- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,257,085
- Reaction score
- 59
Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while wondering if the Boston Red Sox are becoming Caleb Durbin's team.
The CIAC released its six-division format for the 2026 football season. Our local teams Norwich Free Academy (Class LL), Valley Panthers Co-op (Class MM), and Killingly (Class SS) are in the same divisions as last season, while the Griswold/Wheeler Co-op has moved up from Class S to Class SS.
The top 8 teams in each of the six divisions (LL, L, MM, M, SS, and S) qualify for the state playoffs.
NFA proved to be state championship contenders a year ago with a spirited run to the Class LL semifinals. The Wildcats return a talented core and Friday nights in Norwich are going to be the place to be this fall.
Class LL championship contenders also include defending state champion Greenwich, state runner up Southington, New Britain, Staples, and West Haven.
The Valley Panthers (Plainfield, Ellis Tech, Putnam, Tourtellotte) are coming off a terrific first season as a co-operative program. The Panthers qualified for the Class MM playoffs where they fell to eventual state champion Windsor.
Besides Windsor, Class MM is loaded again with St. Joseph, Newtown, Xavier, and Holy Cross.
ECC champion Killingly has appeared in six state championship games since 2017. The Trailblazers, who graduated 22 seniors, captured state championship banners in 2017 (Class M), 2021 (Class M) and 2024 (Class SS).
Class SS championship contenders include defending champion Daniel Hand, Class S champion Ansonia, Class M champion Berlin, Joel Barlow, and Jonathan Law.
Here are some important dates for the 2026 football season. OTAs: August 13-15; First practice: August 22; First games: Sept. 10-12; State quarterfinals: Dec. 1; State semifinals: Dec. 6; and State championships: Dec. 12.
The CIAC released the football schedules for the 2026 season.
Here’s a peek at some highly anticipated non-league games for Norwich Free Academy, Killingly, Valley Panthers Co-op, and Griswold/Wheeler Co-op.
NFA opens its season at Westerly (R.I.) on Sept. 11. The Wildcats host FCIAC power Darien (Sept. 18), Rhode Island state champion Bishop Hendricken (Oct. 2), and Shepherd Hill Regional (Dudley, Ma.) on Oct. 9.
Killingly opens its season in Wallingford against defending Class S champion Sheehan (Sept. 11). This is a rematch of the Trailblazers win over the Titans in the 2024 Class SS championship game. Killingly hosts Woodland (Sept. 18) and ends their season on the road at North Haven on Nov. 19. The Trailblazers fell to the Nighthawks in the 2022 Class MM state championship game.
The Valley Panthers travel to Enfield to face CREC (Comp Sci/Aerospace/International/Innovation) on Sept. 19. The Panthers also have a road matchup at East Haven on Oct. 23.
Griswold/Wheeler travels to Ellington on Sept. 19. The Wolverines are back on the road on Oct. 23 to meet Wilbur Cross in New Haven. The Wolverines host Lewis Mills on Oct. 2.
Did someone say the words “battle-tested?”
More: Norwich Sea Unicorns looking to heat up throughout dog days of summer
More: The Bulletin names 2026 softball all-star team and Player of the Year
On July 14, 1970, the National League won the annual MLB All-Star Game with a 5-4 victory over the American League at newly opened Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose, who went on to become the MLB’s all-time career hits leader, scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th by crashing into Cleveland Indians catcher Ray Fosse.
Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski was voted the Most Valuable Player. Yaz, who played the whole game at centerfield and first base, went 4-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI. Yaz tied the All-Star Game record for hits (4) and singles (3) in a game. He became only the second player to win MVP honors from the losing team.
The game, which was broadcast on NBC with announcers Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, and Mickey Mantle, featured President Richard Nixon throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
The American League roster had 9 future Hall of Famers: Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson, Catfish Hunter, Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Tony Oliva, and Carl Yastrzemski.
The National League roster had 13 future Hall of Famers: Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Tom Seaver, Hoyt Wilhelm, Joe Torre, Willie McCovey, Joe Morgan, Roberto Clemente, and Dick Allen.
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: CIAC releases football schedules, divisions for 2026 | Zanor column
Continue reading...
CIAC football divisions
The CIAC released its six-division format for the 2026 football season. Our local teams Norwich Free Academy (Class LL), Valley Panthers Co-op (Class MM), and Killingly (Class SS) are in the same divisions as last season, while the Griswold/Wheeler Co-op has moved up from Class S to Class SS.
The top 8 teams in each of the six divisions (LL, L, MM, M, SS, and S) qualify for the state playoffs.
NFA proved to be state championship contenders a year ago with a spirited run to the Class LL semifinals. The Wildcats return a talented core and Friday nights in Norwich are going to be the place to be this fall.
Class LL championship contenders also include defending state champion Greenwich, state runner up Southington, New Britain, Staples, and West Haven.
The Valley Panthers (Plainfield, Ellis Tech, Putnam, Tourtellotte) are coming off a terrific first season as a co-operative program. The Panthers qualified for the Class MM playoffs where they fell to eventual state champion Windsor.
Besides Windsor, Class MM is loaded again with St. Joseph, Newtown, Xavier, and Holy Cross.
ECC champion Killingly has appeared in six state championship games since 2017. The Trailblazers, who graduated 22 seniors, captured state championship banners in 2017 (Class M), 2021 (Class M) and 2024 (Class SS).
Class SS championship contenders include defending champion Daniel Hand, Class S champion Ansonia, Class M champion Berlin, Joel Barlow, and Jonathan Law.
Here are some important dates for the 2026 football season. OTAs: August 13-15; First practice: August 22; First games: Sept. 10-12; State quarterfinals: Dec. 1; State semifinals: Dec. 6; and State championships: Dec. 12.
You must be registered for see images attach
Football schedules
The CIAC released the football schedules for the 2026 season.
Here’s a peek at some highly anticipated non-league games for Norwich Free Academy, Killingly, Valley Panthers Co-op, and Griswold/Wheeler Co-op.
NFA opens its season at Westerly (R.I.) on Sept. 11. The Wildcats host FCIAC power Darien (Sept. 18), Rhode Island state champion Bishop Hendricken (Oct. 2), and Shepherd Hill Regional (Dudley, Ma.) on Oct. 9.
Killingly opens its season in Wallingford against defending Class S champion Sheehan (Sept. 11). This is a rematch of the Trailblazers win over the Titans in the 2024 Class SS championship game. Killingly hosts Woodland (Sept. 18) and ends their season on the road at North Haven on Nov. 19. The Trailblazers fell to the Nighthawks in the 2022 Class MM state championship game.
The Valley Panthers travel to Enfield to face CREC (Comp Sci/Aerospace/International/Innovation) on Sept. 19. The Panthers also have a road matchup at East Haven on Oct. 23.
Griswold/Wheeler travels to Ellington on Sept. 19. The Wolverines are back on the road on Oct. 23 to meet Wilbur Cross in New Haven. The Wolverines host Lewis Mills on Oct. 2.
Did someone say the words “battle-tested?”
More: Norwich Sea Unicorns looking to heat up throughout dog days of summer
Comments and observations …
- The MLB season is always rife with amazing statistics. Here’s one of the best. The 2026 Boston Red Sox are the only team in MLB history to have three rookie left-handed starting pitchers under the age of 25 who have started six or more games and have an ERA under 3.75 in a single season. The southpaws are Payton Tolle, Connelly Early and Jake Bennett.
- Speaking of pro baseball … have you heard about the Boston Hunters? The inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League begins on August 1. The WPBL’s four teams are the Boston Hunters, New York Heights, Los Angeles Queens and San Francisco Firebells. The teams will play each other five times through late September at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The team's nicknames are inspired by a pioneering woman. Boston is named after Harriot K. Hunt. She was a Boston physician and women’s rights activist. Hunt was also the first woman to apply to Harvard Medical School and start a successful medical practice in the U.S. Boston’s logo is an osprey holding on to a baseball bat with its talons. I can’t wait for the first Hunters-Heights brawl. Hey, it’s Boston versus New York on the baseball diamond.
- Does anyone know what’s going on in the WNBA? I haven’t watched a game since Cailtin Clark was sidelined. One of the WNBA’s biggest sins, and there are many, is not creating an environment for Clark to flourish and reach her full potential. It’s the dumbest professional sports organization on the planet.
- As of Friday morning, the Boston Red Sox are just two-and-a-half games from the third and final American League Wild Card playoff spot. And Sox superstar Roman Anthony has been swinging a bat in Fort Myers during his rehabilitation from a hand injury.
More: The Bulletin names 2026 softball all-star team and Player of the Year
STUCK IN THE 70s
On July 14, 1970, the National League won the annual MLB All-Star Game with a 5-4 victory over the American League at newly opened Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose, who went on to become the MLB’s all-time career hits leader, scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th by crashing into Cleveland Indians catcher Ray Fosse.
Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski was voted the Most Valuable Player. Yaz, who played the whole game at centerfield and first base, went 4-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI. Yaz tied the All-Star Game record for hits (4) and singles (3) in a game. He became only the second player to win MVP honors from the losing team.
The game, which was broadcast on NBC with announcers Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, and Mickey Mantle, featured President Richard Nixon throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
The American League roster had 9 future Hall of Famers: Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson, Catfish Hunter, Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Tony Oliva, and Carl Yastrzemski.
The National League roster had 13 future Hall of Famers: Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Tom Seaver, Hoyt Wilhelm, Joe Torre, Willie McCovey, Joe Morgan, Roberto Clemente, and Dick Allen.
You must be registered for see images attach
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: CIAC releases football schedules, divisions for 2026 | Zanor column
Continue reading...
