A morning conference call of the board of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) approved playing the Class L championship football game pitting Staples against Shelton at 3 p.m. today at West Haven High School.
Coach Marce Petroccio: Jimmy Hughes “definitely out” for today’s game. WestportNow.com photo
During a conference call Monday morning the CIAC board granted a waiver to allow the playing of the football finals past the season limitation deadline of Sunday, Dec. 7,Ӕ according to the CIAC Web site.
The Class L final between Staples and Shelton and the MM final between Masuk and East Lyme will be played today at Strong Stadium in West Haven (L at 3 p.m., MM at 7 p.m.).
It is the first time in 28 years of the playoffs that the CIAC has extended the season past the first Sunday in December.
Staples will be playing without star senior running back Jimmy Hughes. He injured his knee during the Dec. 2 semi-final win over Windsor.
ӓHes definitely out,Ҕ Coach Marce Petroccio told reporters Sunday after a two-hour practice session in the field house.
Although he wonӒt be on the field with us, he will be on the sideline rooting us on. Hell be the leader heҒs been for the past four years.
Hughes has rushed for 1,816 yards this season (5,419 during his career) and scored 38 touchdowns (74 career). He also holds the Staples records in rushing yards (5,419) and points (456).
The championship game originally was scheduled to be played Saturday afternoon. It was canceled due to the weekend snow storm.
While the field was ready to play Sunday, state police said roads were still dangerous and CIAC postponed the game again.
In the 28 years of the CIAC playoffs, a championship game has never been canceled. In the event of cancellation this year, teams would be declared co-champions
The weather forecast for this afternoon was for partly sunny skies with highs in the mid-30s with north winds 10 to 15 miles per hour.
The Staples football Web site planned real-time coverage of the game.
