Simsbury faces a challenging schedule in 2022 and the season begins Friday at North Haven. (Photo courtesy Scott Kerr)
Many of the young men who sign up to play football relish the challenge of mastering a tough, physical sport. Need a challenge in 2022? Sign up for the Simsbury High squad.
The Trojans have a smattering of starters returning on both sides of the ball after a 5-5 season in 2021 but it looks there will be plenty of young men starting for the first time at the varsity level when the season kicks off on Friday night.
“We’re super young,” head coach Dave Masters, who enters his eighth season as the leader of the Trojans, said. “They’re definitely going to get tested, no doubt about it. We’ll see who rises up. They’ll need to learn fast and they will be put to the test.”
Thanks to the Connecticut Football Alliance that involves 100 teams around the state, Simsbury has two non-league contests against teams (North Haven, Norwalk) they’ve never faced on the gridiron in the first three weeks of the season.
The season opens on Friday night with a trip to North Haven where the newly-renamed Nighthawks unveil their run-dominated offense. A week later, Simsbury hosts their home opener against defending Class L champion Maloney (12-1) before hosting the Norwalk (7-3) from the FCIAC on Sept. 23.
Simsbury closes out a challenging first month with a trip to Southington (8-3) to face a CCC Tier 1 rival who has always comes with a large, talented squad.
As a member of the Central Connecticut Conference’s top division – CCC Tier 1, the Trojans also has contests with Conard, Hall, East Hartford and Glastonbury.
“This is definitely a year when we take it one week at a time,” Masters said. “They’re all different offenses (first four opponents). We’re going to limit their focus to what is right in front of them. We don’t have the luxury of looking ahead.”
Simsbury High coach Dave Masters begins his eighth season behind the bench for the Trojans. (Photo courtesy Scott Kerr)
Charlie Strayer will move behind the center to play quarterback and he will have speedy Noble Gognon in the backfield with him. Gongon finished second in the 100 meters at the State Open last spring and fourth in New England.
Austin Coiro and Dan Sullivan return at wide receiver with Sullivan resuming his duties kicking as well. Sullivan converted on 22-of-26 PAT a year ago and hit a pair of field goals.
Guard Ben Roberts returns and will play inside linebacker on the defensive side of the ball. Look for nose tackle Mason Swilley and defensive lineman Niles Archangelo to make some plays defensively.
There will be other players that step up along the way as they learn what playing varsity football is all about. The senior class, who were sophomores when the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is small. The junior class has a year of competitive football under their belts but they are still learning too after missing their freshman year.
“Things are good. You have to evolve and change. Kids like that change,” Masters said.
Simsbury High football players work out during training camp at Holden Field in August. (Photo courtesy Dave Masters)
Simsbury High
Head coach: Dave Masters, 8th season, 33-29
Last season: 5-5, 4-3 CCC Tier 1
Last winning season: 10-2 in 2019
Playoff appearances: 5, (1-5)
Last CIAC playoff appearance: 2019
League championships: 17. Most recent title: 2009 CCC Division I (shared)
Opening day record: 54-49-3. Last win: 2021: Simsbury 37, New Britain 0
Social media: Twitter — @masters_coach
Team website: https://www.simsburygridiron.org/
Of note: Simsbury, which began playing interscholastic football in 1908 is playing North Haven and Norwalk for the first time. … Simsbury plays Newington for the first time since 2014 and resumes the season-ending series with Glastonbury. Simsbury played the Guardians in the final game of the regular season eight times from 2006-07 and 2009-2014.
2022 Simsbury High schedule
Friday, Sept. 9: @North Haven, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 16: Maloney, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23: Norwalk, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30: @Southington, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7: Conard, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs. Oct. 20: @Manchester, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 28: Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 4: @Newington, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 11: @East Hartford, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19: Glastonbury, 6:30 p.m.
2022 Central Connecticut Conference divisions (football)
Tier 1 (8 teams): Conard, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Hall, Maloney, Newington, Simsbury, Southington. Defending champions: Hall and Maloney 6-1
Tier 2 (8 teams): Bristol Central, Enfield, Middletown, New Britain, Platt, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Windsor. Defending champion: Windsor 7-0
Tier 3 (8 teams): Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Bristol Eastern, Farmington, Manchester, Plainville, RHAM. Defending champion: Bloomfield 7-0
Tier 4 (7 teams): East Catholic, E.O. Smith, Hartford Public, Lewis Mills, Northwest Catholic, Rocky Hill, Tolland. Defending champion: Avon 6-0
