In the Register preseason poll, I voted Masuk No. 1 because they had gone undefeated, won the Class L state title and were returning their two best players in Gatorade state player of the year and UConn-bound quarterback Casey Cochran and running back Colin Markus. Both were all-state picks last year as juniors. It was announced today that Cochran was a repeat winner.
I picked Xavier No. 2 because while they went undefeated and won the Class LL state title, all three of their all-state picks (Graham Stewart, Eric Mischke and Kosi Broderick) graduated.
The regular season is now complete and we're on to the semifinals of the state tournament.
And as long as Xavier wins the Class LL state title, I will be switching my vote regardless of what Masuk does from here on out. Xavier dominated in the tough SCC. The Falcons beat an 8-3 Notre Dame Class L playoff team 36-7. They beat a 5-5 Cheshire team -- which lost all five of its games to teams with a combined record of 45-8 -- by a final score of 42-20. They beat an 8-2 Shelton team 27-0 and a 5-5 Fairfield Prep team 35-0. They beat defending Class M champion Hillhouse (7-3) 35-7. They called off the dogs to avoid 50-point wins over Foran, Amity and Hamden. But they also called off the dogs to avoid 50-point wins over 7-3 West Haven (up 40-6 at halftime) and 6-4 Middletown on Thanksgiving.
And then they destroyed Glastonbury in the Class LL quarterfinals (up 34-0 going into the fourth quarter).
So while Xavier was giving everyone every reason to vote them No. 1, Masuk was doing nothing to lose its supporters. Granted the Panthers' schedule of Oxford (3-7), New Fairfield (3-7), Stratford (2-8), Barlow (3-7), Notre Dame-Fairfield (1-9), Immaculate (0-10), New Milford (5-5), Pomperaug (8-2), Weston (7-3) and Newtown (9-2) combined for a 41-60 record, features four Class S schools and just one of the other 30 playoff teams, but Masuk still won every single game by at least five touchdowns.
All you can do is beat the teams on your schedule, and that's what Masuk has done all year. It still is a pretty incredible stat that the five teams Cheshire lost to combined for four more wins than the 10 teams Masuk played.
Then Super Tuesday came, along with torrential rain and wind to slow down Cochran. But North Haven was tied with Masuk in the fourth quarter without completing a pass. I understand the weather was not conducive to throwing the ball, but how many points would North Haven put up on Xavier without a completing a pass? I'll give you a hint. It would be the same as the number of completions.
North Haven is a very good team. They are hard-nosed, athletic and physical. But I don't think they would hang with Xavier. The Indians' only loss before Tuesday was to Notre Dame, and the Green Knights got blown out by Xavier. But so has everyone else. And I think Masuk would join that club, but the schedule and class breakdown will leave that up to debate forever.
Looking back, I should have voted Xavier No. 1 in the first poll. Masuk finally gave me a reason to vote Xavier No. 1 in the final poll.
Unless, of course, Norwalk, Staples or Newtown go out and prove me right all along.