scored again late to make it 75-26. Can we lose this rule already? …

Wasn’t Notre Dame thinking playoffs a few weeks ago? The lackluster Green Knights lost their fourth straight, this time to Wilbur Cross, 7-6, with no points being scored in the second half. ND now goes into Thanksgiving just trying to crawl back to .500, but they better watch themselves against Hamden …

Actually, I’ve got an idea, let Notre Dame play the first half of the season, and then switch them with Cheshire for the second. The Rams, after a 1-3 start, are rolling, beating up on West Haven, 42-20, to complete its city sweep. One of the big reasons for the resurgence was Mark Schmidt coming back from injury. For the record, Cheshire has beaten Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame, and West Haven, and scored 124 points in the process. In most conferences, that’s a playoff year, but in the SCC, it gets you 5-4. Oh, and they play unbeaten Southington on Thanksgiving …

North Haven-Amity and Hand-Guilford will play on Wed., Nov. 21, but the other nine SCC games will be on Thanksgiving. Weather permitting, of course, as we’ve found in the past.

GAME OF THE WEEK North Haven at Amity, Wednesday, 6 p.m. - North Haven seems to have all the motivation in this game, but remember that the Indians beat the Spartans last season, which didn‘t sit all that well Amity to end last season. Amity just has the role of spoiler to play again this year, but they have shown signs they can play with the best in the SCC. Meanwhile, the Indians, 0-10 just two years ago, may have just this hurdle left for a berth in the state playoffs.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Wilbur Cross defense - We couldn‘t really narrow it down this week, so we gave the award to the entire defense, which completely shut down Notre Dame for most of the game in a 7-6 road win for the Governors, holding the Green Knights to just 50 yards rushing and 150 total yards. Since allowing 55 points in its first two games, Wilbur Cross has not allowed more than 15 points in any contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 19

Number of carries Shelton‘s Geoff Schultz had in the Gaels‘ 49-20 rout of Hamden last week. Schultz had 88 carries in the two games prior and the game was a good chance for the coaching staff to spread the wealth. Shelton had eight different ball carriers and should get Andre Henderson back for Derby on Thanksgiving.

POWER RANKINGS

1) Hand (9-0, Last Week 1) -- Had a nice calm contest for once, wrapped up top seed in Class MM.

2) Shelton (8-1, LW 2) -- Looks like Gaels are heading toward the postseason, barring shocker.

3) Fairfield Prep (7-2, LW 3) -- Odds aren‘t real great, but they still have a chance at least.

4) Jonathan Law (8-1, LW 4) -- Don‘t see Foran being able to stop the Lawmen too many times.

5) North Haven (7-2, LW 6) -- Really looks like a win over Amity will put them in playoffs.

6) Cheshire (5-4, LW 8) -- Southington has to be scratching their heads at how well Rams playing.

7) Hillhouse (6-3, LW 5) -- Have all the look of a team that‘s a year away from something good.

8) Xavier (5-4, LW 7) -- Could do their SCC brothers North Haven a world of good with victory.

9) Amity (5-4, LW 9) -- Thought they would have represented a little better last week against Prep.

10) Wilbur Cross (3-5-1, LW 13) -- Hillhouse game has no playoff implications, but a great game.

11) Notre Dame (4-5, LW 10) -- Not exactly the most scintillating Green Bowl this time around.

12) West Haven (3-6, LW 11) -- Wins came over Derby, Sheehan, and Hamden this year. Yikes.

13) Guilford (5-3-1, LW 12) -- Can the Indians topple Hand for the second season in a row?

14) Hamden (1-6-2, LW 14) -- Still 0-15-2 against anyone not named Cheshire in last two years.

15) Derby (3-6, LW 15) -- After big win, offered little resistance for North Haven last Friday.

16) Lyman Hall (3-6, LW 16) -- Almost impossible to call Lyman Hall-Sheehan Thanksgiving game.

17) Sheehan (2-6-1, LW 17) -- Would like to at least salvage something by beating Lyman Hall.

18) Branford (1-7-1, LW 18) -- At least they have a pretty good chance to win one against East Haven.

19) Foran (2-7, LW 19) -- Can‘t move them up too far, even though they have two more wins than ‘06.

20) East Haven (0-9, LW 20) -- At least the Yellowjackets got on the board first last week.