If the chatter on the practice field is any sort of indication, then the Fairfield County All-Star football team appears to have gelled. And that’s pretty important if the team wants to break its five-game losing streak in the Hall of Fame Classic.
Even if Fairfield County head coach Lou Marinelli has to tell the team to quiet down and pay attention on the sidelines.
Just ask Bridgeport Central offensive guard Dewayne Guscott, who was a manager on the sidelines to watch last year’s Fairfield County team get blown out by New Haven County 31-6, and doesn’t want to have to deal with that kind of losing feeling again.
“It’s a chance to help represent what football in Fairfield County is all about,” said Guscott, who will reunite this fall with former Central teammate Keith Carlos - Fairfield County’s MVP in last season’s game - at Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania. “I think its time for us to take it this year.”
Guscott will be part of a big and quick offensive line that will be charged with protecting New Canaan quarterback Charlie Westfal, who was the New Haven Register’s All-State quarterback and is heading to Washington & Lee this fall.
His targets include Ridgefield’s Sean O’Dea and St. Josephs’ Ryan Carino, who are both deep threats with the ability to come up with acrobatic catches. Inside, receivers include converted running backs Anthony Biasetti of Immaculate and Mike Leonetti of Pomperaug.
Plenty of players will be in the backfield rotation, including Byron “The Bus” Jackson of Harding, Coderol Williams of Bullard-Havens, and Ramon Mignott of Central.
And what about the defense?
Several Team Connecticut coaches said Danbury defensive back Mike Escobar was the best defensive player in their camp. And that’s high praise, considering he was a teammate then and now of Bridgeport Central and UConn-bound defensive end Trevardo Williams.
Look for them to be joined by linebackers like Sly Accettullo of Notre Dame, Hopeton Quarrie of Bunnell, Ryan Cicchese of Ridgefield, Kevin Joy of Darien, and Chike Madu of Warde.
The game will be played 7 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven. New Haven County holds an 8-3 series lead.
Fairfield County roster:
Mike Glass, OL, New Canaan
Byron Jackson, RB, Harding
John Midy, LB, Westhill
Ramon Mignott, RB, Central
Jamie Goodwick, DB, Newtown
Mike Escobar, Athlete, Danbury
Charlie Westfal, QB, New Canaan
John Honey Fitzpatrick, QB, KLHT
Andrew Mastriani, TE, Pomperaug
Kevin Joy, RB/LB, Darien
Bob Lapple, WR, Newtown
Mike Loenetti, WR, Pomperaug
Sean O’Dea, WR, Ridgefield
Jason Vasquez, DB, Stratford
Chike Madu, LB, Warde
Ryan Kilbane, WR, New Canaan
Coderol Williams, RB, Bullard-Havens
Jeff Frusciante, DB, Staples
Stenson Jean-Baptiste, DB, Stratford
Sly Accettullo, LB, Notre Dame-Fairfield
Trevardo Williams, DE, Central
Eric Zavadsky, TE, St. Joseph
Dylan Hannum, LB, Weston
Ken Cobb, DL, Central
Tim Reece, OL, Central
Cody Wallace, LB, New Milford
Christian Garcia, K/P, Norwalk
Ryan Cicchese, LB, Ridgefield
Kyle Duncan, OL, New Canaan
Alex Testani, C, Trumbull
Hopeton Quarrie, DL, Bunnell
Joe Smith, OL, Wilton
Ron Thompson, LB, Westhill
Steven Lesperance, OL, Wright Tech
Charlie Donnelly, OL, New Canaan
Jeff Farrell, DL, Bunnell
Dwayne Guscott, OL/DL, Central
Dave Wowk, OL, Trumbull
Pat Cassidy, TE/DE, New Fairfield
Ryan Carino, WR/DB, St. Joseph
Steve Johnson, OL, New Canaan
Anthony Biasetti, DB, Immaculate
