Thanksgiving Football 2013

ack Pinho sat at the front of a
third-floor classroom at Woodland

Regional High School, his and his
teammates eyes fixed on a projec-
tion screen. It was the first
Thursday afternoon in October,
only 28 hours before kickoff of the
Hawks rivalry game against Naugatuck.
Senior captains, such as Pinho, sit at
the head of the class during film sessions
and game plan presentations. Pinho is list-
ed at 5-foot-8, 120 pounds Woodlands
roster would not fare well against a lie
detector so none of the underclassmen
behind him fret about the wide receiver
obstructing their views.
Thats a good thing, because all 41 var-
sity players in the room needed to see how
sixth-year head coach Tim Shea was going
to conclude the weeks film study.
Week 4 was packed with pressure even
before the previous one had ended. Both
Woodland and Naugatuck entered October
with 3-0 records and the winner of their
game would likely emerge as the eventual
champion of the Naugatuck Valley League
Copper Division. Most local pundits picked
the Greyhounds to win a close one.
Plus, in an era when historical rivalries
of the prideful Valley have softened, the
emotions between the Hawks and Hounds
are more volatile than ever. Officials expect-
ed a crowd of at least 2,000 to descend on
Beacon Falls for the first time in nearly a
decade.
Woodlands players had plenty to focus
on leading up to the game, but Shea made
sure to keep one complacency-breaker until
the end of the week.
The Hawks already knew they were
going to play for the first George Pinho
Trophy, the decade-old rivalrys new center-
piece named for Jacks late father and for-
mer Woodland assistant coach who unex-
pectedly died in January. But they didnt get
to see it until Shea surprised them with the
last click in his pre-walkthrough
PowerPoint.
Coach Shea showed a picture of the
trophy in the film room, and everyone start-
ed getting hyped for it, Jack remembers.
The intensity level just perked up. There
was a lot of fire and emotion in that
Thursday practice.
So much, in fact, that the Hawks
assured themselves of what was going to
happen the next night.
That game meant so much to us, sen-
ior quarterback Tanner Kingsley recalls. We
knew we were going to win.
George Pinho was born Dec. 12, 1964,
in Waterbury and grew up in Naugatuck. He
graduated from Naugatuck High School and
eventually moved to Prospect, where he and
his wife, Jane, raised their two boys, Jake
and Jack.
Being involved in his sons lives was of
paramount importance for George. Jack
thinks his fathers motivation had deep
roots.
When he was younger, his dad wasn't
really there for him, Jack explains. From
youth soccer until now, he wanted to be
involved with everything. He was always
there for Jake and me. He was one of those
dads you always wanted.
Almost every youth sports organization
in the area boasted George on its volunteer
roster at some point. He coached soccer,
basketball, baseball and football in
Prospect, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls over
the years. It didnt matter how much or
how little George knew about the tech-
niques and strategies of each sport rather
than how badly he wanted to be there.
He never made it about himself, Jake
says. If he had a job to do, he was going to
give it his all. It didn't matter who it was for,
he just wanted it to be the best experience
possible for everyone. He was never even a
big football guy when it came to X's and O's,
but he was a motivator and everyone loved
to have him around.
George joined Sheas staff at Woodland
around the time Jake made the varsity
squad in 2008. Pinho served all sorts of
roles, from head freshman coach to assis-
tant varsity special teams coordinator. It
was important to Shea to have a positive
role model who had connected with many
of the players for years.
He didn't let a lot of things bother him,
and if he did he didn't show it, Shea says.
He was always like, OK, move on. Next up.
Don't worry about it. Kids gravitated to
that. In small towns like these, he essential-
ly had every kid on his team or in his house
at some point.
Georges love for his sons ran the gamut
from tough to tender. Jake, now studying at
Central Connecticut State University, also
knew his dad as his best friend.
He was truly a hero and an idol in my
life, Jake boasts. He was the only person I
was able to talk about anything with. If you
want to talk about someone being your
biggest fan, it was him. Jack and I always
knew that no matter what we did, success or
failure, that we always had him.
But George didnt limit himself to two
sons. The hundreds of young men he
coached throughout the years especially
the ones who played alongside Jake and
Jack at Woodland felt the same affection
from the man they called GP.
No other coach showed the same love
Coach Pinho showed for all of us, Kingsley
says. He cared so much for our team. He
would always say in his pregame speeches
how he loved us so much and that we'd
always have him forever. And we always
will.
They were his sons, too, Jack smiles.
He loved them all.
Shea, who also coaches the boys track
team, stood inside Hillhouse Highs indoor
facility Jan. 19 after supervising a football
weightlifting session that morning at
Woodland. On what should have been a
fairly quiet Saturday, he felt his phone buzz.
It was a call from assistant coach Jack
DeBiase.
Wheres Jack? DeBiase asked,
demanding to know where Pinho was.
What do you mean, Wheres Jack?
Shea responded. Im at a track meet. He
was at lifting this morning and then he had
basketball practice. Why?
George had a heart attack, DeBiase
said.
Shea thought it was a joke.
No, no, DeBiase shot back. He had a
heart attack. Jake found him and theyre on
their way to the hospital.
Shea told DeBiase to call the basketball
coaches so they could alert Jack and rush
him to the hospital. Once Shea finished
with DeBiase, he updated his assistant
coaches on the situation. While he
explained what was unfolding to a group of
B2
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^
Father figure
Kyle Brennan, Citizens News
George Pinho leaves lasting legacy at Woodland
J
If you want to talk about someone being your biggest fan, it was him. Jack and I always knew
that no matter what we did, success or failure, that we always had him.
Jake Pinho
RACHAEL MORIN
George Pinho was a staple on the sidelines at Woodland from 2008 until the
time of his death in January. Pinho volunteered for a variety of youth sports
organizations in the area during his life as a labor of love.
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland quarterback Tanner
Kingsley (7) and assistant coach Jake
Pinho celebrate after a touchdown
Oct. 4 against Naugatuck.
senior parents at the track meet, Shea felt
another buzz. This time it was a text from
DeBiase.
Hes gone.
In the week that followed Georges
death, Shea coordinated the football teams
effort to help memorialize the 48-year-old
dad and mentor. He organized the Hawks
joint entrance to the funeral at St. Anthonys
Church in Prospect.
It was a very tough time for a lot of
these kids because they all knew George,
not only as a coach but as friends, Shea
says. We thought a fitting tribute to him
would be for us to go in together. I had a
pretty good cry that day.
Jack and Jake saw the teams tribute as
the epitome of the Hawks motto: Fear the
Family.
Some people call their team a second fam-
ily, but I call this my family, Jack says. They've
been more than a second family to me.
The way that they embraced us is
something that you can't ever be thankful
enough for, Jake agrees. To have them be
there with us, and to see how it affected
them so much and show their feelings
toward my dad, it just brought everyone
closer. When you talk about family, I think
everything that's happened really defines
that word.
Of all the moments the outpouring
love at the funeral, the memories shared by
friends, the inspirational victories to come
nothing resonated with the Pinhos as
much as Georges wake, which attracted
what seemed like an endless stream of
thousands.
The night of the ceremony was crazy,
the amount of people and hours of waiting
they did, Jack says.
That night was probably the most
proud I've ever been to be able to call him
my dad, Jake gushes. Nobody else can say
that besides me and Jack. To see all those
people there was just incredible. It felt like
we hugged and shook hands for five hours,
and if I could relive it again I would. It was
amazing to see all that love.
To Shea, it was exactly what George
deserved.
The amount of respect shown at his
wake spoke volumes, Shea says. That's a
true testament of a man.
When the ceremonies ended and the
were-there-for-you assurances trickled to a
stop, the Pinhos were left to begin life with-
out their patriarch. The realization struck
Jack in the most mundane of ways.
Everyone was like, We're here for
you, Jack recalls. But when you get home
and Jake's at college, my mom's working,
and you walk in the door, it hits you because
you're all alone.
Shea knows the emotions Jack and Jake
felt. The Naugatuck native channeled his
experience from 1996, when he had to deal
with the untimely passing of his father,
Michael, after a battle with esophageal cancer.
He recognized the parallel between his
situation, which left him stepping up in his
early 20s to care for his mother and two
younger sisters, and that of the Pinho brothers.
As the oldest, I forced myself to the
head of the table, Shea says. I've talked to
the two of them about it Jake especially,
being the oldest. I've told Jake that there are
certain things he'll need to do. I still talk to
Jake about stuff, and I'll sit Jack down and
talk about dad stuff. There are certain things
they can tell me that I understand but other
people wouldn't.
For Jake, Shea has helped fill the role of
a father figure.
He's been someone who I can talk to
about anything. After my own football prac-
tices, I always had my dad to call, says Jake,
who is a walk-on player at CCSU. When I
lost him, I almost lost myself. But Coach
Shea has been able to provide that for me. If
I'm feeling bad about a practice or a game, I
can always go talk to him.
Jack and Jake have their mom, Jane,
too.
My mom is one of the toughest indi-
viduals, Jack says. How she's handled it,
with people coming up to her all the time
about it, is amazing. She's never missed a
game for me and Jake, and I don't know how
she's done it with her schedule. She loves us
so much.
Georges sons have never been the
star players of their teams. Theyre not the
all-state type. They have always been
among the most undersized guys on the
field. But Jake and Jack worked for their
spots in the Woodland football program,
and thats what made George proud.
Jakes senior season was in 2010. As one
of the teams three captains, he led the Hawks
to their first state postseason appearance in
three years. At just 5-foot-6, 157 pounds, he
earned All-Naugatuck Valley League Copper
Division honors as a defensive back.
Nobody recruited him to play college
football, but he earned a spot with the Blue
Devils as a walk-on. Jake played in his first
game Oct. 26 against Salve Regina and reg-
istered his first career tackle on special
teams. Playing on kickoffs gives Jake a spe-
cial chance to acknowledge his dad.
Before every kickoff, when I go out on
the field, I always point to the sky because I
know he's watching, says Jake, a sopho-
more. He was so proud of what Jack and I
have been able to do, and I use it as motiva-
tion to make him more proud because I
know he's still watching. I always write his
name down on my ticket list so I can guar-
antee that he'll be there.
When time permits, Jake comes back to
coach the Hawks. Its a way to stay close to
the program he loves and to duplicate the
love it received from his father.
He lived his life for me and Jack, and
now we're the ones who get to carry on his
legacy, Jake says. Hopefully one day we
will be able to pass it on like he passed it to
us and to so many other people.
Jacks senior season is this fall. Like his
older brother, hes also one of Woodlands
three captains, and hes helped the Hawks
reach the playoffs for the third time in four
years. The 120-pounder might be the smallest
starter in the conference, but it hasnt stopped
him from snagging five touchdown passes.
I know he wanted nothing more for
me than to follow in Jake's footsteps
because Jake was a leader, Jack says. I
know he's happy for me.
Jack lines up as Woodlands third wide
receiver wearing the same No. 3 as his
brother and usually functions as
Kingsleys security blanket in crucial situa-
tions. Jacks catch at the end of the 2012
Class S quarterfinal against Capital Prep
sealed a semifinal berth for the Hawks.
George was there for that game, and Jack
says he still gets the same vibe.
I feel like he's still there on the side-
lines, Jack says. I can still picture his voice
yelling and trying to find something wrong
about what I'm doing. There are certain
signs during the game that make it feel like
he's watching.
The signals have never been stronger
than they were Oct. 4, 2013.
Jake came back to coach Woodlands
game against Naugatuck the one with his
dads trophy on the line for the first time
and Shea allowed him to make a pregame
speech.
I tried to relay the message of what he
always said before the game, about how
much he loved them, Jake says.
Throughout my whole football career,
whether it's playing or coaching, that was
the most emotional game.
With more than 2,000 fans on hand, the
Hawks took their home field with GP
stickers on their helmets and his initials
Sharpied on their wrist tape. Georges
brother, Tony, paraded the trophy atop the
hill throughout the game for all to see.
Woodland took a 6-0 lead in the first
quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from
Kingsley to Mike Kenney. Naugatuck
snatched the lead in the second, but just a
minute before halftime the Hawks re-seized
it when Jack hauled in an 11-yard score
from Kingsley.
Naugy briefly took another lead in the
third but soon Kingsley took back the edge
for good with a 6-yard touchdown pass to
Taylor Tucciarone. Kingsley added an insur-
ance score on a 2-yard run in the fourth,
and Chris McDonald recovered an onside
kick to end the game.
Woodland 25, Naugatuck 22.
Jack stood on the field as Kingsley exe-
cuted the victory formation. As the quarter-
back raised his knee for the final time, Jack
took one of his own in the center of the grid-
iron. He pointed with both arms toward the
sky and then took a few steps toward Jake,
trotting onto the field to meet his younger
brother while the final siren blared beneath
the crowds roar.
I was able to run out onto the field and
greet Jack first and give him a hug, Jake
remembers. It was one of those moments,
in the midst of the tragedy when you
dedicate your life to this game, it makes you
realize it was all worth it.
I looked at Jake at the end of the game,
and it was just one of those moments, Jack
recalls.
Jake relinquished the 10-second
embrace to let Jack thank the black-clad
student section and shake hands with the
Greyhounds. Soon after, Jane took the game
ball and Uncle Tony presented to Jack the
silver football attached to a black base with
the inscription: The George Pinho Trophy.
Jack clung to the trophy much as he did
to the ball on his touchdown catch. He
posed for a few photos before he leapt atop
his teams bench to show off the prize to
those remaining in the bleachers.
It was probably one of my favorite
moments watching Jack hold up that trophy
with his dad's name on it, Kingsley
recounts. That was unbelievable.
We made a promise that it wasn't
going anywhere, Shea says. I believe that
George was looking down on us.
It was the fourth time in Jacks high
school career that the Hawks had beaten
the Hounds. He had a routine after each of
the first three victories. The final one spoke
for itself.
Usually when we'd beat Naugy, I'd rub
it in my dad's face because he went to
Naugy, Jack says. People might think that I
was sad, but I know he was happy about this
one.
MYCITIZENSNEWS.COM
B3
Happy Thanksgiving from
All of Us at Beacon Brook
Above Jack Pinho holds the George
Pinho Trophy, named after his late
father, and points to the sky following
Woodlands win over Naugatuck Oct. 4.
At right, Jane Pinho holds the game
ball up to the crowd after the victory.
PHOTOS BY ELIO GUGLIOTTI
he Naugatuck-Ansonia
Thanksgiving Day football
game is more than a game
its an event for the two
neighboring communities
nestled along the banks of
the Naugatuck River.
Its storied history began on a late fall
morning in 1900 and the series has become
the oldest high school football rivalry in the
state of Connecticut. Players throughout
the generations who played in this game
remember the details of their gridiron bat-
tles for the rest of their lives.
There were many moments in players
high school careers some with as many
as 30 to 40 games that have brought the
true meaning to the thrill of victory and the
agony of defeat. But nothing will ever com-
pare to the memories that are cherished
from cold Thanksgiving mornings in the
Naugatuck-Ansonia rivalry, so the game
that has become an event in their lives.
In 1942, Naugatuck senior captain and
quarterback Ed Mariano went to battle
against the Lavender and came up on the
short end of a 26-13 final. Mariano went on
to become a legendary umpire, referee,
coach and educator for the borough of
Naugatuck, but through all his successes he
was never able to defeat Ansonia on the
gridiron.
The Mariano name has graced the foot-
ball field throughout the years while proud-
ly wearing the Garnet and Grey. Ed Mariano
and his wife, Dorothy, raised four sons and
two daughters, who in turn made them
proud grandparents of 16 grandchildren.
Their oldest son, Peter, didnt play foot-
ball but was very much a part of the
Thanksgiving event by playing the national
anthem on his trumpet. Chris played in the
late 70s and was 0-2 against the Chargers
before he graduated in 1979. Mark played
for the Greyhounds but injured his knee as
Naugatuck came away empty against
Ansonia before he graduated in 1981.
Alison rooted on the Greyhounds from
the sidelines as a cheerleader before gradu-
ating in 1986. The only one of Eds sons who
had success against the Chargers was
David. Naugatuck won the Naugatuck
Valley League championship with a memo-
rable, 24-20 victory on Thanksgiving Day of
his junior year in 1981. The Greyhounds
went on to win the Class L state champi-
onship and were named the best team in all
of New England.
I see my dads NVL championship ring
all the time and that motivates me to go out
and try and get one, says Kevin, Davids
youngest son who is a senior on this years
squad. We may not be playing for the NVL
title anymore but we do have a good shot of
making the state playoffs.
As a senior, David had the honor of
beating the Chargers again for another NVL
championship in a 7-6 nail-biter. That vic-
tory put Naugatuck back in the state play-
offs before it lost to New Canaan.
That was probably the best game I will
ever remember, David says. Ansonia was
coached by (Bill) McAllister and he had
about 10 Division I players on that team,
with five going to UConn and two going to
Yale. We had to beat them to get into states
and what a game it was.
David and his wife, Eileen, have had the
pleasure of watching all four of their sons
John, Michael, Daniel and Kevin proudly
wear the Garnet and Grey on the gridiron.
John only played two years before focusing
on basketball, and he is now an assistant
basketball coach at St. Anselm after finish-
ing a four-year collegiate career for the
Hawks.
Michael played football and Daniel
earned All-State honors as a lineman, but
the brothers never enjoyed beating Ansonia
on Thanksgiving Day. Kevin was in the
stands at Jarvis Stadium with his freshman
teammates when Naugatuck last beat the
Chargers back in 2010, when the Hounds
won the NVL championship with a 38-20
victory.
As a sophomore, Kevin played seven
games of varsity at guard only to have
Ansonia beat Naugatuck, 49-14, on the last
Thanksgiving game to be played on the old
Veterans Field grass.
Two games into his junior season,
Kevin tore up his knee and missed the rest
of the season. He had to watch as Ansonia
again won handily over the Greyhounds, 48-
27.
In this his senior year, Kevin is the last
of a long line of Marianos to wear the
Garnet and Grey for now, at least.
There was a little bit of pressure com-
ing into this season knowing Im the last of
the Marianos to wear this uniform, Kevin
says. But we are having a tremendous sea-
son and Coach (Craig) Bruno had done an
excellent job helping us on and off the
field.
Before the Greyhounds first home
game on their new artificial turf in
September, Naugatuck honored the late Ed
Mariano, who passed away in August. The
Hounds went on to pull out a thrilling, 42-
36 overtime win over Wolcott in one of the
most dramatic finishes in Naugatuck foot-
ball history.
Im so glad we won that game after
having such an amazing ceremony for my
grandfather, Kevin says. He must have
been watching down on us. He was such an
inspiration to not only me but our entire
family.
Thanks to the new uniforms Naugy
sports, Kevin gets to proudly wear the
Mariano name across his back. Its one in
which he will take special pride
Thanksgiving morning, which could be the
last game of his career.
Im so proud to have that name,
Kevin says. My grandfather was a legend in
this town. I will say a prayer before the game
knowing he will be there with us in spirit,
but its going to be hard knowing hes not up
there in the stands.
As the players take the field for the
Thanksgiving Day game that has become an
event, the Mariano clan will be in the stands
cheering on Kevin, the Greyhounds and the
legacy that Ed Mariano began so many
years ago.
Being in the stands watching your son
play on the same field that you did is such a
special feeling, I cant even describe it,
David says. I just keep remembering the
words of my father: Give it 110 percent,
leave it all on the field and have no
regrets.
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Happy
Thanksgiving
Go
Greyhounds
Mariano carries on family legacy with Greyhounds
Ken Morse, Citizens News
Bob
Burns
REALTOR
1152 New Haven Road

Naugatuck, CT 06770
Cell 203-217-1723
BobBurns9@comcast.net
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Good Luck Greyhounds!
T
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck senior Kevin Mariano (56) has carried on the family tradition of
wearing the Garnet and Grey for the Greyhounds.
RA ARCHIVE
Dorothy Mariano, center, and family
members were recognized before
Naugatuck's home opener Sept. 20.
The season was dedicated to
Mariano's late husband, Ed Mariano.
raig Bruno felt as nervous
as he has been in his 13-
year head coaching career
before Naugatucks Sept.
20 game against Wolcott.
It was only Week 2 of the
season; no champi-
onships were going to be won or lost that
night. Still, the butterflies turned into bats
for Naugys first-year coach.
Thats because he desperately wanted
for he and his Greyhounds to make their
home debut on their brand-new artificial
turf field.
They were so excited that first game,
says Bruno, whose team won a 42-36 thriller
in overtime. It's not just that it was a close
game, but they sensed the history that it was
going to be the first game on a turf that's
going to be here for a long time. They got to
be part of something new.
The Veterans Field turf was the first part
of the high schools $81 million renovation
to be completed. It includes an eight-lane
track and improvements to the seating
capacity, which is the largest in the
Naugatuck Valley League.
Bruno spent his first 12 years at Bunnell
of Stratford, where his Bulldogs also played
on a turf field. But he says the facilities in
the South-West Conference dont compare
to what his Greyhounds have in the NVL.
It's beautiful. It has a lot of character,
Bruno says of his new home turf. The field
is beautiful, but the setting here is what
makes it. The crowds throughout this league
and just Valley football this is my first
time seeing this, and I can see how real the
passion and intensity is.
Over the last few years, the old natural
grass of Veterans Field made for poor play-
ing conditions, especially late in the season.
Ryne Griesenauer, a senior captain and the
teams leading wide receiver, enjoys having
a pristine surface where he can rack up the
numbers.
It's a lot better, Griesenauer says.
With grass, sometimes it's too hard or
too soft and it's tough to plant. I've got no
excuses anymore. I can come out here
and play 110 percent no matter the
weather.
Brunos traditionally high-powered
offensive have benefited from playing on
turf. He led the Bulldogs to state champi-
onships in 2006 and 2007 thanks to a
dynamic passing attack. Naugys new facili-
ty was a major draw when he accepted the
job in January.
You either get a turf field or I don't
coach there, Bruno jokes. That's a prereq-
uisite.
This season has felt like a Naugatuck
football rebirth, Griesenauer says. The com-
bination of Brunos fresh attitude and the
new turf has motivated the Hounds to a 9-1
record entering Thanksgiving.
It's with the whole new era around
here, Griesenauer says. We got Coach
Bruno and his whole staff, and we got this
beautiful field. Not only are we able to play
on it, but this is the first time that the games
here have really meant something. We know
that we're going to have people here, so we
want to show them what's going on.
The turf, which is also used by Naugys
soccer teams, is only the first of many
improvements to the high schools athletic
facilities. New natural grass baseball and
softball fields have been laid on the lower
level, and an indoor complex is still in the
works. In addition to a renovated swimming
pool and gymnasium, Naugatuck will add a
wing with a new weight room and team
room, and there will be new locker rooms
and coaches offices.
The transition has been a little bit
tough, but it's going to be worth the wait,
Bruno says.
Bruno has been happy with the support
the team has received throughout the regu-
lar season. He hopes to be able to turn
around from his home sideline on
Thanksgiving and see Greyhounds fans
packed on the sprawling hill.
A field is a field, but a school and a
community give character to it, Bruno
says. These people have been waiting to
see the passion back on the field, and it's
here.
The one thing Naugy fans havent
seen on the new turf is a loss.
Griesenauer says his team doesnt plan
on suffering its first to Ansonia on
Thanksgiving morning.
We don't want anyone to come in here
and beat us, Griesenauer says. This is our
place, and as long as I'm here I want to keep
it that way. This is our home.
MYCITIZENSNEWS.COM
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Happy
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Good Luck
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The turf dreams are made of
C
KYLE BRENNAN
The lights shine down on the new Veterans Field turf Nov. 15 before the Greyhounds game versus Kennedy.
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatucks Kevin Robinson Jr. (22)
sizes up Wolcotts Jayson Matos (3)
before making the tackle during the
Greyhounds first game on the new
turf Sept. 20.
Its a lot better. With grass, sometimes its too hard or too
soft and its tough to plant. Ive got no excuses anymore. I can
come out here and play 100 percent no matter the weather.
RYNE GRIESENAUER
B6
CITIZENS NEWS
Play Hard, Have Fun.
Best Wishes For A Great Game!
Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at
Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan
Naugatuck - Waterbury - Beacon Falls - Seymour - Derby - Shelton - Southbury - Cheshire
Your Community Bank www.nvsl.com 1-800-251-2161
Thanksgiving Stat Chat
Naugatuck vs. Ansonia
Woodland vs. Seymour
BLACK FRIDAY,
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SATURDAY!
0Quarterbacks in Naugatuck history to throw for more yards and touchdowns than
Jason Bradley has this season. Bradley enters Thanksgiving with 2,470 yards and 34 touch-
downs, both school records.
5Rank on the Thanksgiving series all-time combined scoring list of last years game.
The 75 combined points scored in Ansonias 48-27 win may be surpassed this season with
the squads averaging more than 93 combined points per game. The series record is 85
points in 1946.
7Times Naugatuck has had to deal with a 2,200-yard running back on Thanksgiving
over the last nine seasons. That includes this year, Naugys final meeting with Arkeel
Newsome, the states all-time leading rusher and scorer.
24 Distance, in yards, of Mick Pernells field goal last Thanksgiving that gave
Naugatuck a 9-7 lead over Ansonia. The Chargers scored the next two touchdowns and
coasted to a win.
25Touchdowns accounted for by Bradley in Naugatucks last four games. He has tal-
lied 14 total scores in the Greyhounds last two victories and hes posted 44 total TDs on the
year.
1986 Last time a Naugatuck senior class experienced two career victories over
Ansonia. That group claimed a 34-6 win as seniors and a 33-28 victory as juniors. This years
Naugy seniors were freshmen when the Greyhounds beat Ansonia, 38-20, in 2010.
2001Last time a Naugatuck-Ansonia game was decided by a single-digit margin.
The Greyhounds won the NVL championship, 14-13, in Rob Plaskys first year as head
coach.
Naugatuck quarter-
back Jason Bradley
enters Thanksgiving
as the Greyhounds
single-season
record holder with
2,470 yards and 34
touchdowns.
Bradley has 60 TD
passes in two years
as a starter.
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
.5Sack needed by Woodland linebacker Levi Fancher to tie the schools career sacks
record, currently held by Eric Alfiere (18). Fancher has seven sacks this season and can also
break the schools career tackles mark on Thanksgiving eve.
1Position of Woodland quarterback Tanner Kingsley on the charts of the Hawks 12
major passing records. Hes the schools career, single-season and single-game leader in
yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts.
4Consecutive games in the Thanksgiving eve rivalry won by Woodland. This streak
follows the Wildcats five-game stretch of wins from 2005-08.
5 Naugatuck Valley League division championships won by Woodland in the last
decade. The Hawks won titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012 and this fall.
67Career completion percentage for Kingsley, the best in state history for quarter-
backs with a minimum of 640 attempts. That is three points higher than that of current
UConn quarterback Casey Cochran.
88Combined points in last years Thanksgiving eve game, a 62-26 win by Woodland.
It broke the series record for most total points, topping the 87 scored in Woodlands 55-32
win in 2009.
288 Rushing yards needed by Seymour running back Joey Salemme on
Thanksgiving eve to break the Wildcats single-season record, currently held by Edwin
Esson (2,030 in 1980). Salemme has 1,743 yards and 20 touchdowns this year.
Woodland is
looking to
make it five
wins in a row
over the
Wildcats on
Thanksgiving
eve after rout-
ing Seymour
62-26 last year.
The 88 com-
bined points
was the most
scored in the
history of the
rivalry.
RA ARCHIVE
MYCITIZENSNEWS.COM
B7
Thank You
Naugatuck
High School
Athletic Department
for sharing photos.
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NAUGATUCK HIGH SCHOOL
KYLE BRENNAN
2013 NAUGATUCK GREYHOUNDS
here will be no
Naugatuck Valley
League title at stake
when Naugatuck and
Ansonia dig in across
the line of scrimmage
on Thanksgiving morn-
ing.
That may seem unusual for this
storied rivalry that will be playing its
114th game since 1900. But the fact of
the matter is this: Since 1951, when the
NVL first officially crowned a league
champion, the Chargers and
Greyhounds have only met 13 times to
decide the league championship, with
Naugatuck holding a slim 7-6 edge in
those confrontations.
This years NVL championship was
decided last week when Ansonia rolled
over Woodland. That doesnt make this
Thanksgiving game any less meaningful
as both Naugatuck (9-1) and Ansonia
(11-0) will have the opportunity to wrap
up home games in the state quarterfi-
nals and if the Greyhounds lose, they
may miss the playoffs altogether.
You would have to go back more
than a decade to find two more success-
ful coaches than Naugys Craig Bruno
and Ansonias Tom Brockett going head
to head in this Thanksgiving matchup.
Bruno, the first-year man in the bor-
ough, brings in a 103-37-1 career record
after spending 12 seasons with Bunnell
of Stratford, where he compiled a 94-36-
1 ledger with two state championships
to show for his efforts.
Everyone has been talking about
this game and I know all about the long
history of this rivalry, Bruno says. I
know what theyre about and Ive seen
them play in the past. Ive been friends
with Coach Brockett for quite a few
years.
Brockett, who took over for the leg-
endary Jack Hunt in 2006, has reeled off
a 96-7 record in leading the Chargers to
four state titles in eight seasons.
Ansonia heads into the fray as winners
of 39 games in a row, the second extend-
ed streak of its kind during the Brockett
era. The Chargers will be looking for a
state championship three-peat after
winning in 2011 and 2012.
This years Thanksgiving game will
feature two of the rivalrys highest scor-
ing offenses in quite some time.
Naugatuck averages 42.6 points per
game while allowing 16.3, while
Ansonia averages 50.7 points while let-
ting up 15.1 per game.
Most of the Chargers offense
comes through running back Arkeel
Newsome, the states all-time leading
rusher and scorer. He has become the
only player in state history to rush for
more than 9,000 yards and 150 touch-
downs. Still, Bruno doesnt want his
teams focus to be on the UConn-bound
runner.
What we cant get into is focusing
on Ansonia and Arkeel Newsome,
Bruno says. We need to focus on what
we can do. The better the team, the
harder you need to prepare. Ive been in
a lot of big games over the years and its
a lot more than any one player.
Naugatuck will bring quite a bit to
the table with junior quarterback Jason
Bradley, who has set single-season
passing marks for the Greyhounds with
2,470 yards and 34 touchdowns. Bradley
has also run for 331 yards and a team-
leading 10 touchdowns on 80 carries.
Naugy running back Tom Douty
has carried the ball 95 times for 802
yards and eight touchdowns. Kevin
Robinson (260 yards, five touchdowns)
and Nate Franklin (135 yards) add more
ground threats.
Ryne Griesenauer is closing in on
1,000 receiving yards with 52 catches for
998 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bryan
Coney has hauled in 28 catches for 671
yards and 11 touchdowns. Robinson
has 23 catches for 281 yards and a
touchdown, and Rick Plasky has pulled
down 15 catches for 236 yards and three
touchdowns. Franklin and Douty have
also latched onto three touchdown
grabs each for the Hounds.
I believe in our guys and I believe
in this team, Bruno says. We will need
to come out and play our best game and
make no mistakes. We will control the
things we can control and that will be
our intensity and that will be at its max-
imum.
Ansonia boasts Newsome in the
backfield and quarterback JaiQuan
McKnight under center. McKnight is a
dual threat with more than 1,000 total
yards and 16 touchdowns.
Ansonia has a lot of good players
besides Newsome and McKnight, but
we have some pretty good players on
our end as well, Bruno says. What we
need to do is come out and match the
intensity level of this game.
This years Thanksgiving game will
be the first played on Naugatucks new
Veterans Field turf, which makes Bruno
excited to debut in front of the many
fans who come for only the Turkey Day
contest.
Im real glad my first
Thanksgiving game with Ansonia is
here on our own turf, Bruno says. I
wouldnt say its comforting there is
nothing comfortable about facing one
of the top teams in the state on a 40-
game winning streak.
B8
CITIZENS NEWS
Naugatuck Schedule and Results
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 13 at Crosby W 39-8
Sept. 20 vs. Wolcott W 42-36 (OT)
Sept. 26 vs. Sacred Heart W 49-19
Oct. 4 at Woodland L 25-22
Oct. 11 at Torrington W 33-3
Oct. 18 vs. Bunnell W 39-0
Oct. 26 at St. Paul W 59-31
Nov. 1 vs. Wilby W 42-14
Nov. 7 at Holy Cross W 56-20
Nov. 28 Ansonia 10:30 a.m.
No. Surname First Name Yr. Off. Def.
2 Tyler Fr. WR LB
4 Papp Brandon Fr. RB LB
6 Griesenauer Ryne Sr. WR LB
7 Hopkins Jourdan Jr. RB LB
8 Plasky Rick Sr. WR LB
10 Ilunga Etty So. WR DB
11 Harrison Shane Sr. WR DB
12 Cantoni Nicolas Fr. WR DB
13 Bradley Jason Jr. QB
14 Dietelbaum Tyler Fr. QB
16 Desantis Brett Fr. WR DB
18 Coney Bryan Jr. WR DB
19 Quarles Chris Jr. TE LB
21 Franklin Nate Sr. RB DB
22 Robinson Kevin Jr. WR DB
24 Burke Bryan Sr. RB LB
25 Bragg Blayde So. RB LB
26 Douty Tom Sr. RB LB
28 Brooks Maleek Jr. WR DB
29 Warren Lucas So. RB DB
32 Santo Brandon Jr. RB LB
35 Burke Matt Sr. WR DB
40 Manouse Aaron So. LB
43 Cavagnulo Paul So. WR LB
44 Grillo Matt Jr. RB LB
47 Johnson Aaron Sr. WR
48 Messenger Austin So. LB
52 Yourison Aaron Jr. OL DL
53 Renzoni Dan Sr. RB LB
54 Ilunga Socrates Jr. OL DL
55 Murphy PJ Jr. OL LB
56 Mariano Kevin Sr. OL DL
59 Kazadi Francois Sr. K
62 Kloc David Jr. OL DL
63 Brewer James Jr. K LB
65 Jawaid Nabeel Jr. OL DL
67 Campbell Jeremiah So. OL DL
68 Dumont Matt So. OL DL
69 Hanks Nick Jr. OL DL
71 Reardon Jack Jr. OL DL
72 Paul Will Jr. OL DL
75 Sanchez Freddy So. OL DL
76 Bond Logan So. OL DL
77 Cavagnulo Mark Sr. OL DL
81 Ahmed Eyad Sr. TE DL
82 Mesidol James So. OL DL
86 San Angelo James Sr. OL DL
88 Aviles Devan So. WR DB
93 Caufield Cameron So. OL DL
Naugatuck Roster
Nov. 15
Waters
vs. Kennedy W 45-7
Naugatuck charging up for Ansonia
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck running back Tom Douty (26) leads the dynamic Greyhounds offense on the ground this year with
95 carries for 802 yards and eight touchdowns with the help of blocks from David Kloc (62) and the rest of the
offensive line. Naugy boasts a slew of offensive weapons heading into the annual Thanksgiving game.
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck linebacker Jourdan
Hopkins (7), defensive back
Maleek Brooks (28) and the
Greyhounds defense have given
up an average of 16.3 points per
game. The defense will look to
shutdown Ansonia running back
Arkeel Newsome on Thanksgiving.
T
I believe in our guys and I believe in this
team. We will need to come out and play
our best game and make no mistakes. We
will control the things we can control.
CRAIG BRUNO
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 13 vs. Branford W 44-19
Sept. 20 vs. Crosby W 40-6
Sept. 28 at Kennedy W 34-26
Oct. 4 vs. Naugatuck W 25-22
Oct. 12 at St. Paul W 59-14
Oct. 18 at Pomperaug W 42-13
Oct. 25 vs. Sacred Heart W 54-6
Nov. 1 at Holy Cross L 37-18
Nov. 8 vs. Torrington W 46-14
Nov. 15 vs. Derby W 32-27
Woodland Schedule and Results
Nov. 20
Nov. 27 at Seymour
L 48-7
6 p.m.
Ansonia (NVL championship)
MYCITIZENSNEWS.COM
B9
No. Surname First Name Yr. Off. Def.
3 Pinho Jack Sr. WR DB
4 McAllen Sean So. RB DB
5 DeBrizzi Zach Sr. TE LB
6 Abarzua Dylan Jr. WR DB
7 Kingsley Tanner Sr. QB
8 Scirpo Jon So. WR DB
9 Kenney Mike Jr. WR DB
11 Rodrigues Jason Jr. RB DB
12 Scirpo Alex Jr. WR DB
14 Decarolis DJ Fr. RB LB
15 Shaw Connor Jr. WR DB
16 Koch Quincy Fr. QB DB
20 Poeta Joe Jr. WR DB
21 Hale Pat Jr. QB DB
22 Gondola Mike Sr. RB DB
24 Tucciarone Taylor Sr. WR DB
25 Vaccarelli Coby So. RB DB
26 Giammattei Nick So. RB DB
27 Massimo Guy So. WR DB
28 Lang Mike Sr. WR DB
29 Paternoster Rob Sr. WR DB
32 Bobbie Dave So. RB DB
34 Slavin Chris Sr. RB LB
43 Fancher Levi Sr. TE LB
47 McDonald Chris Jr. TE LB
51 Flormann Will Jr. OL DL
52 Searles John So. OL DL
55 Rek Gage Sr. OL DL
56 McSperrin Max Jr. OL DL
58 Alves Ryan So. OL DL
59 Varhol Alex Jr. OL DL
63 Fidalgo Dylan Jr. OL DL
66 Shea Colin So. OL DL
70 Laliberte Jake Jr. OL DL
74 Dervisi Semir So. OL DL
75 Boncal Jake Sr. OL DL
77 Bures Alik Sr. OL DL
78 Ezzo Zack So. OL DL
79 Clarke Austin Sr. OL DL
80 Lawrence Scott Fr. TE LB
85 Marshall Jeramy Fr. TE LB
Woodland Roster
Woodland-Seymour game a battle of contrasting styles
or the first time in five
years, Seymour might
have the squad to beat
Woodland on
Thanksgiving eve.
The Wildcats (6-4),
who have already
clinched their first winning record since
2008, will enter DeBarber Field on
Wednesday night as winners of three of
their last four. The one loss in that four-
game stretch came to Ansonia in a game
Seymour had chance after chance to
win, including a missed field goal in the
waning minutes.
Woodland coach Tim Shea, who is
4-1 in leading his Hawks against
Seymour, thinks the Wildcats will draw
upon their superior effort against the
Chargers for the rivalry game.
Being in a very competitive rivalry
game when I was a player, you try to use
everything you can as motivation, said
Shea, a former Naugatuck standout. I
know Seymour's going to use how it
played against Ansonia as motivation,
but they're going to get our best effort.
Seymour employs a no-nonsense
style of offense in which it runs the ball
nearly 45 times per game. Joey
Salemme, Seymours leading rusher
with 1,743 yards and 20 touchdowns,
has been chasing Edwin Essons school
record of 2,030 yards. Salemme has
rushed for more than 200 yards in six
games.
Salemme is a very good player,
Shea says. He reminds me a lot of Matt
Zaccagnini. He plays really hard.
The Cats dont boast a prolific pass-
ing game but quarterback Frank
Marcucio has thrown 11 touchdown
passes to just two interceptions.
Salemme also ran the Wildcat offense in
the Ansonia game, when he racked up
239 yards and two scores plus a 43-yard
touchdown pass.
Most of Seymours passes go to
Christian Thurmond, a hybrid tight end.
Hes caught 11 of the teams 12 touch-
down throws with 485 yards through the
air. Greg Chase-Patrick and Jack Briggs
spell Salemme in the backfield and have
accounted for nearly 500 yards and
eight scores.
Woodland (9-2), of course, counters
with its spread offense that enjoyed a
record night in Beacon Falls last year.
Tanner Kingsley, the all-state senior
quarterback, threw for a state-record
615 yards and a Naugatuck Valley
League-record eight touchdowns in a
62-28 win against the Wildcats.
The Hawks only ran for 49 yards in
that game, but that figure should be
higher this year with the emergence of
sophomore running back Sean
McAllen. McAllen has rushed for 1,306
yards and 13 touchdowns with an extra
404 yards and two scores through the
air.
Kingsley, of course, makes the
offense go. Statistically the third-leading
passer in state history (7,564 yards and
107 touchdowns), Kingsley has 2,784
yards and 39 touchdowns with nine
interceptions this year.
Mike Kenney (876 yards, 14 touch-
downs), Taylor Tucciarone (570 and 12),
Jack Pinho (281 and five), Dylan
Abarzua (238 and two) and Joe Poeta
(236 and two) have been Kingsleys top
targets.
Woodland has been in a bit of a
slump, though, with a 2-2 record in its
last four outings. In the Hawks two loss-
es a 37-18 defeat to Holy Cross and a
48-7 loss to Ansonia in the NVL champi-
onship they have turned over the ball
a combined eight times. Woodland has
only given away the ball four times in its
nine wins.
Still, even in the Hawks 32-27
comeback win over Derby, it took a
fourth-and-25 Hail Mary from Kingsley
to Kenney late in the game to win. It left
many questioning Woodlands ability to
win on Thanksgiving eve and in the
state playoffs.
Everybody's making too much
out of that Derby game, Shea says. I
told everyone that Derby was going
to come out and play hard, and they
did. Sometimes the kids need to
block out that stuff. We're dealing
with high school kids. Who knows
about their psyche, but it's my job to
fix that.
With a win, Woodland would tie the
all-time series with Seymour for the first
time since 2004, when the Hawks tied
the series through two meetings. The
Wildcats won five in a row from 2005-
08, including the 2007 Class SS semifi-
nal, but Woodland has won the last four.
Seymour leads overall, 6-5, but
Woodland leads the averaging scoring,
30.3-26.5.
Thanksgiving is a rivalry game,
Shea says. All X's and O's and records
go out the window. It's about who wants
it that bad that night. We've gotten it the
last four years, and Seymour's hungry to
get it back. We're going to do what we
can to keep it. It should be a lot of fun.
We have something to prove.
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodlands Mike Kenney (9) leads the Hawks aerial attack with 876 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. The
annual Thanksgiving eve game will feature a clash of offensive styles with the Hawks spread offense versus the
ground game of the Wildcats.
F
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodlands defense will have its
sights set on stopping Seymours
ground game that runs the ball
nearly 45 times per game.
Thanksgiving is a rivalry game. All Xs
and Os and records go out the window.
Its about who wants it that bad that
night. ... It should be a lot of fun. We
have something to prove.
TIM SHEA
B10
CITIZENS NEWS
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Good Job
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Mayor
Bob Chatfield
and the Town and People
of Prospect
You Make Us
Proud!
Thank You
Woodland Region 16
High School
Athletic Department
for sharing photos.
2013 WOODLAND HAWKS
PHOTOS BY WOODLAND ATHLETICS
2 CHURCH STREET
NAUGATUCK, CT 06770
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MYCITIZENSNEWS.COM
B11
Naugatuck-Ansonia
Ansonia leads series, 66-37-10
1900 Ansonia 5, Naugatuck 0
1901 Naugatuck 6, Ansonia 0
1911 No game
1915 No game
1918 No game
1924 No game
1935 Ansonia 13 Naugatuck 0
Historys Scoreboard
Woodland-Seymour
Seymour leads series, 6-5
2003 Seymour 41, Woodland 14
2004 Woodland 27, Seymour 22
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166 Waterbury Road, Suite 105 | Prospect, CT
203.758.7700 | nvranet.com
166 Waterbury Road, Suite 105 | Prospect, CT
203 758 7700 | t
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B12
CITIZENS NEWS
A witness to history
During the 12-year history of the
Woodland varsity football program, records
have been written and rewritten again.
Mike Cook has seen it all and recorded it
for anyone who didnt.
Cook, the Hawks official statistician,
records every tackle, touchdown, catch and
rushing attempt just about anything that
happens during a play. He has done it since
day one of the program.
Cook has seen state title runs, memo-
rable comebacks and a slew of talented
players that left their marks in the annals of
Hawks history. By the stroke of his pen, he
has captured it all.
His passion for numbers started at a
young age, keeping stats for Babe Ruth
baseball games in his native Naugatuck.
From there, he joined the Naugy track team
and former coach Chris Herb in the mid-
1990s.
Coach asked me to come up with a
record book, Cook recalls.
For Cook, the rest is history one that
is constantly being written.
Several years later, Cook found out that
Woodland coach Chris Anderson was look-
ing for a scorekeeper for the upstart Hawks.
He joined the staff as a volunteer at the sug-
gestion of assistant coach Greg Todd and
started documenting the teams perform-
ance since its birth.
It was a brand new program, so keep-
ing records was easy, Cook says.
Before there was a press box, Cook
would find himself on the top of a shed in
the far end zone to watch the action. He
enjoyed every minute of it, and has kept up
the enthusiasm a dozen years into the pro-
grams history.
It's a labor of love, Woodland
coach Tim Shea says. He's always
here, he's reliable and we look
forward to getting his numbers.
He takes a lot of pride in it.
Cook sticks with his pen-
and-paper method of score-
keeping to this day. After the
game, Cook reports the stats to
MaxPreps, the states main stat-
keeping website.
Todays technology makes
life a little easier for score-
keepers, thanks to the
potential for video
review of games
for more accu-
rate stats.
W e
have the
technolo-
gy now
to go
over the
g a m e
f i l m
and go
o v e r
a n y -
thing I
m a y
h a v e
missed
or if I
h a v e
q u e s -
tions, Cook says.
Records are kept on Microsoft Excel
spreadsheets, which include the
biggest names to ever don the
Black and Gold Jared
Katchmar, Pat Krakowski,
Shane Kingsley, Jeff Jones,
Jack DeBiase and the most
recent record-holders,
Anthony Scirpo and Tanner
Kingsley.
Still, the earliest days of
Woodland football provided
some of the fondest memo-
ries.
Cook recalls the
W o o d l a n d -
N a u g a t u c k
game in 2003
o n
Halloween
when the
s c o r e -
b o a r d
malfunc-
tioned.
I t
was a great
comeback
in the final
2 minutes
and there
was no
c l o c k ,
C o o k
r e m e m -
bers. We
h a d
w a t c h e d
the final play and we didnt know it.
Jared Katchmar found Pat Krakowski in
the end zone to give the Hawks the 40-37
win over the Hounds in the teams first-ever
meeting.
It was one of the most amazing games
Ive ever seen, Cook says.
During the next two years, the Hawks
won a pair of Naugatuck Valley League and
state titles. The records came early and
often.
It took a couple of years for us to fine-
tune what we wanted, Cook says.
The records are still racking up today.
Most recently, Cook has seen Tanner
Kingsley eclipse the schools major passing
records. Entering the NVL championship
game, Kingsley had completed 533 of 795
passes for 7,488 yards and 107 touchdowns.
Kingsley has passed Katchmar in all four
categories and has a chance to break the
states all-time passing touchdowns record,
which currently stands at 112.
Every one of those gaudy numbers has
been tracked by Cook. He rarely misses a
game, but when he does he carefully
reviews the video to make sure his job is
done. But missing his presence sends the
Woodland staff into chaos when it comes
time to report the game to local media.
We found out how valuable he was a few
weeks ago (against Sacred Heart) when he
wasn't here, Shea says. I was lost. He does a
very good job at something a lot of us take for
granted sometimes. I'm glad we've got him.
Cook says he would like to one day
work for a college or professional team. But
if that doesnt happen, hes quite happy
working with the Hawks.
If this is all I can do, Ill do it, Cook
says. Its enjoyable.
Recording stats a labor of love for Woodland statistician
Ernie Bertothy, Citizens News
He does a very good job at something a lot of us take for granted sometimes.
TIM SHEA
KYLE BRENNAN
Many records have been set in the 12-year history of the
Woodland football program, and one man has been there
to document them all Mike Cook.
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The construction of a coaching staff
ometimes you just need to
start from scratch. When
Naugatuck hired Craig Bruno
as the new head coach of the
Greyhounds football pro-
gram in January, the schools
administrators knew they
were getting a coach who had been to the
mountain and conquered it.
In 12 seasons at Bunnell of Stratford,
Bruno guided his alma mater to an
astounding 94-36-1 record and won back-
to-back state championships in 2006 and
2007. He reached the state playoffs four
times, his Bulldogs reeled off a school-
record 21-game winning streak and he had
only two losing seasons in a dozen years.
Naugatuck, meanwhile was coming off
a tumultuous campaign. The Hounds lost
former head coach Rob Plasky to a recruit-
ing scandal just two weeks before the start
of the season and handed the reins to inter-
im coach Shawn Kuczenski, the defensive
coordinator.
The Greyhounds survived the battle
and compiled a 6-4 campaign. But
Naugatuck needed a fresh start and a new
beginning. Enter Bruno, complete with his
unorthodox, aggressive style and a proven
track record.
Soon after Bruno accepted the job in
January, he knew he had to build a strong
coaching staff around him to help get the
Greyhounds back into the championship
conversation.
I know the importance of a coaching
staff, and youre only as good as the people
you surround yourself with, says Bruno,
who lives in Oxford with his wife and two
daughters. Ive been doing this quite a
while and wanted to bring some of my guys
with me, but I could only bring two.
That left three gaps for Bruno to fill,
and he had ideas in mind for whom he was
looking.
Essentially I needed to bring three
more guys on board, Bruno says. I wanted
to bring in a defensive coordinator, I want-
ed a coach who understood team loyalty
and I wanted to retain a coach from
Naugatuck to help bridge the transition.
Bruno set out and secured the services
of former Pomperaug and Southington
coach John Pereira as the defensive coordi-
nator. Pat ORourke came with Bruno from
Bunnell and former Seymour coach Nick
Teodosio soon joined the staff.
John and I coached against each other
when he was at Pomperaug and we had
some pretty good battles over the years,
Bruno says. I knew what kind of work ethic
he had and how he was able to relate to the
kids. I did some football camps with Nick
and I got to know what kind of coach he was
and how he was a team-orientated guy.
But Bruno says the key to bringing this
all together was the addition of Tom
Tousignant, the man who ties Naugatucks
present to its past.
Tom came highly recommended by
Naugatuck High School and he helped to
bridge that transition, Bruno says. Im so
glad I picked him to stay on staff.
Tousignant, a 2007 Naugatuck graduate
and three-year member of the previous
staff, came in when these seniors were just
sophomores on the junior varsity team. He
grew into his role as a coach and the players
grew into their roles on the field.
I feel a special connection to the kids,
especially the seniors as I came in when
they were sophomores, Tousignant says. It
has been a tremendous experience watch-
ing them grow as football players.
Under the direction of the new coach-
ing staff, the team has come together as a
unit. What made the
biggest difference
early on is that the
players appeared to
be having fun after
such a stressful situa-
tion last season.
The main thing
Coach Bruno talked
about when I came on
staff was team loyalty
buying into the
program and what we
were going to do as a football team,
Tousignant says. The entire staff has come
together as one and we know we have each
others back. Coach Bruno is an excellent
coach. He has such a passion for the game
that its overwhelming. The kids just get
caught up with it and the intensity level just
goes up.
Bruno is mindful of the fact that the
fans and the entire borough of Naugatuck is
watching how the team progresses. He is
also mindful of the fact that this team is
excited, playing with emotion and having
an awful lot of fun along the way.
The fans have shown tremendous
support for
the team and
the kids are
having fun,
Bruno says.
The kids are
confident in
t h e ms e l v e s ,
they are confi-
dent in me.
This is proba-
bly the most
fun Ive had in
my career.
Of course, it hasnt been all roses for
Bruno.
If there is one complaint I have, its
colder up here as a matter of fact its a lot
colder up here than down in Stratford, he
jokes. But the kids are all excited and thats
what makes this such a fun atmosphere to
be around.
Bruno brings fresh blood, excitement to Naugatucks sidelines
S
ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck head coach Craig Bruno has compiled a 9-1 record in his first sea-
son roaming the sidelines of Veterans Field. The hiring of the former Bunnell of
Stratford coach signaled a fresh start for a Naugatuck program that was coming
off a tumultuous year.
CONTRIBUTED
The Naugatuck High coaching staff, from left, Tom Tousignant, Nick Teodosio,
Craig Bruno, Pat O'Rourke and John Pereira.
I know the importance of a
coaching staff, and youre
only as good as the people
you surround yourself with.
CRAIG BRUNO
anner Kingsley dons his
green No. 7 jersey, standing
at the line of scrimmage on
a bumpy field. Its another
day of practice at
Woodland, and Kingsley is
set to throw against the
Hawks first-string defense.
Most of his top wide receivers play on
the starting defense, too, so Kingsley has to
make do with a pair of coaches running pat-
terns. Woodland head coach Tim Shea
stands aside from the action admires the
awe-invoking sight.
Its Tanner throwing to his older broth-
ers, Shane and Cody.
We always think, What if? Shea says.
It's just practice, but I think it solidifies
their bond.
Tanner, a senior, is the youngest of the
three Kingsley brothers. Shane was an all-
state wide receiver and Cody was the most
accurate passer in program history before
Tanner. Both have state championship
rings, and both are on the current Hawks
coaching staff.
But when the two are catching practice
passers from their youngest brother, they
cant help but think what might have been.
I wish I could have had one of them
two at quarterback, Shane says. I'd like to
think I would have caught a few passes from
No. 7 in my day.
On second thought, it might be a good
thing that Shane snagged throws from Jared
Katchmar and Alex Dorosh instead of his
brothers.
There would have been games where
we couldn't have spoken because I didn't
get the ball enough, Shane laughs.
Shane helped mold the Woodland foot-
ball program into what it is today. He
arrived at Woodland in 2002, just in time for
the Hawks first varsity season under Chris
Anderson. Soon enough, he went from a kid
who figured he was going to end up at
Seymour High to one who helped put
Woodland on the state football map.
My dad took me and Cody to every big
game in the Valley since we were old enough
to go, Shane says. Ever since I was a little
kid, I dreamed of playing in those big
games. There's no way to say that Woodland
would ever have this much success.
Woodland arrived just in time for the
Kingsleys, who played in Seymour Pop
Warner. They were friends with many future
Wildcats and went to many games at
DeBarber Field with their dad, Mike.
We envisioned going to Seymour our
whole lives, but then Woodland was built, says
Cody, who joined the program in 2004. We
decided we had to make our own paths here.
The first game Tanner remembers was
the Naugatuck Valley League football cham-
pionship game in 2004, when Woodland
earned a dramatic, 27-22 win over Seymour
before an estimated 5,000 fans.
I remember the whole game, Tanner
says. I stood on the hill and watched the
whole thing, and it was probably the best
game I've ever watched.
Shane added to the drama of that game
with five catches for 102 yards but also a
fumble late in the fourth that almost cost
Woodland the championship. Its something
his brothers still havent let him live down.
Fortunately Woodland won that game,
or else I don't think Shane would have
played any games after that, Cody jokes.
We joke around with him about it, but the
only reason we're able to joke about it is
that they won that game.
Of course, Shane gets to hold his two
state and NVL championship rings over
both his brothers heads when they bring up
the fumble.
It's really the only thing they've got on
me, Shane says. Nothing is safe between
the three of us. If you mess up, you're going
to hear about it. If you score five touch-
downs, you're going to hear about the play
when you should have broken a tackle.
Tanner wasnt safe from the grief or
competitiveness when he was younger. The
age difference meant he couldnt always
hang with the multi-sport stars at home, but
that never stopped him from trying.
I always wanted to play with my broth-
ers kind of like a Manning brothers type
of thing, Tanner recalls. Growing up we'd
always play some sport and it would always
turn into a fight. There was a big age differ-
ence, but I'm glad I was able to watch them
play when I was younger.
Shane and Cody didnt take it easy on
Tanner, either.
We beat up Tanner, Cody laughs. At
the same time, when he was growing up, me
and Shane really focused on being good role
models for him. We wanted to bring him up
the same way our father did for us, and we
wanted to show him the ropes.
None of us will ever let the other one
win in anything, Shane adds. Especially
when Tanner was younger, we never let him
win. He had to earn everything.
Tanner also got the opportunity to
hang around with his brothers friends,
including quarterbacks Katchmar and
Dorosh.
When my brothers played, all their
friends were cool with me, Tanner says. I
always looked up to my brothers and their
friends. I always wanted to have the same
success that Jared and Alex had.
Hes had all that and more. Tanner has
broken all the schools passing records and
is among the top three passers in state his-
tory by any statistical measure. Combine
those stats with his success in his other two
sports, and the ultra-competitive Shane has
to tip his hat.
Tanner's had the best career, Shane
says. He's going for 1,000 points in basket-
ball, 100 hits in baseball and 100 touchdown
passes in football. But with the game on the
line I'm still taking myself.
They all have different styles but have
achieved similar outcomes during their
playing days. Shea has coached all three of
them for four years each.
They have three very different person-
alities, but they all bring a lot of the same
things to the table, Shea says. Tanner
seems to be the most laid back because he's
not as vocal, but he's not afraid to make his
voice heard. He's got the best of both his
brothers in him.
Mike and Lori Kingsley have seen it all.
Mike usually stands on the sidelines, while
Lori has accumulated more games in the
Woodland bleachers than anyone else.
She'll probably be a little upset that
she won't have one of us out there playing
(after this season), but she'll still definitely
go to all the football games, Tanner says of
his mother. She's such a Hawks fan.
Cody and Shane credit their dad for
fostering the competitive nature of the
three brothers.
He set the example, Cody says. He
pushed us to be the athletes that we were,
but he let us develop our own drive to do it.
He guided us in the right directions. We
brothers have great respect for other peo-
ple, and that's because of the way he
brought us up.
Our family is a very competitive fami-
ly, Shane adds. It's how we were raised.
Me, Tanner and CodyI don't know of
many people who hate losing more than us.
That drive to win brings out the leadership.
All three were captains of their teams in
multiple sports, leading Shea to believe
theres such a thing as a leadership gene
and the Kingsleys have it.
I think they're the perfect argument
that there is one, Shea says. There's some-
thing about certain families. Growing up and
being involved in sports at a young age, it's
that competitive fire that only brothers can
have. There have been many siblings who
have come through here, but they're always
going to be the ones who are at the top.
Shane and Cody are now members of
the Woodland coaching staff, getting to
watch their brother break records from just
a few yards away. The three are good about
keeping their coaching and family relation-
ships separate, according to Cody.
When we're at the field, we're coach
and player, Cody says. But off the field,
we're brothers. Being able to watch him
develop and help him develop into a better
player than me and Shane, it's fun to watch.
Sometimes on the sidelines, it's like I'm
rooting for my brother but I'm coaching in
the game.
Tanner will play his final game in a
Woodland football uniform in Decembers
state playoffs. It will be the first time in the
schools history that there wont be a Kingsley
coming down the pipe anytime soon.
It's going to be weird, Tanner says. All
three of us did what we wanted to do at this
school. We just came out here every game
and gave it our all.
Looking back on it, it's been so much
fun, Cody adds. Hopefully somewhere
along the line, there will be a group of broth-
ers who will be able to do what we did.
And, hey, maybe it will be another
group of Kingsley brothers.
Someone joked with me the other day
that I have to have some kids soon, Shane
laughs. I told them they have to slow
down.
If they're in the Valley, Cody says of
his future children, they're going to be
playing for the Woodland Hawks.
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The last of the Kingsleys
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ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Quarterback Tanner Kingsley (7), who owns all of Woodlands passing records, is
the last of three brothers to don the Black and Gold for the Hawks.
We just came out here every game
and gave it our all.
TANNER KINGSLEY
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CITIZENS NEWS
became the head chef at our fam-
ilys Christmas Eve celebration last
year (and can you believe this guy
is single?!) and things went
absolutely swimmingly. The best
part, since I invaded my grand-
mas kitchen to wield the oven
mitts, is that I didnt have to worry about
storing leftovers.
Theyre a real Jekyll-and-Hyde
situation, arent those leftovers?
Most of the time theyre pretty deli-
cious and can be consumed in any
quantity at any time of day, but
after holidays there are just so
many! Theres just no space!
Lucky, our Thanksgiving left-
overs here at Citizens News dont
take up any room in your refrigera-
tor we prefer they be hung ON
your refrigerator! (Besides, we,
unlike revenge, are best served
tepid.)
This special section is our favorite thing
to do every year, so we want to squeeze
every last drop out of it. For the second sea-
son, we are proud to present our
Thanksgiving Leftovers. Happy
Thanksgiving!
Get the H Out!
You probably wouldnt believe the trou-
ble we have around here in keeping hun-
dreds of local athletes names right. Its
important to us, but its not always easy.
Why is it so tough? Because we can
trust NOBODY when it comes to proper
spelling of these kids names except for the
kids themselves. Rosters? Nope. Theyre
always good for misleading us and making
us look like fools in our stories.
Take for the example the case of a 6-
foot-5 wide receiver from Naugatuck. His
name is not Ryan, and his name is not
Griesenhauer.
His name is Ryne Griesenauer.
No h, Griesenauer says. Sometimes
they get it wrong and sometimes they don't.
It's just a mess.
There is an h in his name on
Naugatucks roster, yet theres no h on his
jersey nameplate. This is why were taught
to take NOTHING at face value.
Anyway, it was a good thing
Ive known about Griesenauer
since his Pop Warner football
days, before he became a 1,000-
yard wide receiver. Im probably
the only media member in the
entire state to spell his name right
every time. For those who keep
screwing up, its a wee bit exasper-
ating for the Greyhounds leading
wideout.
Last year I wasn't the main
part of the offense, so when my
name was spelled wrong in the
paper it was like, Wow, I'm in the paper!
Griesenauer says. This year it's like, Youre
still getting it wrong? But it's not a big deal.
At least Ryno sweet nickname, yeah?
has a good attitude about it all.
It's the name on the front that matters
more than the name on the back,
Griesenauer says.
Give that man another touchdown!
Ladies Man
I made a presentation about my job to
a few classes at Woodland earlier this
month. One of the thoughts I found myself
repeating to the couple dozen students was
that this profession is more about art than
science.
A big part of the job, especially locally,
is developing good relationships with the
figures we cover. Ive got pretty good ones
with our two head football coaches. Want to
know how I know that?
The football coaches wives are card-
carrying members of the Kyle Brennan Fan
Club.
Oh, yeah, thats right. Once youve got
their wives on your side, youre good to go.
Woodland coach Tim Shea tied the
knot last year. Mrs. Coach Shea can usually
be seen waiting on the sidelines after games
are over. Shes a great supporter of the
Hawks, and we share a common love (not
Tim). Shes a big Quinnipiac hockey fan!
Her company designed the TD Bank
Sports Center in Hamden, so shes a regular
attendee of games. I, of course, an am alum-
nus of the fine educational institution and
am thrilled to share a hockey team. Shes
even helped Tim become a fan. I like Mrs.
Coach Shea, and Mrs. Coach Shea likes me.
Naugatuck, of course, has a new head
coach this year in Craig Bruno. I spent the
first part of 2013 getting to know Bruno and
building up a professional relationship with
the coach I hope is around here for many
years. You never know what a big-time foot-
ball coach will think of the local media guys.
About midway through the season,
Craig told me how much Mrs. Coach Bruno
enjoys reading my Naugatuck Valley League
Football Blog and all my local publications
(she even asked for copies of this falls edi-
tion of our paper because Citizens News
isnt available in their hometown of Oxford).
Im glad to have her on my side in such a
quick time frame.
Just as Lyndon B. Johnson knew he had
lost his presidency when Walter Cronkite
turned his opinion against the Vietnam War,
I know Ive won over the leaders of our foot-
ball programs when their wives are on
board with me.
All-Time (Statistical) Greats
When Tanner Kingsley concludes his
career as Woodlands quarterback some-
time in the next few weeks, he will have fin-
ished as one of the greatest quarterbacks,
statistically speaking, in the history of
Connecticut high school football.
Kingsley, entering Thanksgiving eve
against Seymour, is third in state history for
both passing yards (7,564) and touchdown
passes (107). Hes second in NVL history in
both of those categories, and hes the school
leader in every category there is. At 67 per-
cent, Kingsley is also the most accurate
passer in state history.
Up the river, Naugatucks Jason Bradley
is playing at a level never seen in more than
110 years of Greyhounds football. Heading
into Thanksgiving against Ansonia, Bradley
already has school records with 2,470 yards
and 34 touchdowns. In in second season as a
starter, he already has nearly 4,000 yards and
60 touchdowns. Hes got one season left!
By George, We Miss You
I havent felt more honor or more pres-
sure in writing a story than the one that
graced our opening spread in this very spe-
cial Thanksgiving section.
I wanted to make sure that I kept
myself out of that feature because the emo-
tions and the actions of those involved told
the story much better than I ever could have
hoped to do. But theres no doubt that it was
an emotional one to write.
George Pinho was a special man. Those
who didnt know him may think its all an
exaggeration, but it really isnt. His endless
involvement in youth sports tells some of
the story; the undoubted quality of his sons
tells most of it.
When his boys say that George treated
all the players like sons, its true. George
treated everyone like a son and a friend. Its
a quality missing from many today, and the
Woodland community has done an
admirable job keeping alive his memory.
As I puzzled about the direction to go
with his story, I sat back and imagined what
George would say to me. I cant print what
his imaginary response was, but it put a
smile on my face. I went ahead and wrote
something of which Im proud.
I know thats what keeps Jack and Jake
going every day.
I
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Go Greyhounds!
Winter is coming... Winter is coming...
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Kyle Brennan
ELIO GUGLIOTTI RACHAEL MORIN

Thanksgiving Football 2013

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Thanksgiving Football 2013

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ack Pinho sat at the front of a

third-floor classroom at Woodland

1152 New Haven Road

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