By Hal Levy, Shore Line Newspapers
Special to MaxPreps
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When Cromwell defensive end Dominque Carr returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 14-6 win over Hyde Leadership-New Haven, it did more than snap the 29-game win streak of the Howling Wolves.
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It also put Hyde's chances of returning to the CIAC Class S state football playoffs in jeopardy.
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Hyde (5-1-0, 660 power points, 110.00 average) is now sixth in Class S, a division led by Cromwell (6-0-0, 850, 141.67). In addition, North Branford, New London and Ansonia are all 6-0-0 with averages of 138.33, 134.17 and 125.00, respectively. Bloomfield (5-1-0, 705, 117.50) also is ahead of Hyde and Northwest Catholic-West Hartford (5-1-0, 655, 109.17) is right behind.
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Hyde can take some solace from the fact North Branford must still play both Cromwell and Hyde, Northwest has a tough game this weekend with Middletown, Naugatuck still looms on the Ansonia schedule and New London has Ledyard and Windham the next two weeks.
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Class S is not the only race in which a loss can be fatal.
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In Class LL, the top three teams are unbeaten, led by Southington (6-0-0, 790, 131.67). Greenwich (6-0-0, 770, 128.33) and Naugatuck (6-0-0, 690, 115.00) are on top, followed by Fairfield Prep (5-1-0, 670, 111.67), Newtown (5-1-0, 640, 106.67) and New Britain (5-1-0, 630, 105.00). But Southington still has to play New Britain, Greenwich has unbeaten Staples-Westport left. Naugatuck has four tough ones in a row with Seymour, Woodland-Beacon Falls, Holy Cross-Waterbury and Ansonia, and Prep still has to meet undefeated West Haven. Newtown's schedule includes unbeaten Masuk-Monroe.
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In Class L, nine teams are in contention for the four slots, led by West Haven (6-0-0, 765, 127.50). Bunnell (6-0-0, 750, 125.00), Staples (6-0-0, 123.33) and Masuk (6-0-0, 690, 115.00) are all unbeaten as well. Bristol Central (5-1-0, 670, 111.67), William Hall-West Hartford (5-1-0, 605, 100.83), Conard-West Hartford (5-1-0, 600, 100.00), East Catholic-Cheney Tech (Manchester) (5-1-0, 595, 99.17) and Brien McMahon-Norwalk (5-1-0, 590, 98.33) have one loss each.
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West Haven's toughest test will be Prep on Thanksgiving while Bunnell-Stratfordth takes on Stratford the same day. Staples has New Canaan and Greenwich left, while Masuk still has Stratford and Newtown. Bristol Central's only game against a winning team is with Newington while Hall and Conard must play one another and Conard also has Bloomfield left. East Catholic still has to see Middletown, Berlin and Northwest while McMahon has Ridgefield, Wilton and Bridgeport Central.
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Class MM realistically is down to five or six schools. New Canaan (5-1-0, 630, 105.00) leads a group which includes Maloney-Meriden (5-1-0, 605, 100.83), Middletown (5-1-0, 580, 96.67), Berlin (5-1-0, 570, 95.00), Branford (5-1-0, 565, 94.17) and possibly Coventry-Windham Tech (4-2-0, 460, 76.67).
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New Canaan still must face Staples, Trumbull and Darien, Maloney has Newington, Middletown has a daunting foursome of Northwest Catholic, East Catholic, Berlin and Xavier; Berlin has Middletown, East Catholic and Rocky Hill and Branford must play Hillhouse and Xavier, not to mention a classic "trap" game Friday night with explosive Guilford. Coventry still has Cromwell left.
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Class M is led by a pair of unbeatens: Windham (5-0-0. 640, 128.00) and Hillhouse (6-0-0, 740, 123.33). Ledyard (5-1-0, 660, 111.00) and St. Bernard-Norwich Tech (4-1-1, 590, 98.33) have one loss while Darien (4-2-0, 490, 81.67), Valley Regional-Old Lyme (4-2-0. 460, 76.67) and Weaver (3-2-0, 330, 66.00) have two each. Windham still has New London, as does Ledyard (the Colonels also must play resurgent Fitch); Hillhouse has Shelton, Branford and cross-town rival Wilbur Cross; St. Bernard's toughest game might be with North Smithfield, R.I. (4-2) while Darien has Greenwich, New Canaan and Newtown. Valley's schedule includes Hyde while Weaver still has Bloomfield and New Britain.
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Class SS is topped by one unbeaten, Holy Cross (6-0-0, 790, 131.67). Griswold (5-1-0, 600, 100.00) and Stratford (5-1-0, 590, 98.33) are the only one-loss teams left. Seven teams have two losses each including Joel Barlow-Redding, Tolland, St. Joseph, Seymour, Woodland, Montville and Waterford. Tolland has the easiest remaining slate while Griswold and Montville still must meet. Woodland has Naugatuck and Seymour; St. Joes still has New Canaan, Darien and Trumbull; Barlow has Masuk; Stratford has Masuk and Bunnell; Seymour has Naugatuck and Woodland; Holy Cross has Naugatuck and Waterford includes Fitch and New London.
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Field Hockey
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Even though Daniel Hand-Madison lost in overtime to Greenwich, the Tigers still remain atop the state coaches' field hockey poll. Hand drew five of seven first-place votes and 136 points to remain ahead of undefeated Simsbury. Hand responded with wins against Branford and Granby Memorial.
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Branford, meanwhile, edged Cheshire in overtime to give coach Cathy McGuirk her 400th career victory.
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Boys' Soccer
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Another poll did change leaders. Simsbury lost a 2-0 boys' soccer game to Southington and fell out of first in the state coaches' poll. With second-ranked Cheshire also losing to North Haven, undefeated Norwich Free Academy vaulted into first place.
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The Wildcats had scored 50 goals and given up just six all season as of Monday.
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Cross Country
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Saturday is state cross country day in Connecticut with six championship meets each for boys and girls at Wickham Park in Manchester.
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Glastonbury, Danbury and Xavier are the top three teams in the boys' state poll and they will compete with one another in the Class LL championship race. Norwich Free Academy, Amity Regional-Woodbridge and Manchester are other top-10 teams in the loaded Class LL race.
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Lyman Memorial-Lebanon is the top-ranked girls' team and will be a prohibitive favorite in the Class SS race. Glastonbury and Ridgefield, ranked second and fourth in the poll, will battle in Class LL. Third-ranked Simsbury is a favorite in Class L while fifth-ranked Guilford is the top Class MM team.