October 7, 2008 - Ray Curren - Elm City Nwspapers - Billy Ragone got himself a rare, but well-deserved rest last Friday night when his Cheshire football team grabbed a 33-6 lead over previously undefeated Wilbur Cross. The Rams’ quarterback-defensive back-kicker (more on that in a minute)-assistant coach had already put up 333 total yards (271 of them in the first half) and intercepted a pass, which is basically a weekly occurrence for the senior.
“It was a little different than the last three games, that’s for sure, with the overtimes and close games,” Ragone said. “It was nice to get a little rest.” One series after Ragone had apparently called it a night, though, with the ball resting on his own 1-yard line, Governors quarterback Dontay Long – held to just 16 yards passing to that point – found speedy Maurice Morrison behind the Ragone-less defense for a 99-yard touchdown pass. “I definitely got on them a little for that,” Ragone said. Ragone’s rest – at least on defense – was over, Cross never got another first down and Cheshire had a much-needed 33-14 victory.
It’s only four weeks into the 2008 season, but Ragone is proving to be the most valuable – if not the best – player in the SCC. The numbers are not completely eye-popping, but they are good: he has carried 66 times for 389 yards (this despite sacks counting against his rushing totals in high school) and completed 69-of-129 passes for 752 yards, throwing for nine touchdowns an three interceptions, which is the same number of picks he has this season (after bagging eight last season).
But, like many great players, his true value is not in pure statistics. It’s his value to the team, the never definable intangibles and leadership that make him such a needed commodity. “He’s a gifted player, he’s certainly the money man for our team on both sides of the ball,” Cheshire coach Mark Ecke said. “He just does everything well.” After his team struggled with their kicking game in a 35-34 overtime loss to Shelton two weeks ago, Ragone decided to try his hand at it – and it turned out he was pretty good.
His style leaves plenty to be desired, but his right-footed (he throws left-handed), straight on kicking style was 3-for-5 on extra points against Cross (one was blocked). “We’ve had some good studs here in the past, but I’m not sure any of them have ever been kickers,” Ecke said.
Ragone, with good grades and nothing but respect from almost every opponent, appears to be headed to an Ivy League school, although Army, Navy, and Temple are all in the running. If Ragone has one regret, it’s that he has not been able to lead Cheshire back to the playoffs where they were a fixture in the early days of the SCC.
As Ragone rumbled 73 yards for his second touchdown of the night just five minutes into last Friday’s game, the side judge on my side of the field said to no one in particular, “This team is 1-2?”
Cheshire blew an early 20-6 lead against Hamden and led Shelton 20-7 at halftime before falling in overtime, which is painful enough. But the Rams also had some troubling defeats in Ragone’s sophomore and junior seasons, playing well at the end of both campaigns, but finishing with identical 6-4 records, well out of playoff contention. And although they have lost to what could best the SCC’s best (Hamden and Shelton) this season, Cheshire finds itself 16th in the Class LL playoff standings when only the top four advance after Thanksgiving.
“If we win out, we still might have a chance to get in,” Ragone said. “That’s what we have to focus on. It’s out of our hands. We have a tough schedule, but so do a lot of people in this conference.”
Indeed, that tough schedule may give the Rams a fighting chance for the postseason if they win out. Their crossover games (Sheehan and North Haven) should give them plenty of points, and Southington on Thanksgiving would as well. Of course, that means they have to win those games, and games against Hand, West Haven, and Fairfield Prep (who is still smarting from a 42-7 whooping at the hands of Cheshire last season).
But the way Cheshire has closed seasons in the last few years (just ask Southington), counting them out may be something you do at your own peril. After all, Ragone can rest when the season is over.
WAKE UP CALL: The alarm bells went off a little bit late for Hillhouse and West Haven last week, but once they went off, it was bad news for their opponents.
After Andrew Luzzi found George Gerosa with a 25-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, Branford had a 13-0 lead on Hillhouse, and hopes of an upset were dancing in the Hornets’ heads.
Not for long, though. After the Academics scored twice to grab the lead back, Jeremy Moore- before this season known more for his basketball prowess – returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown. Hillhouse added a pair of second-half touchdowns and got out of Branford with what looked like a decisive 35-13 victory. With games against Shelton, Fairfield Prep, and Wilbur Cross lurking down the road, the Acs can’t afford too many such sluggish starts.
Meanwhile, in the battle of winless teams in West Haven, the Blue Devils were down 14-0 late in the first quarter to cross-town rival Notre Dame, and the Green Knights had the ball back looking to add to the advantage.
Riiiiiiing. West Haven picked up a defensive touchdown to cut the lead in half and then proceeded to manhandle Notre Dame in the second quarter, scoring four rushing touchdowns en route to a 36-14 halftime lead, and the competitive part of the game was over.
The Blue Devils went on to a 43-14 rout for their first win of the season, but – like Cheshire – appear to be one of those squads that could be extremely dangerous as the season progresses, starting with a game at Hand Friday night. But with only 10 games instead of 11 on the schedule, their road to the playoffs may be much more difficult than other two-loss squads.
EXTRA POINTS: It’s a long SCC trip from Shelton to Middletown, but it seems to be even longer for Shelton in its recent history. Again, the Gaels were upended by Xavier, this time 21-14 last Friday, despite the Falcons getting just 123 yards of offense. It makes this week’s game with Hamden even bigger for Shelton, who cannot afford another defeat …
Is it me, or has the language on the sidelines deteriorated over the last few years? It seems more coaches (and assistant coaches) are not afraid to curse out their teams on the sidelines, audible for anyone in the vicinity to hear. I’m not going to make that big a deal out of it, but it does seem rather unnecessary with impressionable high school kids …
Amity will apparently have to do without running back Jason Royster for the rest of the season, and it has left their offense one-dimensional in the last couple of weeks. Of course, it was the defense that was most of the problem in a 48-26 loss to Hamden, who led 34-6 at the half …
After a couple of thrilling weeks, Week 4 has to be considered somewhat of a dud with very few close games. In fact, outside of the Xavier-Shelton contest, there were no games decided by less than two touchdowns. Could it be coincidence that the first of the crossover games were played last week? …
Hamden sits atop the Class LL standings and would be the top seed if the playoffs were to begin today. It’s only Week 4, but it has to bring a smile to anyone involved with or rooting for the Dragons.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Will Tye, Xavier – Talk about taking things into your own hands: Tye scored all three touchdowns in Xavier’s 21-14 upset of Shelton in three different ways. Tye first scored on a punt return, then caught a touchdown pass and conversion, and finished it off with an interception return (he had another one called back, too). Usually the “Will Tye” chant is reserved for basketball games, but it was in full effect at Palmer Field last week.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Hamden at Shelton, Friday, 7 p.m. – Not much trouble making the choice this week, as the undefeated Dragons look to finish off their early season Division I minefield with what might be the toughest obstacle. You’d have to consider Hamden a favorite to make the playoffs if they can post a win here. The Gaels, however, should be rather angry after losing to Xavier last week and need a victory desperately.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 11
Number of passes that Foran’s Jake White threw last week, by far a season low. The reason why is that they didn’t need to throw, as the Lions’ Tyler Hames ran for 265 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 carries, and added an 80-yard kickoff return for a score as Foran obliterated East Haven 54-17. Two of Hames’ touchdown runs did come in the second half with the outcome already decided, however.
POWER RANKINGS
1) Hillhouse (4-0, Last Week 1) – Haven’t been really convincing against D-II teams, but still here.
2) Hamden (4-0, LW 3) – Even their most faithful fans probably can’t believe they’re undefeated.
3) Shelton (3-1, LW 2) – All of the sudden really need this game against Hamden on Friday night.
4) Cheshire (2-2; LW 6) – Rams may get themselves on a roll here, but will it be too late?
5) West Haven (1-2, LW 7) – Chance to get the Blue Devils may already be here and gone.
6) Fairfield Prep (2-1: LW 5) – Beat up on Law and topped Notre Dame, but tougher games ahead.
7) Wilbur Cross (3-1, LW 4) – Were never really in the Cheshire game, but should be 6-1 in three weeks.
8) Xavier (3-1, LW 9) – Take out the Cross defeat, and the Falcons’ resume looks really, really good.
9) Hand (2-2; LW 8) – May be able to get themselves back in playoff contention by beating Westies.
10) Branford (2-2, LW 12) – Hornets will get a few more wins before the 2008 season is complete.
11) North Haven (2-2, LW 14) – Reigning division champs get to put their crown on the line Friday.
12) Amity (1-3, LW 10) – Spartans don’t appear to be headed anywhere in Division I very fast.
13) Notre Dame (0-3, LW 11) – Green Bowl opponents headed in completely different directions.
14) Sheehan (3-1, LW 13) – Titans not quite ready to step up into the Division I world quite yet.
15) Jonathan Law (2-2, LW 15) – Prep score was better than last year, but still not too good for Lawmen.
16) Guilford (2-2, LW 16) – We told you they were still a pretty good Division II team, and they showed it.
17) Foran (3-1, LW 17) – Things get a lot tougher for Lions with North Haven and West Haven coming.
18) Lyman Hall (2-2, LW 18) – Been blanked and outscored 67-0 in their two losses this season.
19) East Haven (0-4, LW 19) – Yellowjackets just might be circling the Derby game on schedule.
20) Derby (1-3, LW 20) – Red Raiders just might be circling the East Haven game on schedule.
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