‘Thanksgiving Football’



Ansonia ups Turkey Day streak to 8 over NHS
NAUGATUCK — There was no time left on the scoreboard clock as Ansonia raced off the field, heading to the locker room at the half. The referees ruled the clock should have stopped because Naugatuck had gained a first down, leaving one second before the break. Naugatuck quarterback Tyler Conklin is tackled by a... »
Hawks crush Cats, end Thanksgiving drought
SEYMOUR — Finally. In one of the most incredible showings of offensive production in Woodland history, the Hawks ended a five-game losing streak to Seymour with a dominating, 55-32 win over the Wildcats on Thanksgiving Eve at DeBarber Field. A pair of all-time performances paced the Black and Gold—both junior tailback Jack DeBiase and... »
The Burning of the Shoe
The fire everyone knows about, the one that’s the flaming hub of a spirited Thanksgiving Eve pep rally, will take place Wednesday night, just hours before the Greyhounds host rival Ansonia. The one that players and alumni know about, the one that’s the flickering center of a pensive gathering, will take place just a... »
A Team to Call Their Own
Lou Poeta and Paul Brennan are lifelong residents of Beacon Falls. They remember the days when Woodland Regional High School didn’t exist. Heck, there was no consideration of a high school being built anywhere near Beacon Falls when they were in school. Back then, kids from town went to Laurel Ledge Elementary and Long... »
Hounds hope beginning, end are memorable
People remember the beginning and the end but not the middle. If that old nugget of wisdom actually contains a nugget of truth, the Naugatuck High School football team has a chance Thursday to make the 2009 season pretty memorable—in a good way. Opening night was storybook: The Greyhounds, coming off a 3-8 campaign,... »
Hawks believe this year will be different
Here’s something Woodland football fans don’t need to be reminded of: The last time the Hawks beat Seymour, the Red Sox had just won their first World Series of the century, George W. Bush wasn’t even through his first term as president, and the high school hadn’t yet been standing for four years. It’s... »
Turkey Day Stat Chat: Feast of Numbers
-139 Point differential for Seymour in its nine games this season; the Cats have been outscored 302-163, tied with Crosby for worst margin in the league 0 Times Woodland’s class of 2010 has defeated Seymour on the varsity level; this year’s Hawks can become only the second squad to knock off the Wildcats 2... »
DeBiase: ‘I don’t care, as long as we win’
If it were up to his dad, Jack DeBiase never would have played football at Woodland. Mark DeBiase attended Holy Cross and wanted Jack to play for the Crusaders. But, ultimately, it was Woodland that sold itself. As a middle school student, DeBiase and his dad watched Woodland win state championship games. Those victories inspired... »
Mike Kennedy will not quit
Greyhounds senior captain Mike Kennedy is not the type of person who looks for sympathy or pity about his plight, a strong characteristic not usually found in such a young man, as he stands on the sideline with crutches supporting his six-foot, 215-pound frame. Kennedy tore his ACL in a preseason scrimmage against Wilby... »
Woodland alumni bring swagger and moxie
Imagine a coaching staff like this: Joe Montana helping out with quarterbacks and offensive skill positions, Walter Payton assisting the running backs and defensive backs, and Lawrence Taylor coaching up the linemen and linebackers. Not bad to have three of the best to have ever played their positions sharing their skills. For Woodland, a... »


