Farmington Valley football: Week 1 previews

In the Farmington Valley, the high school football season was supposed to open Wednesday afternoon with fledging Granby High football team playing its final game at Ahrens Field against Enfield but it was postponed to Sunday due to the high heat and humidity. On Thursday, long-time valley rivals meet as Avon hosts Canton at 4 p.m. and Simsbury hosts Farmington at 6 p.m. at Holden Field at Simsbury High. On Friday, Lewis Mills takes a trip to Clinton to face a veteran Morgan team. 

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 12
Canton (7-3) at Avon (10-1), 4 p.m.
A bulk of the team that won a school record seven games and scored 217 points a year ago returns for Canton. QB Eric Scott returns for his third season and has talented receivers Sebby Gumbs and Jake Wood back. All-Pequot LB Henry Bonini and LB Dan Delos will lead the defense. Avon lost 19 seniors including All-State RB Colin Moore (2,144 yards rushing, 30 TDs) but they return several veteran players including All-State LB Jimmy Murphy and QB Noah Hahn (49-of-86 passes, 711 yards, 6 TDs). Avon is looking for its sixth Pequot divisional title in seven years. This could be the final game between the two long-time rivals. Last spring, Avon applied for admission for the Central Connecticut Conference. A decision was deferred to this fall but if Avon eventually moves to the CCC, the chance of future games would be slim. … The winner of this game will have an early jump in the Pequot West Division race. The other early contender looks to be Gilbert/Northwestern.

Opening day records: Canton 14-20, Avon 28-25
Series: Began 1960. Avon leads, 9-0
Season previews: Canton, Avon 

Farmington (8-2) at Simsbury (6-4), 6 p.m.
Simsbury has 15 seniors and some experienced players returning on the defensive side of the ball and the offensive line. But it’s a new backfield that could take time to get into synch. QB James Hermsen takes over the triple option veer for Simsbury. All-State linebacker and fullback Brad Helmkamp will lead the Trojan defense that will be challenged by a veteran Farmington team. The Indians are rebuilding their offensive line but a host of skill players returning including QB Jeremy Buck, the dynamic Kenny Jones (1,675 total yards), WR Anthony Carpenter (32 receptions, 638 yards, 6 TDs) and RB Ivan Guadalupe (1,302 yards rushing, 19 TDs). The Indians are solid defensively, too. …. Simsbury easily beat Farmington in 2008 and 2009 and has won 15 of the last 17 games in the series. The two schools played each year from 1948-68.
Opening day records: Farmington 36-44-3; Simsbury 50-45-3
Series: Began 1923. Simsbury leads, 18-14-1
Season previews: Farmington, Simsbury 

Friday, Sept. 13
Lewis Mills (0-10) at Morgan (5-5), 6:30 p.m.
This is a tough opener for Mills against an experienced Morgan team that brings back several veterans, including a handful of seniors and juniors who have started since they were freshmen. Running back Jake Ward (1,323 yards, 14 TDs in 2012) runs behind a large offensive line that ranges from 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-6. Mills does have 12 seniors returning and hopes to be competitive this season. The Spartans have their top receiver (Dominik Jankowski, 18 receptions, 173 yards) and leading tackler (Cameron McHale, 49 tackles) back on the field.
Opening day record: Lewis Mills 2-1
Series: Began 2011. Tied 1-1
Season previews: Lewis Mills, Morgan

Sunday, Sept. 15
Enfield (5-5) at Granby (4-6), 2 p.m. 
The game was scheduled for Wednesday at Ahrens Field but was postponed due to high heat and humidity. Now, the game will be the first game at the new artificial turf field on campus Sunday at 2 p.m. Granby is are coming off the best season in its short three-year history. They also return senior QB Curtis Field, who threw for over 1,700 yards and 14 TDs last fall. Leading receiver Ian Downey (43 catches, 548 yards, 5 TDs) is also back with all-around player Dom Pagano, who had 67 tackles and two interceptions a year ago.
Series: Began 2010. Enfield leads, 3-0
Opening day record: Granby 0-3
Season previews: Granby