Listen Now

In this episode hosts Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley look back at six state championship games, examine what happened and what worked and what didn't during the games at Central Connecticut State's Arute Field and UConn's Rentschler Field. They also look at all of the state's final rankings — the GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll, The Day of New London's Coaches Poll, the MaxPreps.com computer rankings — and compare them to their personal Top 10 votes. The season's final guest star is none other than ANTHONY MORELLO, with whom we have a comprehensive interview about what it took for his team to return to the pinnicle after coach John Marinelli's departure after the 2018 championship season. And, finally, Pete and Sean discuss the potential players and coaches of the year. So join us, won't you? Be sure to catch the LIVE ACTION episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@gametimect

It's State Championship Weekend and we have a special guest to help preview the state finals. UConn coach Jim Mora joins hosts Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley to talk about the football state championships being held at Rentschler Field, UConn and Arute Field, CCSU. Mora also talks about the taking the job at UConn, the season the team has had, earning a bowl bid in his first season, local players playing at UConn and much more. Join us, won't you? Be sure to also check out the live action version of the show on YouTube.

It's State Championship Weekend! The matchups are set. The annual CIAC championship has been conducted and the title venues —— Central Connecticut State's Arute Field and University of Connecticut's Rentschler Field —— are ready to host Saturday's six championship games. Join hosts Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley has they talk about the weekend ahead, preview the games and pick who they believe will win the six state championships. Join us, won't you? Be sure to also check out the live action version of the show on YouTube.

After a competitive and ofen surprising round of 24 state quarterfinal games, we've reached the final four of the 2022 Connecticut high school football season. That is, it's the final four in six state championship divisions, or the final 12. Welcome to yet another very special Meat Grinder / Pick'ems Podcast crossover show, in which hosts Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley look back at the eventful 24 quarterfinal games and look ahead to Sunday's semifinals, from Class S all the way up the chain to Class LL and then back again. So join us, won't you?

Welcome to the Annual Turkey Wrap Episode of the Meat Grinder, our look back at all the thrills, chills and spills and clean up after the Thanksgiving Week regular season finale. Despite the CIAC's best efforts to dilute the playoffs to the point where only 11 of 48 playoff spots were up-for-grabs heading into the week (and a mere seven on Thanksgiving Day), the contenders and rivals still managed to give their fans a show as they vied for precious playoff berths. Sean and Pete take a look back at some of the madness, beginning with Valley Regional/Old Lyme practically begging for table scraps after getting put outside by Rocky Hill's late-announced forfeit win from Week 1 and ending with Cheshire coach Don Drust pacing across the Maclary Complex praying his team had enough to squeak in over Darien after a tough loss to Southington in the Apple Valley Classic. There was also an incident where internet star Logan Paul showed up in Milford and somehow got upstaged by Law's John Neider. PLUS! It's another crossover episode with the Pick'ems Podcast, in which Pete and Sean attempt to pick the winners of Tuesday's 24 state quarterfinal games. So join us, won't you? The RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Opening Montage - Push for the Playoffs 2:29 - The Turkey Wrap I - Tuesday night 6:08 - The Turkey Wrap II - Wednesday night 10:38 - The Turkey Wrap III - Thanksgiving Morning 20:49 - Law’s John Neider upstages Logan Paul in Milford (sort of) 22:42 - Staples beats Greenwich in shootout 26:25 -Pickems Intro / Class S QFs 32:35 - Pickems Class SS QFs 40:00 - Pickems Class M QFs 46:56 - Pickems Class MM 54:47 - Pickems Class L 1:02:40 - Pickems Class LL & Wrapping Up

It’s Thanksgiving Week! The end of the regular season is upon us, so welcome to a very special episode of BOTH the Meat Grinder AND the Petey Pageviews Pick ‘em Podcast. That’s right, it’s the WEEK 12 CROSSOVER EPISODE. Like when Family Guy met the Simpsons, or when Phineas and Ferb met the Avengers or Family Matters met Full House (ugh). In the Meat Grinder portion of the podcast, we take a look at the playoff situation heading into the final week of the regular season. There are 38 of 48 spots already filled — which has diminished the importance of this week’s matchups, frankly. Regardless, SPB breaks down who needs what to qualify for one of the final 10 spots.. Also, Hartford Public’s 2-1 Friday — including 1-1 on forfeits — has indirectly turned Class SS topsy-turvy. On the Pick ‘ems Podcast episode, Pete and Sean pick the winners of TWENTY Thanksgiving week games. So we'll see if the contenders can separate from the pretenders. Here are last week's results: Barker, Bowley, Brechlin and Stewart went 10-0; Fornabaio, McNamee, Morelli and Paguaga went 9-1; Ericson went 7-3 and the 8-Ball went 5-5 again. And here are the overall standings, Bowley and Fornabaio are tied for first at 79-31; McNamee and Stewart are tied for third at 78-32; Morelli is along in fifth place at 75-35; Barker and Paguaga are tied for sixth at 74-36, Brechlin is eighth at 72-38 and Scott Ericson is ninth at 64-44. The 8-Ball is stuck in .500 at 55-55. It's s jam-packed episode you just can't afford to miss. So join us, won't you?

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT producer Sean Patrick Bowley.

It's a jam-packed, albeit delayed, special episode in which Pete and Sean look back at the thriller at Ken Strong Stadium where unbeaten West Haven survived a spirited comeback against rival Hamden to stay unbeaten, not to mention a number of other wild results from a weatherbeaten Week 10 schedule. No. 1 Maloney's reign lasts all of one week, thanks to Glastonbury. Could the Westies capture the imagination of the state's Top 10 voters? Or would a former favorite reclaim the top spot? Also, the Clinch Is In! Twenty-eight teams have unofficially punched their ticked to the state playoffs in this expanded six-championship season. We take a look at which of the remaining 20 spots can be filled in the coming days. One of the teams desperately needing a victory to get in is 6-3 Windsor, which faces next-door rival Bloomfield in its finale Saturday. It's the first time the two CCC powers have played in more than a decade. Joining us as a special guest is Windsor coach ROB FLEETING, who two 22-year, two-time state championship coaching career reached the 200-victory milestone last week. Fleet looks back at all the great players and great teams under his charge over the years, plus how his program deals with yearly turnover. So join us, won't you? Be sure to check out our LIVE ACTION version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@gametimect RUNDOWN: 0:00 — Intro and highlights: No. 4 West Haven beat No. 7 Hamden in 27-23 classic 13:07 — Naugatuck blasts Woodland in monsoon 14:18 — Glastonbury knocks off No. 1 Maloney 16:40 — Latest Top 10 Poll: Southington is No. 1 again?? 24:56 — The Playoff Picture: 28 Teams Clinched 28:41 — Bloomfield holds off Platt to clinch; Platt awaits Stoddard Bowl 33:03 — The Playoff Picture: Class L 36:27 — The Playoff Picture: Class MM 39:10 — The Playoff Picture: Class M 40:37 — The Playoff Picture: Class SS 41:47 — The Playoff Picture: Class S 44:30 — Windsor coach ROB FLEETING interview 1:16:38 —2022 Championship Venues Announced 1:24:10 — Wrapping Up Further Reading: Latest Top 10 Poll: Southington is No. 1 (again) https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/The-GameTimeCT-Top-10-Football-Poll-Week-11-17583489.php Inside Week 10 of CIAC Football: Dreaming of math-free playoff scenarios https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/CIAC-football-Week-10-wrap-17569011.php Week 10 HS Football Scoreboard / Schedule https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/The-Week-11-CT-High-School-Football-Schedule-17583231.php Reid's last-minute TD catch lifts No. 4 West Haven over Hamden https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/West-Haven-Hamden-football-SCC-CIAC-17579839.php Bronson, New Milford upset Barlow, stay in Class L playoff race https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/New-Milford-upsets-Joel-Barlow-moves-one-win-17578650.php Martin, Deitelbaum lead Naugatuck in wipeout of Woodland https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/Martin-Deitelbaum-lead-Naugatuck-in-wipeout-of-17578801.php Rockville snaps Cromwell-Portland's 22-game winning streak https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/Rockville-football-snaps-Cromwell-Portland-s-17577497.php Petrone, Glastonbury knock off newly-crowned No. 1 Maloney in OT https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/Glastonbury-upsets-No-1-Maloney-in-CT-football-17576112.php Fairfield Prep rides defense in defeating No. 10 North Haven https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/Fairfield-Prep-North-Haven-CIAC-football-17574497.php

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT producer Sean Patrick Bowley.

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut with GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley. Now that Maloney has snatched the No. 1 banner away from Southington with its thrilling, 31-28, double overtime victory won on the foot of Josh Scaramuzzo, we turn our attention to Week 10 and another showdown between unbeaten teams. This time, it'll be No. 4 West Haven (8-0) playing host to No. 7 Hamden (8-0). While it might not pack the punch of No. 1 v. 2, it's an old District League rivalry resumed this year for supremacy in SCC Tier II, not to mention for a possible home game in the upcoming Class LL playoffs. Joining us this week is, of course, Hamden coach and athletic director Tom Dyer, who has guided Hamden to this recent renaissance of two-consecutive playoff seasons. Dyer, who won a couple of state titles at Hillhouse, talks about his team and what's been behind its 8-0 start. Dyer, who is also a representative on the CIAC's football committee and the coaches association, also has a say in the makeup of how Connecticut conduct its football playoffs. Naturally, given SPB's distain for the recent six-division expansion, we hear from Tom about the philosophy of the decision. Plus, with 2 1/2 weeks of games left before the end of the regular season, we delve into the latest CIAC playoff situation. So join us, won't you?

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT reporter Scott Ericson.

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of the Meat Grinder, your weekly look at high school football in Connecticut with GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley. And it was indeed a thriller on Halloween Weekend, especially up at Pierson Park in Cromwell where Cole Brisson and the Cromwell/Portland football team rallied and then hung on for dear life to win against Di'Angelo Jean-Pierre and Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 28-27. Johnny Beltre tipped away the 2-point pass to extend the defending state champions' 21-game win streak. Joining us this week is Cromwell/Portland coach Randell Bennett who talks about that game and how he went from an inaugural Cromwell player to a championship head coach in 20 years. We also take a look at the latest Top 10 poll where, for the third-consecutive season, voters have set up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup when Southington faces Maloney in a CCC battle at Falcon Field in Meriden. We also break down St. Joseph's defensive win over New Canaan and the latest CIAC playoff point standings. And, finally, we dip into Choate's big 26-15 victory over Loomis Chaffee in a massive NEPSAC battle of unbeatens. It's a jam-packed episode. So join us, wont you?

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT producer Sean Patrick Bowley.

This week’s special guest star is 5-1 North Haven football coach Tony Sagnella who returns for a re-do of last year’s interview that went unheard because Sean forgot to hit the record button. Coach Sags talk’s about this year’s resurgent team, which plays Cheshire this week as it fights for a Class MM playoff spot. The guys also talk to Sagnella about the genesis of North Haven’s famous single wing and his time spent as an NFL replacement player for the Washington Redskins during the strike year of 1987.  Naturally, it’s a longer-than-normal interview. But well worth it. As for last week, on the night where West Haven honored the 20th anniversary of their last state championship football team, the Westies of the present were busy earning their biggest victory to date: a 34-28 victory over then-No. 6 Shelton.  Sean talks about the game and interviews some of the key players from that great, 2002 Class LL title team, including Tom DeMorro and Phil Banks, who scored the winning TD, and coaches Bert Siclari and Ed McCarthy. The guys also break down the latest Top 10 poll, including No. 1 Southington’s narrow win over Windsor and No. 8 Ansonia’s nailbiting 31-28 victory over Holy Cross, and examine the six state playoff standings through seven weeks. So join us, won’t you?

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT producer Sean Patrick Bowley.

Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut hosted by GameTimeCT editors Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga. This week we skip a special guest star to check the gauges, kick the tires and replace our vitals for the second half of the 2022 CT high school football season. Welcome to the annual Midseason report, in which Pete and Sean break down their three surprising teams and three disappointing teams to date. Next, they offer up three teams and three players to watch in the season's second half. There's also the unveiling of the midseason Top 10 poll, which saw a minor shakeup with Greenwich's redemption victory over No. 6 St. Joseph and Windham's mission statement victory over No. 4 Killingly. And, finally, we take a peek at the impending disaster area that is the new six division playoff getup. So join us, won't you? EPISODE RUNDOWN: 0:00 -- Opening Montage 1:45 -- Recap: Wilson, Greenwich hold off St. Joseph 4:54 -- Latest GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll 7:00 -- No. 10 Killingly? Whippets make mission statement 13:56 -- Fairfield Prep gets nuts 14:49 -- The Midseason Six Division Playoff picture 30:06 -- The Midseason Report -- 6 'Surprises' 42:06 -- The Midseason Report -- 6 'Disappointments' 50:26 -- The Midseason Report -- 6 Second Half Teams to Watch 1:01:49 -- The Midseason Report - 6 Second Half Players to Watch

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT producer Sean Patrick Bowley.

Welcome back to another edition of The Meat Grinder, your weekly inside look at high school football in Connecticut with GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley. It was the Weekend of the Living Dead, in which a bunch of teams across the state got an early Halloween scare. Pete and SPB talk all about the great NVL showcase game won by Holy Cross rallying past Naugatuck on Thursday, plus East Hartford and Newington scares vs. No. 1 Southington and No. 3 Maloney, respectively. SPB also breaks down his trip to Granby Memorial for Cromwell/Portland's 14-7 victory and, his hectic Prep school Saturday, capped by the insane Avon Old Farms comeback that fell one agonizing point short against Choate in Saturday's NEPSAC showdown. Joining us for a chat this week is Killingly's 18-year head coach Chad Neal, who enjoyed a nice weekend off, but now gets back to business as he and his players get ready for a showdown with unbeaten Windham on Friday night. Coach Neal discusses this year's No. 4-ranked squad, and what it took to get his program playing at a championship level after a good 10-year struggle.

GameTimeCT producer Pete Paguaga hosts the Connecticut high school football pick'ems show with GameTimeCT producer Sean Patrick Bowley.

Welcome back to another edition of the Meat Grinder, your weekly inside look at high school football in Connecticut with Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley. If Week 4 was the Alliance Love Fest, Week 5 was the return of the jilted lover, our forgotten friend, the league game. We start in the SCC where Hamden took out Fairfield Prep for the first time since 2009 and North Haven dropped No. 3 Shelton for its first win over the Gaels since 1994. In the NVL, Gilbert/Northwestern/Housy put a scare into Ansonia; Staples outlasted Trumbull in an FCIAC thriller; Berlin rallied to beat Bloomfield in the CCC and so much more. Though the SCC, FCIAC and SWC have bye weeks, league play continues this week. Chris Anderson, a two-time championship coach at Woodland and now the head coach at Naugatuck, joins us this week to discuss his league's big game against Tom Ligi and Holy Cross at Municipal Stadium on Thursday night. Anderson, now in his second year in command of the Valley powerhouse, gives us his take on the matchup and a look at his team as it attempts to repeat last year's successful run to the NVL championship and state playoffs. So join us, won't you? Listen to the Meat Grinder now on your favorite streaming service, but sure to check out the Live Action version of the show on Tuesday evenings.