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Ansonia’s Shykeem Harmon (3) carries the ball during Thanksgiving holiday football action against Naugatuck in Ansonia, Conn., on Thursday Nov. 22, 2018. (Photo Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media)
Ansonia beat Naugatuck for the eight-consecutive year and upped its win streak over NVL teams to 85 games in the annual Thanksgiving Day classic between the two programs.
New Canaan held on to beat Darien in the annual Turkey Bowl for the second-consecutive year.
Greenwich smothered Staples to complete a 10-0 regular season and the FCIAC championship.
Shelton routed Derby. Sheehan pulled away from Lyman Hall.
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But after the trophies were handed out and everybody said their Happy Thanksgiving before heading to dinner, the last question on everybody’s minds was: What does this mean for the playoffs?
Ah yes, the playoffs. They are just about set with just a handful of games — including two big ones in the Class M race — set to kick off Friday.
These are all unofficial pairings. The CIAC will not make them official until approved by the CIAC football committee when they meet Saturday morning.
CLASS LL
New Canaan’s victory and Staples’ loss, not to mention a few bonus results, completed the field and just about all of the seedings.
As of Thursday night, Greenwich trailed Newtown by 10 points with one bonus outstanding for Greenwhich: Norwalk over McMahon on Friday. If Norwalk wins, Greenwich will tie Newtown and earn the No. 2 seed based on tiebreakers.
If McMahon wins, Newtown will be the No. 2 seed and Greenwich the No. 3.
Unofficial pairings
- No. 8 New Canaan (8-2) at No. 1 Shelton (10-0)
- No. 7 New Britain (9-1) at No. 2 Newtown (10-0) OR No. 2 Greenwich (10-0)
- No. 6 Darien (9-1) at No. 3 Greenwich (10-0) OR No. 3 Newtown (10-0)
- No. 5 Fairfield Prep (9-1) at No. 4 Southington (10-)
CLASS L
This class’ contestants were decided Wednesday night. Naugatuck’s loss to Ansonia dropped it into the No. 3 seed.
As of Thursday night only one bonus remained that would decide the whole thing: The Battle of the Bell between Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central at Muzzy Field.
A Bristol Eastern win would give 10 bonus points to Maloney and make it the No. 6 seed. Platt would beat Bunnell on tiebreakers to clinch No. 7.
A Bristol Central win will create a three-way tie with Platt, Maloney and Bunnell at 1440. Platt would win the three-way tie on tiebreak points (aka total opponents’ wins) for the No. 6 seed and then Maloney would beat Bunnell for the No. 7 seed. Therefore, Bunnell is locked in at No. 8.
Unofficial pairings
- No. 8 Bunnell at No. 1 Hand
- No. 7 Maloney or Platt at No. 2 Middletown
- No. 6 Maloney or Platt at No. 3 Naugatuck
- No. 5 North Haven at No. 4 Windsor
CLASS M
St. Joseph secured the top seed with its victory over Trumbull. Sheehan’s win over Lyman Hall secured the No. 2. Berlin is No. 3 and Killingly No. 4.
Brookfield is locked in at No. 6 and will travel to face No. 3 Berlin. Cheney Tech is locked in at No. 5 and will face No. 4 Killingly.
The final two spots come down to Wolcott (vs. Holy Cross) and East Haven (vs. Branford) on Friday.
If both teams win, they’ll both clinch with East Haven earning No. 7 and Wolcott No. 8.
If just only one wins, Rockville would clinch the No. 8 seed
If both teams lose, Rockville would clinch the No. 7 seed and Abbott Tech/Immaculate the No. 8.
Unofficial pairings
- No. 8 TBA at No. 1 St. Joseph
- No. 7 TBA at No. 2 Sheehan
- No. 6 Brookfield at No. 3 Berlin
- No. 5 Cheney Tech at No. 4. Killingly
CLASS S
Ansonia’s victory over Naugatuck wrapped up Class S. The Chargers earned the No. 1 seed and will play host to Plainfield. Bullard-Havens fell to the No. 2, Stafford/Somers/East Windsor to the No. 3 and Bloomfield the No. 4.
Woodland is the No. 5, Cromwell/Portland is No. 6 and H-K the No. 7.
Unofficial pairings
- No. 8 Plainfield at No. 1 Ansonia
- No. 7 Haddam-Killingworth at No. 2 Bullard-Havens
- No. 6 Cromwell/Portland at No. 3 Stafford/Somers/East Windsor
- No. 5 Woodland at No. 4 Bloomfield