Howdy,

Egad, Saturday was a glorious day of football, the greatest sport in all of reality.

Baltimore stunned Denver in what was one of the best, and most outrageous, NFL playoff games you'll ever see. And San Francisco bullied Green Bay with Colin Kaepernick performing a rousing tribute to Tommie Frazier (study your football history, kids).

Here in the Nutmeg State, both the New Haven Register and the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced their respective All-State teams Saturday. The two are the yin and yang of all-state teams. Walter Camp puts together a complete team (i.e. five offensive linemen and three-or-more defensive linemen), whereas the Register focuses on having the best players on offense, defense and special teams.

We'll start with Walter Camp as its team is shorter — Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome repeated as the state Player of the Year. The junior ran for 2,245 yards (at a daffy 9.89 yards a carry) and 38 touchdowns for the Class S champions. He's a tricky defensive back, too.

Xavier senior quarterback Tim Boyle and Hand senior linebacker Matt Walsh were the other two finalists. Boyle will attend Boston College next season (hush, DiMauro). Walsh is headed to Storrs.

Tom Dyer of Hillhouse and Hand's Steve Filippone sharing the Foundation's Coach of the Year honor.

The late, great Jack Hunt was posthumously feted with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Hunt was a star player at Ansonia and later returned to coach the program to seven CIAC state championships, the third-most by a coach in state history. He had a winning percentage of .881 (193-26), third-best all-time according to the 2012 Connecticut High School Football Record Book.

George Knoth, a senior offensive lineman/linebacker at Law, earned the UCAN Inspire Award. Knoth and his teammates wore a blue puzzle piece decal on their helmets this past season to raise autism awareness. Knoth's two younger brothers are autistic.

The Walter Camp All-Connecticut team goes like this:

Offense

Quarterback: Tim Boyle, Xavier.

Running back: Harold Cooper, Hillhouse; Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia.

Wide receiver: Kris Luster, Xavier; Andrew Matos, Ansonia.

Tight end: Andrew Isaacs, Manchester.

Offensive line: Jake Basilica, Montville; Michael LaSala, Wilton; Hector Rodriguez, Berlin; Max Schumann, Xavier; Kyle Vaughn, Staples.

Defense

Defensive line: Peter Gerson, Hand; Cole Ormsby, Windsor; Tuzar Skipper, NFA; Kyle Wilson, Ledyard.

Linebacker: Mike Jones, Capital Prep/Classical/Achievement First; Marquis Little, Manchester; Max Tylki, Xavier; Matt Walsh, Hand.

Defensive back: Andre Anderson, Hillhouse; James Frusciante, Staples; Joey Paparelli, NFA; Justin Potts, Platt.

Special teams

Kicker: Ed Groth, Shelton.

Punter: Michael Nicol, Wolcott.

Returner: Thomas Milone, Masuk.

The Register named Matt Walsh its State Player of the Year. He was a frightening defensive force and had 182 tackles and three sacks for the two-time, two-time Class L champions this past season. Hand played two platoons, but Walsh was used as the short-yardage back. He ran for 10 touchdowns, half of which came in the Tigers' 40-20 win over then No. 1 Xavier on Oct. 12.

NFA's Jemal Davis was named the Register's State Coach of the Year. The Wildcats finished 12-1, won the Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division and were the Class LL runner-up. It was just the program's second CIAC state final appearance.

The Register chooses first, second and third teams as also picks honorable mentions.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback: Tim Boyle, Xavier; Quinn Fleeting, Windsor.

Running back: Harold Cooper, Hillhouse; Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia; Ervin Philips, West Haven.

Wide receiver: James Frusciante, Staples; Andrew Matos, Ansonia; Ryhieme Moore, Windsor.

Tight end: Andrew Isaacs, Manchester.

Offensive line: Max Schumann, Xavier; Kyle Vaughn, Staples.

Utility: Dan Hebert, Newtown, Sr.

Kicker: Ed Groth, Shelton.

Defense

Defensive line: Pete Gerson, Hand; Jared Levi, Staples.

Linebacker: Cole Harris, New Canaan; Taylor Ormsby, Windsor; Max Tylki, Xavier.

Defensive back: Andre Anderson, Hillhouse; Nick Gaynor, Northwest Catholic; Kris Luster, Xavier; Colin Moore, Avon; Marcus Outlow, NFA.

Special teams

Kicker: Ed Groth, Shelton.

Returner: Thomas Milone, Masuk.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback: Brandan Basil, North Branford; Tanner Kingsley Woodland.

Running back: DeAngelo Berry, Xavier; Joe Pacheco, New Fairfield; Justin Potts, Platt.

Wide receiver: Caleb Ewald, Hand; Joe DeLucia, North Branford; Anthony Scirpo, Woodland.

Tight end: Tommy Myers, Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton.

Offensive line: Jake Basilica, Montville; Hector Rodriguez, Berlin; Chris Speer, Staples.

Utility: Mike Nicol, Wolcott.

Defense

Defensive line: Connor Buck, New Canaan; Matt D'Andrea Darien; Josh Hill, Glastonbury; Pieter Hoets, Staples; Tuzar Skipper, NFA.

Linebacker: Audley Fletcher, Hartford Public; Mike Root, New Canaan.

Defensive back: Ben Berey, Glastonbury; Nick Kelly, Staples; Grady Lynch, New Canaan; Joey Paperelli, NFA; Joey Zelkowitz, Staples.

Special teams

Kicker: Jesse Adelberg, Greenwich.

Third team

Offense

Quarterback: Stephen Barmore, Southington; Brendan Bilcheck, Hand.

Running back: Derrick Villard, Cromwell; Chris Young, Rocky Hill.

Wide receiver: Corbin Garry, Southington.

Offensive linemen: Jeremy Clark, Woodland; Alex Magee, Greenwich; Matt Marcarelli, North Haven; Sean Merrill, Sheehan; Chris Meucci, Berlin; Ben Morales, Ledyard; Will Patrick, Staples.

Utility: Je'Vaughn Moore, Hillhouse; Jake Pelletier St. Joseph.

Special teams

Kicker: John Ambrozaitis, Gilbert/Northwestern Regional.

Defense

Defensive line: Anthony Gomes, NFA; Brian Monaco, Masuk; Eddy Williams, West Haven.

Linebacker: Terrell Fairweather, Hillhouse; Isaiah Holloway, Montville; Patrick Kirkwood, Fitch; Cody Zaro, Trinity Catholic.

Defensive back: Tyler Hassett, Weston; Jai'Quan McKnight, Ansonia; Ryan O'Connor, Ansonia; Jalon White, North Haven.

Honorable mention

Quarterback

Henry Baldwin, Darien; Jason Bradley, Naugatuck; Dario Highsmith, Middletown; Jake Kasuba, Foran; T.J. Linta, Hamden Hall; Logan Marchi, St. Paul; Jack Massie, Staples; Andrew Tarantino, Newtown; Jordan Vazzano, St. Joseph; Brad Westmark, Brookfield.

Running back

Shawn Brown, Trinity Catholic; Jeremiah Crowley, Montville; Cooper Gold, Newtown; Justin Gombotz, Berlin; Ivan Guadalupe, Farmington; Dale Hausman, North Branford; Shaquan Howsie, Trinity Catholic; Neal Janiga, Ellington/Somers; Rahkeem Jordan, Prince Tech; Nick Lombardo, Darien; Justin Schaffer, Weston; John Shannon, Bullard-Havens; Tyler Stucke, Killingly; Cameran Tucker, Notre Dame-West Haven.

Wide receiver

Kyle Anderson, Hand; Anthony Bonefant, Southington; Caleb Camacho, New London; Chris Caron, North Branford; John Caruso, Norwich Free Academy; David Coggins, Sacred Heart; Justin Devellis, Newtown; Julian Dunn, Newtown; Daija Fitzpatrick, St. Paul; Sam Gravitte, Ridgefield; Joe Kelly, Greenwich; Alex McGuigan, North Branford; Reid Morin, St. Paul; Mick Pernell, Naugatuck; Norvel Stewart, Bloomfield; Isiah Swain, Middletown; Chris Van Kamerik, Oxford; Nick Weissauer, Foran; Mike Williams, Trumbull

Offensive line

Ian Augur, Coginchaug; Andrew Barton, Ridgefield; Mitch Blanchette, Berlin; David Bednarz, Middletown; Isaiah Brooks, Bloomfield; Jeremy Clark, Woodland; Erlin Colon, Platt; Zach Creeron, Xavier; Jonah Dorsey, Xavier; Matt Gillespie, East Lyme; Mike Lasala, Wilton; Zach McNutt, Torrington; Sam Murphy, Fairfield Ludlowe; Christian Outlaw, Middletown; Dan Padelli, Hand; Chris Simmons, Manchester, Sr.; Matt Simon, Ansonia; George Smith, Holy Cross; Kyle Wilson, Ledyard.

Defensive line

Anthony Bednarz, Middletown; Dan Bonney, Seymour; Alex Chow-Yen, Wilbur Cross; Eric Collodel, Woodland; Donnery Evans, Hyde; Austin Gomar, Weston; Derek Hawkins, Bloomfield; Matt Houpert, Hall; Riley Kinahan, Trinity Catholic; Andrew Klarman, Branford; Nick Rowe, Avon; Teno Simpson, Hillhouse; Zach Sirowich, Seymour; Jh'Mel Trammell, Ansonia.

Linebacker

Akeino Chamberlain, Middletown; Brennen Diaz, Oxford; Hezekiah Duncan, Ansonia; Gary Falanga, North Branford; Brad Helmkamp, Simsbury; Mike Jones, Capital Prep/Classical Magnet/Achievement First; Ryan Keklik, Trumbull; Marquis Little, Manchester; Lance Lonergan, Staples; Jimmy Murphy, Avon; Quincy Pecora, North Haven; Mike Pulaski, St. Joseph; Joquin Riley, New London; Devin Stewart, Northwest Catholic; Kadialy Toure, West Haven; Sean Tynan, Ellington/Somers

Defensive back

Ackee Barber, New London; Antwan Byrd, Capital Prep/Classical Magnet/Achievement First; Nick Clemons, Montville; Devonte Dillion, Windsor; Andre Gee, West Haven; Darryn Horner, Hillhouse; Andrew Jenkelunas, Rocky Hill; Chris Johnson, Norwich Free Academy; Alex Lockwood, Barlow; Otto Marcello, Middletown; Zach Maxwell, Southington; Dillon McMahon, Derby; Casey Ouellette, New Canaan; Alex Tuccero, Hand; Charles Wooding, Glastonbury

Kicker

Elisa Formiglio, Norwich Free Academy; Lyle Luth, Amity; Greg Marzilli, Rocky Hill; Tyler Phan, Hand; Kyle Smick, Southington.

■ ■ ■ ■

Everyone here at Polecat HQ is unabashedly biased towards the run.

We'd all be real heels, though, if we didn't make mention the state records set by Woodland's Tanner Kingsley and Anthony Scirpo this past season.

Kingsley, a junior quarterback, threw 51 touchdowns. He shredded the record set last season by Cromwell's Anthony Morales (43).

Scirpo, a senior receiver, caught 25 touchdowns. That edged the 24 touchdowns caught by Bristol Central's Aaron Hernandez in 2005. Note that Hernandez played 10 games that season, whereas Scirpo played 12 games this season.

■ ■ ■ ■

Public service announcement — 2013 should be a glorious year for running backs as Cooper, Newsome, Outlow, Philips and Young are all juniors.

In this era where the forward pass is considered sacred, it's heartening to know that there will be some teams handing off to some great backs and RUNNING THE BALL next season.

■ ■ ■ ■

Kyle Brennan of The NVL Blog, the Waterbury Republican-American, WATR, and Quinnipiac's zamboni driver, reports that the Naugatuck Valley League's athletic directors are expected to vote Monday on whether-or-not to add Oxford to the league.

Oxford is a member of the South-West Conference. Geographically, it belongs in the NVL.

Hopefully the Wolverines are playing the likes of Ansonia, Seymour and Woodland in the NVL next season.

Kyle had several other notes in his latest blog post.

■ ■ ■ ■

We plan (hope) to have post blog in a day or two. Or four.

Thank you. Please drive thru.

Vaya con dios….