Expanded playoffs from 24 to 32 teams. A reduction in classes from six to four to create a first-ever quarterfinal round and more balance throughout the CIAC postseason classifications.
And the state still needs a paper champion voted on by coaches or sports writers to determine the best team in the state.
Usually, it's a consensus. But not quite this season. It's a split decision, and it proved to be one of the closest votes in recent history.
Xavier (Middletown), which held the No. 1 ranking in two of the state's polls since defeating preseason No. 1 Notre Dame (West Haven) in Week 1, was voted the No. 1 team in the state in The New Haven Register sports writers' poll and The New London Day coaches poll by the slimmest of margins.
But the decision is not without at least a little bit of controversy. A second sports writers poll, in its third season, conducted by The Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance and that has more voters than either of the other polls, chose
Masuk (Monroe) as the top team.
"I think so, yes," said Xavier head coach Sean Marinan, referring to his team deserving the No. 1 ranking. "I think we made a good statement for that (Friday night)."
Xavier (13-0), which defeated Trumbull 24-13 for the Class LL title Friday night, received 14 first-place votes to Masuk's 10 in The Register poll and finished with an eight-point margin over the Panthers, 700-692. In The Day poll, Xavier earned seven first-place votes to Masuk's six and wound up with just a two-point edge, 378-376, the tightest race since The Day started conducting the poll in 2003.
In the Alliance poll, Masuk (13-0), which routed Darien 50-20 Saturday for the Class L title, took the top spot with an eight-point margin, 453-445, while receiving 19 first-place votes to Xavier's 12.
Masuk put together one of the most impressive seasons in memory, outscoring opponents by an average of 49.1-8.2, only trailing three times in games, and dispatching opponents, including two excellent FCIAC teams — Darien, the league champ and New Canaan —with ease in the second half of games.
Xavier's numbers were not quite as startling, 27.5-8.9, but they came out of what is considered the toughest conference in the state, the SCC, and boasted offensive and defensive lines that dominated opponents and always rose to the occasion.
Masuk clearly had the more dynamic offense, with Gatorade State Player of Year quarterback
Casey Cochran and a defense built on speed. Xavier had the size advantage defensively and an O-line capable of grinding down a defense and springing its junior running back
Mike Mastroianni to control a game.
In a perfect world, it would have made for a dream matchup.
Paul Rosano, the former assistant sport editor of The Hartford Courant and sports editor of The New Haven Register, covers Connecticut for MaxPreps.com. He may be reached at pjrosano@cox.net.
