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Early schedule is challenging but Farmington is looking for a good year

Farmington High football coach Chris Machol is beginning his ninth season at the helm of the Indians this season.

FARMINGTON, Sept. 7 – It looks to be an interesting season to watch the Farmington High football team. The Indians have some talented players returning but they will also have some youngsters in key spots on the offensive and defensive lines.

The question will be how soon can the team coming together as a unit and minimize mistakes. The team isn’t huge and with 62 players in the program, long-time head coach Chris Machol (9th year, 44-38) expects five to seven sophomores to see significant playing time.

Farmington lost 23 seniors, including five of seven starters on the offensive line, from a team that finished 3-7 a year ago.

But starting quarterback Zac Conrad returns along with a solid group of running backs led by Jack Beisel (25 rushes, 104 yards, 2 TDs), Luke Popolizio, Aidan Sposato, Angel Velez and Max Bratholomay.

Conrad, who completed 70-of-123 passes a year ago for 1,031 yards and 14 TD passes, has a talented group of wide receivers led by Dante Colagiovanni (15 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD), Zihare Greaves, Cam Bergin and Michael Gregory.

Muhil Saravana and Jermaine Carter bring some experience to the offensive and defensive line – many players will be playing both ways. Seniors Jack Stets and Dawson Walton, juniors Casper Muter, Nigel DeBrito and Andrew Hileman will move into the starting lineup along with sophomores Josh DeGrandi and Nick Greco.

Colagiovanni (31 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Sposato return in the secondary while Bartholomay, Popolizio (60 tackles, 6 for a loss) and Beisel (39 tackles, 2 sacks) return at linebacker. Jermaine Carter has looked sharp on the defensive line.

The Indians will play in the CCC Division II Eastern Division and will be challenged on the field, facing three teams that went to the CIAC Class L playoffs a year ago – Platt, Windsor and Middletown – in the first four weeks of the season. But there are opportunities for victories on this schedule.

“If we can play well, we have some high expectations for the season,” Machol said.

The Indians open the season Friday night at Platt High in Meriden and return home on Friday, Sept. 15, to host Newington at 6:30 p.m.

Farmington
Friday, Sept. 8: at Platt, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 15: Newington, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22: Windsor, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30: Middletown, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6: at Bristol Eastern, 7 p.m.
Bye week
Saturday, Oct. 21: at Hartford Public, 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27: Maloney, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3: at E.O. Smith, 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17: CREC co-op, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 23: at Plainville, 10 a.m.

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 30 years.

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