It’s hard to believe, but the 2026 CIAC football regular season is already halfway home, and we’re just five weeks away from Thanksgiving and then the playoffs beyond.
Sixteen teams have made it through the first half unscathed at 5-0, including three defending state champions. We even have a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on tap this week when New Canaan plays at Greenwich on Friday at 7 p.m.
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One noteworthy trend is the performance of numerous signal-callers. The 2026 season has become the Year of the Quarterback, with standouts including Ludlowe’s Ryan Love, Law’s Matt Witteman, Lyman Hall’s Ryan Casey, Masuk’s Aaron Champagne, Plainville’s Anthony Abarno, Maloney’s Eli Showerda, Holy Cross’s Brady Lombardo and New Canaan’s Maddox Hoffman just to name a few. The list goes on and on.
There’s still plenty of time left for teams to change their fortunes for the better or worse, and there are a lot of juicy matchups on the horizon.
Here’s your GametimeCT high school football midseason report, with a look at some key players, top teams and some surprises, as well as second-half matchups we’re eagerly awaiting.
10 key players
Lucca Boyce, Hand, Sr., RB: The engine of the Tigers’ offense, Boyce was key in their Class SS championship last fall and has continued to impress in 2026. He’s rushed 73 times for 633 yards and 10 touchdowns in Hand’s 5-0 start, and recently surpassed 2,500 career rushing yards. His top performance this season was 202 yards on 15 carries (13.47 yards per carry) and four touchdowns in a 35-7 win over North Haven.
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Justin Carroll, Greenwich, Sr., LB/RB: Carroll has been a leader on one of the state’s top defenses for the past three years and has twice recorded more than 100 tackles in a season. He’s well on his way with 56 tackles, 33 solo, four tackles for loss and two sacks this season. He also gets involved on offense, with 25 rushes for 204 yards and six touchdowns. Greenwich (5-0) has allowed just 13 points this season, the lowest total in the state.
Ryan Casey, Lyman Hall, Sr., QB: Casey and the Trojans were 7-3 last fall, but that wasn’t good enough to get into the Class M tournament. They’re leaving little to chance this year. Casey, a fourth-year quarterback, has looked phenomenal, with 923 passing yards, nine touchdowns and one interception through the first four games, while guiding Lyman Hall to a 5-0 record.
Aaron Champagne, Masuk, Sr., QB: Champagne has been at the helm of Masuk’s offense for the past three seasons and already has one state championship under his belt after winning Class MM as a sophomore. The Panthers slipped last season, but are now 5-0 with Champagne completing 73.5% of his passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s closing in on 6,000 yards for his career and already has 60 touchdown passes.
Jack Crowell, New Canaan, Sr., LB: The three-sport star, a Princeton lacrosse commit, was the top returning starter on the Rams’ defense, which has been among the state’s best for the past several years. After racking up 131 tackles as a junior, he’s already up to 41 this season, 29 solo, with two tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. New Canaan (5-0) has allowed just 14 points this season.
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Dae’Sean Graves, Holy Cross, Sr., WR: We have a record-setter in our midst – or at least one who will be soon. Graves is nearing three state career records. His 49 receiving touchdowns are one short of the mark, and he also has 208 receptions and 3,097 receiving yards. The records are 226 receptions and 3,871 receiving yards, respectively. Graves is a prime weapon in a potent offense for the Crusaders (4-1).
Ja’Cari Harris, Notre Dame Prep, So., RB: Harris burst onto the scene as a freshman but has taken it up a notch this fall, collecting 1,269 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns during the Lancers’ 4-1 start. He’s surpassed 200 yards three times and has 344 yards on 28 carries in a 26-7 win over Brookfield. The biggest issue with Harris now is health: He left Notre Dame Prep’s Week 6 game against Newtown with a knee injury.
Ryan Love, Ludlowe, Sr., QB: The Year of the Quarterback in Connecticut is also the Season of Love for Ludlowe. The senior has followed up a fantastic junior campaign with more highlights this year, putting up 1,249 passing yards and 13 touchdowns without an interception. Love can improvise and throw darts while on the run. More importantly, he has Ludlowe at 5-0 for the first time in program history. If there were an MVP award for the first half, Love would be in the running.
Matt Witteman, Law, Sr., QB: Witteman is a three-year starter for the Lawmen (4-1) and has the team back in the playoff hunt. He’s thrown for 1,205 yards and 12 touchdowns, bringing his career totals to 5,390 yards and 55 touchdowns. He also has a knack for beating teams with his legs as well, rushing 48 times for 536 yards and nine touchdowns this fall.
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Will Zaccagnino, St. Joseph, Sr., DL/OL: The 6-foot-5, 275-pound senior is a Wisconsin commit and a massive presence on both lines for unbeaten St. Joseph. He’s collected 15 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and six quarterback hurries while constantly drawing double teams.
5 top midseason teams
Listing the top teams is always difficult. This year is especially challenging, with 16 teams at 5-0 and a bunch of strong contenders at 4-1.
Among those teams are New London, which, at 5-0, has already surpassed its win total from last year, and Simsbury, which has more wins this year than it had in the previous two seasons combined. Since the top five teams in the GametimeCT Top 10 poll have been pretty stable this year, we’ll trust the voters and take a look at those five.
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No. 1 New Canaan: The Rams have had an iron grip on this spot since the final poll of the 2024 season, and there are plenty of reasons. For one, it’s been more than two years since their last loss; they’ve won 28 straight games and are bidding for a fifth straight Class L title. The defense has looked as good as ever, pitching shutouts in four of five games while allowing just 14 points overall. Guys like senior linebacker Jack Crowell and junior defensive end Dallas George have starred among a host of solid players, and the offense has been efficient while being steered by senior quarterback Maddox Hoffman. That being said, New Canaan is about to have a few tests, starting with Friday’s showdown in Greenwich.
No. 2 (tie) Greenwich: Speaking of the Cardinals, Greenwich’s defense has pretty much matched New Canaan’s over the last few seasons and has allowed just 13 points this season. The Cardinals have done it with just two returning starters on defense: linebacker/running back Justin Carroll and free safety Colin Suvansri. The second half is tough, with New Canaan, Ridgefield, Wilton, St. Joseph and Staples all on the slate.
No. 2 (tie) St. Joseph: The FCIAC has dominated the poll’s Top 10 this season, and the Hogs have been right in the thick of things. They have a few impressive wins, including victories over Darien (28-7), Windsor (41-0) and Wilton (31-0), and a core of great defensive players, including Wisconsin-bound lineman Will Zaccagnino. St. Joseph’s offense has also been more explosive this fall with the additions of wide receiver Justin Daniel and running back Michael Charland.
No. 4 Hand: The Tigers came out of the gates roaring and already have double-digit wins over perennial SCC powers North Haven, Fairfield Prep and Cheshire. Senior running back Lucca Boyce has been a workhorse for the offense, and the defense has allowed just 20 points with three shutouts.
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No. 5 Southington: Since starting the 2025 season with three losses in five games, the Blue Knights have won 12 of 13, with the only loss coming to Greenwich in last year’s Class LL final. They boast numerous offensive weapons, including running backs Nick Andrews and Ben Beaulieu and wide receiver Walker Mierzejewski. The Blue Knights will finish with a flourish, with tough matchups against New Britain, Maloney and Cheshire to end the regular season.
A few surprises
We use the word “surprises” lightly here. They’re more like turnarounds from a down season or seasons or steps toward a possible playoff berth come December.
And let’s face it – there’s a boatload of teams that have improved their fortunes this year.
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In last week’s by the numbers, it was noted that 24 of the 48 teams on the inside of the playoff bubble after five weeks did not qualify last year.
And of course, after Week 4, there were 28 teams who had already matched or surpassed their win total for the entirety of last year’s schedule.
So these are just a few of the teams who have opened eyes in the first six weeks of 2026.
Ludlowe:
OK, so this one may be stretching the word “surprise.” While it’s not shocking to see the Falcons winning games – they were 15-7 with playoff berths the last two seasons, after all – there’s a smoothness to Ludlowe’s game now that has it looking like a championship contender. Much of that has to do with the play of senior quarterback Ryan Love, who is on the short list of MVP candidates this season. But the biggest difference may be on the defensive side of the ball, where the sixth-ranked Falcons are allowing just 13 points per game, down from 24 last year. Ludlowe will have a chance to really show its stuff in Week 8 when it takes on No. 1 New Canaan in a road tilt.
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New London:
The Whalers made a buzz in the offseason with the return of Jack Cochran as head coach. Cochran was taking over a New London team that was 3-7 and nowhere close to the playoffs last season. Fast forward six weeks into the season and the Whalers are 5-0, have outscored opponents 266-52 and are in third place in the Class M standings. Zhi’Mir Maddox-Moore was already a standout but has put up 1,250 all-purpose yards through five games and is clearly a team, and ECC, leader. There’s a tough stretch coming up. New London will face Ledyard (4-1), Woodstock Academy (4-1) and Waterford (5-0) in succession starting in Week 8, but a playoff bid seems like destiny at this point.
Pomperaug:
The Panthers are 5-0. That’s enough to get them in target range for this list, but what puts them over the top is just how dominating they’ve been. Pomperaug has been running wild with its flexbone offense, totaling just six passes while rushing 211 times for 1,857 yards. That’s led to 221 points scored alongside a defense that has allowed just 49. They opened the year with a 47-0 shutout of Brookfield and earned wins over traditional SWC powers Newtown (24-7) and Bunnell 49-21. The three-headed monster of seniors Gavin Lynch, Jack Guinipero and Josh Coughlin has been unstoppable running the ball. Pomperaug will get its biggest test to date with a home game against Masuk, also 5-0, on Friday.
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Shelton:
The Gaels are back. After back-to-back 3-7 non-playoff seasons, Shelton is 4-1 and capped the first half of its season by handling defending Class S champion Sheehan 45-20. Cole St. Pierre has racked up 734 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 113 carries, Jackson Hyner has been solid after taking over as the new starting quarterback for the final seven games last year, and they’ve both been operating behind a strong offensive line. The second half features some challenges, with Hand (5-0), Law (4-1) and Fairfield Prep (2-3) all on the schedule, but the Gaels are in position to storm back into the postseason in six weeks.
Simsbury: A new coach came to town in Jim Caouette, who had been an assistant at Holy Cross, and the light switch went on in Simsbury. After three seasons in which they went 1-9, 2-8 and 1-9, the Trojans are suddenly 4-1 and in fifth place in the Class L rankings. The lone loss was in the opener against Middletown (5-0), but they’ve since reeled off four straight, including an eye-opening 55-20 victory over Bloomfield. Senior quarterback Braeden Siano is driving the car and the Trojans have gone from doormat to a true playoff contender.
15 second-half CT football games we’re looking forward to
The first half of the season has been … interesting. While we’ve had plenty of upsets and more than a few surprises, there hasn’t been the same consistency in terms of dramatic games as there was last year.
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The second-half schedule looks very promising, with a multitude of key matchups coming up, including three meetings between 5-0 teams this week.
So rather than looking back, we’re looking ahead to some of the games we’re most looking forward to over the next month, leading up to Thanksgiving week.
Week 7
Woodland at Ansonia, Friday, 6 p.m.: Woodland ended a 19-game losing streak against Ansonia with its first win over the Chargers in 20 years last fall. They’re both 4-1 this year. Do the Hawks have an encore?
Guilford at Lyman Hall, Friday, 6:30 p.m.: This is a great week for 5-0 matchups, starting with this SCC bout. Both teams have offensive studs: Guilford with junior running back Shane Connelly and Lyman Hall with senior quarterback Ryan Casey.
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Masuk at Pomperaug, Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Unbeaten Masuk has returned to form after a 5-5 season and is flying high behind senior quarterback Aaron Champagne. Pomperaug, also unbeaten, has looked unstoppable with its “flexbone” rushing attack. Something’s gotta give.
New Canaan at Greenwich, Friday, 7 p.m.: No. 1 New Canaan plays at No. 2 Greenwich in the 10th meeting of the top two teams in the GametimeCT poll since 2005.
Week 8
Newtown at Bunnell, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.: The two SWC programs are perennial playoff contenders but have slipped in the first half, each at 2-3. This game could be key to a second-half surge.
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North Branford at Granby/Canton, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.: Two of the Pequot’s best go head to head. North Branford has been running amok with Matteo Anderson and Jack Sigel, while Granby/Canton senior Joe Lewie has been beating teams through the air and on the ground.
Law at Shelton, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: Shelton has had a turnaround and, at 4-1, has already surpassed its win totals from the past two seasons. Law, also 4-1, features one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Matt Witteman.
Ludlowe at New Canaan, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: New Canaan’s stifling defense will take a shot at slowing down No. 6 Ludlowe’s attack and quarterback Ryan Love. This shapes up to be a phenomenal battle.
Week 9
New Britain at Southington, Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.: New Britain pounded Southington 42-14 in Week 5 last season, but the Blue Knights turned it around and won their next seven to finish as the Class LL runner-up. Both are in contention again this fall.
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Ledyard at Waterford, Nov. 6, 6 p.m.: Ledyard lost to Lyman Hall on opening day, but has since reeled off four straight wins behind its strong rushing attack. Here they’ll take a shot at Waterford, which has motored through the first half at 5-0.
Holy Cross at Woodland, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m.: Another key NVL battle. The Crusaders have a superb passing attack led by quarterback Brady Lombardo and receiver Dae’Sean Graves, while Woodland counters with receiver Justin Pringle and quarterback Evan Mastropietro.
Lyman Hall at Hand, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.: Two top contenders, with Lyman Hall leading Class M and Hand leading Class SS. The Surf Club will be rocking for this one.
St. Joseph at New Canaan, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.: St. Joseph came closer than anyone to knocking off the Rams last season, but New Canaan escaped with a 7-3 decision. Both teams are unbeaten and loaded with talent. If the chips fall a certain way, this could be another 1 vs. 2 matchup.
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Week 10
Ludlowe at Staples, Nov. 13, 7 p.m.: Ludlowe has reached the CIAC playoffs the last two seasons, its first two trips in program history, but was knocked out in the first round each time. This year has a different feel, however. Staples has had a variety of games with three shutouts, an upset loss and a comeback win on the first-half slate.
Greenwich at St. Joseph, Nov. 14, noon: The FCIAC sure loaded up the second half of its schedule. Here’s another heavyweight bout, with Greenwich hosting St. Joseph, both tied for second in the poll, in a Saturday afternoon battle royale.
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This article originally published at The 2026 Connecticut high school football midseason report: Top teams, key players and surprises.
