Week 4 of high school football in the Farmington Valley sees undefeated Farmington (3-0) looking for its 15th win in 16 games dating back to 2010 when they host RHAM Friday night at the high school. Simsbury (2-1) also hosts struggling South Windsor on Friday night at 7 p.m. On Saturday, undefeated Avon (3-0) travels to face an up and coming Canton team (2-1) that hasn’t allowed a point in two games. Granby (1-1) hosts Ellington/Somers and Lewis Mills (0-2) visits Coginchaug in Durham.
Friday, Oct. 5
South Windsor (0-3) at Simsbury (2-1), 7 p.m. This will be an opportunity for Simsbury to earn a victory if they can remain focused and cut down on mistakes. Simsbury lost four fumbles in last week’s 14-7 loss to Manchester. QB Steven Steijn leads the Simsbury offense and its triple option veer. Brad Helmkamp, Blair Zentek and Cormack Mulshine are the main threats for the Trojans. South Windsor has struggled to score points with just seven in three games and 116 points allowed. Eric Barrett is the top rusher for the Bobcats, who have rushed for a total of 195 yards in three games and have completed just 8-of-29 passes for 121 yards this season.
RHAM (1-2) at Farmington (3-0), 7 p.m. A new Farmington offense with Kenny Jones being moved from receiver to QB had a successful debut in a 35-28 win over Bristol Central last week. Jones can make things happen throwing the ball – he was 8-of-11 for 133 yards and 2 TDs – or by running the ball (13-150, 1 TD). He is also part of a stout defense that bent but didn’t break against Central. RHAM earned its first win of the season Saturday in a 36-16 win over winless Bulkley after scoring just 13 points in losses to Bristol Eastern and Hartford Public.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Avon (3-0, 3-0 Pequot Uncas) at Canton (2-1, 2-1), 3 p.m. Canton has won two straight games and hasn’t allowed a point in two games, something that the Warriors haven’t accomplished since 1957. QB Eric Scott completed 9-of-13 passes for 103 yards and a TD in last week’s 40-0 win over Housatonic/Wamogo. Kyle Mullins rambled for a season-high 102 yards and 2 TDs but the Warrior running game is a combination of Mullins, Dan Delos and Jesse LaChance. Defensively, LB Henry Bonini, Delos and Patrick Lawler have been playing well. Canton will have to try and stop Avon’s speedy back Colin Moore and contend with a strong defensive line. Moore has rushed for over 600 yards and 11 TDs in just three games. But the Falcons also have hard-running Mitch Cappello and QB Noah Hahn, who is a better passer this year. Focus and disciplined play will be the key for the Falcons who ran just nine offensive plays in the second half of a 42-19 win over SMSA/University on Monday. Of course, a 28-0 halftime lead was very helpful.
Lewis Mills (0-2, 0-2 Pequot Sassacus) at Coginchaug-Durham (1-1, 1-1), 1 p.m. The Spartans are looking to get their offense into gear after two difficult losses to Cromwell (47-14) and Morgan (40-6). Sophomore QB Justin Pease starts at QB for Mills with senior Thomas Kysar as the team’s leading rusher and receiver. Coginchaug played well last week but dropped a 7-0 decision to a quick, athletic team from Hyde in New Haven. The young Blue Devils dominated in its 47-0 opening day win over Nonnewaug with Jack Granger scoring 5 TDs, three on receptions and two rushing. He also ran for 107 yards. Sean Harper is the other top back for the Blue Devils, who are led by QB Tyler Meeker, who had 3 TD passes in the win over Nonnewaug.
Ellington/Somers (3-0, 3-0 Pequot Uncas) at Granby (1-1, 1-1), 1 p.m., Ahern’s Field. Granby QB Curtis Field had an outstanding performance in the 12-6 win over Windsor Locks last weekend. Field scored both Granby TDs and completed 20 of 33 passes for 205 yards. Ian Downey caught six passes for 63 yards while defensively, Thomas Ullmann mad 12 tackles for Granby. The Bears will have a challenging assignment with undefeated Ellington, who erased a 10-point deficit to beat Gilbert, 20-17 a week ago. Look for RB Neil Janga and QB John Lesile to make things happen for Ellington. Janiga scored 5 TDs in Ellington’s first two victories. Lesile has thrown 3 TDs passes this season.
Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.
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