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Welcome back to AUDIBLES, your weekly, tongue-in-cheek (sometimes), quick-hit, one-stop shop guide to Connecticut's high school football games. Week 9.
The king is dead. Long live the king. For now, at least as No. 1 New Canaan has fallen, the vacuum filled by the conqueror, Fairfield Ludlowe. And now the whole 2026 season has taken a sharp turn into the wilderness. What once seemed like a certainty is now shrouded in the unknown as we navigate this new path toward the playoffs, from which some new opportunities are sure to emerge.
Exciting stuff.
So expect plenty of playoff spice in this week's Audibles as we start to kick the tires and check the oil on our contenders for the stretch run. It's a week or so too early to make any kind of prediction, so the best we can do is give teams an idea of where they might stand with three full weeks of the season left to play. Right now? The answer is simple: Just win, baby.
There's a delicious menu of games from which to choose this week. Now-No. 3 New Canaan will attempt to redeem itself against unbeaten No. 2-ranked St. Joseph, is your main course. Lyman Hall at jilted No. 5 Hand (down from 4) in an SCC unbeaten battle, a showdown just up the shoreline involving Branford and Guilford, plus two big CCC games between Windsor and Maloney and New Britain and Southington on Thursday night.
Rain is afoot this weekend, so keep an eye on the schedules and we'll see you on the other side.
Here's what's what:
SPB's AUDIBLES! Week 9
THURSDAY
SOUTH WINDSOR (2-5) at BRISTOL CENTRAL (3-4), 6 p.m. – Still not out of it, Bobcats. But consider this your last chance to get into this weak Class LL race.
BRISTOL EASTERN (1-6) at WETHERSFIELD (2-5), 6 p.m. – A hearty ‘Welcome to the 2026 season,' for Lancers after winning their first over 4-win Farmington last week. Plenty of chances to finish strong, too.
MIDDLETOWN (6-1) at E.O. SMITH (1-6), 6 p.m. – Dragons have built a good enough cushion. It's all about Class MM seeding now.
NORTHWEST CATHOLIC (4-3) at TOLLAND (5-2), 6 p.m. – Tolland has played itself right back into the Class S race.
WINDHAM CO-OP (3-4) at BACON ACADEMY/LYMAN (1-6), 6 p.m. – Whips are stuck in a bottleneck for a Class S spot with no room to spare.
WATERTOWN (2-5) at ANSONIA (6-1), 6 p.m. – Chargers already sharpening their lances for Thanksgiving Day.
PLAINFIELD/QV CO-OP (5-2) at STONINGTON (1-6), 6:30 p.m. – Thirteenth-place in Class MM at 5-2? Oof. Valley Panthers' schedule isn't helping.
NEW BRITAIN (5-2) at SOUTHINGTON (7-0), 6:30 p.m. – The Canes are among the top four in Class LL, but that's a distant fourth, right now, unless they want to show us something here.
ENFIELD (1-6) at BERLIN (5-2), 6:30 p.m. – Season goes back uphill for Berlin after this: Platt, then Middletown to wrap.
WINDSOR (4-3) at MALONEY (5-2), 6:30 p.m. – Windsor, once 0-3, has answered the bell getting back within Class MM striking distance, but now face one of the state' most prolific QBs in Eli Showerda.
COGINCHAUG CO-OP (4-2) at VALLEY REGIONAL/OLD LYME (5-1), 6:30 p.m. – Massive game in the developing Class S race, especially if you're Coginchaug.
CROMWELL/ PORTLAND (1-5) at ROCKVILLE (5-2), 6:30 p.m. – Rockville has outscored its last three Pequot opponents by a combined 136-6 as it hones in on a Class M playoff spot.
SHELTON (4-3) at NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN (4-3), 6:30 p.m. – This game's result marks the dividing line between the Class L playoff contenders and see-ya-next year.
NEW MILFORD (5-2) at NEWTOWN (4-3), 6:30 p.m. – Who gets The Boot? Newtown hasn't lost this matchup in eons, which bodes well for the Hawks' comeback season.
FRIDAY
BASSICK (0-7) at HARDING (1-6), 5 p.m. – Harding's looking to make it 10-straight wins against Bassick since 2012.
GLASTONBURY (1-6) at MANCHESTER (2-5), 6 p.m. – Whatever Faustian bargain Glastonbury made for last year's fortune, the bill has come due, apparently.
AVON/ST. PAUL CO-OP (4-3) at PLAINVILLE (7-0), 6 p.m. – Nobody's touching Abarno and Plainville the rest of the regular season.
BLOOMFIELD (5-2) at FARMINGTON (4-3), 6 p.m. – Just when you thought it was safe to not worry about Bloomfield, here come the Warhawks.
BULLARD HAVENS TECH (3-4) at VINAL/GOODWIN TECH (0-7), 6 p.m. – Bullard-Havens is actually somehow still in the SS running, two of the next three haven't won yet. Hmm…
WILCOX/KAYNOR TECH (5-2) at CHENEY TECH/WINDHAM TECH (5-2), 6 p.m. – This is for first place in the CTC alongside Thames River.
LEDYARD (5-2) at WATERFORD (6-1), 6 p.m. – Colonels could have done themselves a solid with a better first-half effort against New London, now risk playoff trouble if they can't handle resurgent Lancers.
GRISWOLD/WHEELER (5-2) at MONTVILLE-ST. BERNARD FOOTBALL (4-3), 6 p.m. – Both are hanging on for dear life in their respective playoff races. So this game's big.
DANBURY (3-4) at FAIRFIELD WARDE (5-2), 6 p.m. – How weak is Class LL? Danbury has lost two-straight and hasn't budged from exceptional playoff positioning.
TRUMBULL (1-5) at No. 1 FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE (7-0), 6 p.m. – Trumbull might wind up facing the No. 1 team three times this season. That's the FCIAC for you.
DERBY (2-4) at NONNEWAUG CO-OP (3-4), 6 p.m. – Raiders are working on a three-game win streak, but they haven't had Nonnewaug's schedule.
WOLCOTT (5-2) at TORRINGTON (5-2), 6 p.m. – Torrington doesn't have a hearty share of playoff points. With Naugy next, Raiders need this badly
NORTH BRANFORD (7-0) at ELLINGTON (4-3), 6 p.m. – Every title run has its clash with adversity. This is gut-check time for the Anderson-less T-Birds.
AMITY (1-6) at HAMDEN (3-4), 6 p.m. – Can the Green Dragons actually hang onto this LL playoff spot? Schedule's quite favorable and Amity can't score.
WEST HAVEN (2-5) at FAIRFIELD PREP (3-4), 6 p.m. – Westies' are within striking distance of Prep and one of the last four LL spots, but gotta start here, especially with New Britain next.
XAVIER (5-2) at WILBUR CROSS/CAREER (2-5), 6 p.m. – One more week flying below the radar for Xavier, then we'll get to see what's what about the Falcons.
EAST CATHOLIC (3-4) at ROCKY HILL (2-5), 6:30 p.m. – Key to beating East Catholic? Score at least two TDs.
CONARD (3-4) at PLATT (5-2), 6:30 p.m. – Which Platt's gonna show up? Your guess is as good as ours.
HALL (2-5) at EAST HARTFORD (2-5), 6:30 p.m. – Everybody should be gearing up on next season by finishing this one strong.
NEWINGTON (1-6) at SIMSBURY (6-1), 6:30 p.m. – The Trojans are easily the state's best single-season turnaround stories of the year.
FITCH (4-3) at EAST LYME (1-6), 6:30 p.m. – This is no time to panic, Fitch. But there's work to do.
KILLINGLY (1-6) at NFA (3-4), 6:30 p.m. – NFA has simply dominated its ECC schedule. Just in time to make a move in Class LL.
WOODSTOCK ACADEMY (4-3) at No. 10 NEW LONDON (7-0), 6:30 p.m. – Whalers this week, Colonels next… Welp, Centaurs, it was fun while it lasted.
HOLY CROSS (6-1) at WOODLAND (5-2), 6:30 p.m. – This game's been circled on Holy Cross' calendar all year after last year's 42-14 wipeout. Crusaders have won 8 of last 9.
MORGAN/OSW CO-OP (1-6) at CAPITAL PREP/ACHIEVEMENT FIRST (2-4), 6:30 p.m. – Somebody needs to make a stop. Somebody. Anybody.
SMSA CO-OP (4-2) at STAFFORD/SOMERS CO-OP (3-4), 6:30 p.m. – Play, win and see what happens over the next few weeks. That's only advice for both squads.
WINDSOR LOCKS CO-OP (2-5) at GRANBY/CANTON (5-2), 6:30 p.m. – Not an encouraging result for the Bears against North Branford last week. And, if playoffs began today, it'd be a rematch.
CREC CO-OP (0-6) at HADDAM-KILLINGWORTH (4-3), 6:30 p.m. – There's a run on antacid for H-K's coaching staff.
BRANFORD (5-2) at GUILFORD (6-1), 6:30 p.m. – <rubs hands together vigorously> Great matchup with plenty of Class M intrigue. Let's go.
CHESHIRE (5-2) at SHEEHAN (4-3), 6:30 p.m. – Is this exit: stage left for defending Class S champion Sheehan's playoff chances?
STRATFORD (3-4) at NOTRE DAME PREP (6-1), 6:30 p.m. – Hey, hey: Stratford's on a three-game win streak, but ND Prep has Class M playoff spot to secure.
WESTON (1-6) at No. 9 POMPERAUG (6-1), 6:30 p.m. – Congrats on the first win, Trojans. Party's over.
DARIEN (4-3) at RIDGEFIELD (4-3), 7 p.m. – Blue Wave have played themselves back into playoff relevance and Tigers are in danger of falling out.
No. 2 ST. JOSEPH (6-0) at No. 3 NEW CANAAN (6-1), 7 p.m. – Suddenly, not the second No. 1 vs. 2 showdown of the season as everybody expected two weeks ago, but close enough.
STAMFORD (3-4) at MCMAHON (1-5), 7 p.m. – Turmoil abounds on this field, but at least this game's being played. Small victories.
WILTON (3-4) at No. 4 GREENWICH (6-1), 7 p.m. – Regardless of Wilton's struggles, Greenwich should be well motivated after last year's upset loss.
KENNEDY (1-5) at WILBY (0-7), 7 p.m. – Does Wilby's two-month scoreless streak end here?
SEYMOUR (5-2) at NAUGATUCK (7-0), 7 p.m. – Seymour, once 0-2, has wrestled back into a Class S playoff position. Time for a late mid-term exam.
EAST HAVEN (0-7) at FORAN (3-4), 7 p.m. – Lions would love to get to .500 for the stretch run.
LYMAN HALL (7-0) at No. 5 HAND (7-0), 7 p.m. – You're good, Lyman Hall. Real good. But this is Hand… at the Surf Club. … in November.
NORTH HAVEN (2-5) at JONATHAN LAW (5-2), 7 p.m. – Law QB Matt Witteman's capable of carving up any defenses thrown at him. Then again, Law's defense has been sliced up itself, lately: They're allowing an average of 40 ppg over the last three games.
BROOKFIELD (1-6) at BARLOW (1-6), 7 p.m. – Oh, how the mighty have fallen. These two were state championship contenders (and winners) not long ago.
BUNNELL (3-4) at BETHEL (5-2), 7 p.m. – Bethel got a massive jolt of reality with last week's 52-0 loss to ND Prep. And Bunnell is in desperate need of wins.
No. 7 MASUK (7-0) at NEW FAIRFIELD (2-5), 7 p.m. – Masuk's got a great shot at corralling the No. 1 seed in Class M.
SATURDAY
OXFORD (1-6) at CROSBY (2-5), 10 a.m. – Bulldogs only could muster 8 points against Derby last week, so some encouragement for the Wolverines ahead of this one.
PRINCE TECH (3-4) at AMISTAD (1-5), 11 a.m. – Falcons have a good chance to get over .500 ahead of its season finale vs. Cheney Tech on Thanksgiving week.
RHAM (1-6) at LEWIS MILLS/WOLCOTT TECH (5-2), Noon – It should be a Class L Coaches convention up in Burlington for this. Mills is gonna qualify.
BRIDGEPORT CENTRAL (2-5) at WESTHILL (2-4), 2 p.m. – Central hasn't won three games in a season since – (checks watch) – 2011. Wow.
THAMES RIVER CO-OP (6-1) at PLATT TECH (2-5), 3 p.m. – From 2-8 to the verge of a Class MM playoff spot. Thames River has been another great turnaround story.
No. 8 STAPLES (6-1) at NORWALK (2-5), 4 p.m. – Norwalk's Easton Pace is second in the state in rushing yards with 1,160. Not that Staples' defense isn't aware.
ATI CO-OP (2-5) at O'BRIEN TECH (1-6), 11 p.m. – Could be ATI's last shot to win in 2026. They get CTC-leading Thames River and FCIAC's Danbury to end the season.
This article originally published at Connecticut high school football Week 9 schedule and previews with SPB's Audibles.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/connecticut-high-school-football-week-150000949.html
