Granby wants to bring home Western Division title and a playoff berth

Granby’s Connor Field (8) ran for more than 2,200 yards and 21 TDs a year ago for the Bears.

GRANBY – The expectations have changed this fall in Granby. In just its sixth varsity season, the Bears are hoping to win its first division championship and qualify for the Class S playoffs. 

Granby (7-4, 5-4 Pequot Uncas) turned its first-ever winning season last fall. From that team, 21 of Granby’s 22 starting players are back on the field this September. 

“Our goal is to win the day,” Granby coach Rich Gadoury said. “We want to come out every day and win that day in front of us. We’re going into this season with much different expectations. We’re looking for the postseason. I would like to see Granby playing football after Thanksgiving.” 

The top eight teams in Class S qualify for the CIAC tournament that begins on December 1. Road games against defending Class S Large champion Valley Regional/Old Lyme (Oct. 9), Morgan (Oct. 30) and Coginchaug (Nov. 14) loom as some of the tougher games on the schedule if Granby wants to play in the Class S tournament. Few teams with two losses or more qualify for the state tournament. 

The Pequot Conference has realigned its 19 teams into three divisions with Granby being placed in the Western Division with Gilbert/Northwestern, Canton, SMSA/University, Nonnewaug and Lewis Mills. Of the five teams, only Canton had a winning record a year ago and they had significant losses due to graduation. 

Most have penciled in Granby as the favorite and Gadoury doesn’t back down from that. He thinks his Bears have the potential to claim the pennant. 

Senior defensive back Trevon Samuels moves in to make a play in a recent scrimmage against Cromwell/Portland.

Granby will be led by senior Connor Field, who ran for a school-record 2,204 yards and 23 TDs a year ago. He set a new state record by rushing for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games and had six interceptions in the secondary. 

Senior quarterback Dominic Pagano returns. He ran for 742 yards and 11 TDs and completed 17-of-38 passes for 347 yards and three TDs. On defense, he was the second-leading tackler (59) for the Bears. In the backfield will be senior Logan Strain, who ran for 450 yards and four TDs on 71 carries. Strain led the team in tackles a year ago with 85 tackles (14 for a loss) from his inside linebacker position. 

“They call themselves the three-headed horseman,” Gadoury said of Field, Pagano and Strain. “It is pick your poison with them. We know teams will come in and want to stop one or two of them. But you can’t stop all three – at least that’s our theory.” 

In its final scrimmage, Field, Pagano and Strain took turns on offense as the Bears scored 35 unanswered points in a 35-8 decision over Cromwell/Portland when the varsity units were on the field. Field scored on an eight-yard run thanks to a 29-yard scamper to set up the score. He also scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Pagano. Field ran for 129 yards on 13 carries. 

Pagano also threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Dajon Wharton Rodriguez. Strain ran for a 17-yard touchdown and Pagano rushed for a score from the four. 

The offensive line is anchored by All-Pequot Uncas center Andrew Migliaccio. He be joined by veterans Vince Luca, Mark McDermott, Nick Kenney and Griffin Barrows. Gadoury said it’s probably the biggest offensive line in the Western Division. 

“We have a lot of guys on that offensive line that know football,” Gadoury said. “They know if they’re making the wrong read or the wrong block and can correct themselves. They’re a smart bunch.” 

The line helped Granby score a school-record 324 points a year ago. 

Defensively, Strain, Kennedy (58 tackles) and Gage Florentino (50 tackles) lead the defensive corps at linebacker. On the defensive line, there is Migliaccio, Lucca, McDermott (57 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and Jacob Hauser (46 tackles). 

Three of Granby’s first four games will be against Western Division foes including a season-opening contest at Van Why Field in Winsted against Gilbert/Northwestern. “Gilbert always plays us tough and it’s a very tough division,” Gadoury said. 

GRANBY
Coach: Rich Gadoury, 4th year (17-15)
Last year: 7-4, 5-4 Pequot Uncas Division
Top players: RB/DB Connor Field, QB/DB Dom Pagano, RB/LB Logan Strain, C Andrew Migliaccio,
Outlook: With 21 of 22 starters returning, Granby is looking to capture the Pequot Western Division title and earn a spot in the Class S playoffs. … In just its fifth varsity season, Granby earned its first winning season, scoring a school record 324 points and allowing just 237 points – another school record.
Of note: Field scored 23 touchdowns a year ago. He rushed for 21 and scored two on kickoff returns. … Canton and Granby play for the old red milk jug on Thanksgiving Eve under the lights.

Schedule
Sat. Sept. 12: at Gilbert/NWR, 1 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18: ENFIELD, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25: SMSA/UNIVERSITY, 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 3: at Lewis Mills, 3 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9: at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 23: ELLINGTON, 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 30: at Morgan, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 6: NONNEWAUG, 7 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 14: at Coginchaug, 1 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 25: CANTON, 6:30 p.m.