Football preview + predictions: Thames River, Quinebaug Valley host crucial CTC contests
Week 5 of the 2023 football season is an off week for most teams and leagues throughout the state. While Norwich Free Academy, Killingly, and Griswold/Wheeler enjoy a week off to nurse well earned bumps and bruises, Independent and Connecticut Technical Conference teams will buckle up their chin straps again this weekend.
Thames River and Quinebaug Valley host Platt Tech and Cheney Tech in crucial CTC contests.
Plainfield travels to Hartford to meet Pequot Conference opponent Capital Prep/Achievement.
Here are this week’s matchups and predictions:
More: Plainfield football falls to former Pequot Conference foe North Branford
Plainfield at Capital Prep/Achievement
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Weaver HS, Hartford
Records: Plainfield 2-1; Capital Prep/Achievement 2-2
Last week: Plainfield had bye; Capital Prep/Achievement lost to North Branford, 42-6.
Last season: Teams did not meet.
The skinny: Panthers have shown signs of improvement again during a rebuild and move from an ECC to independent schedule. Both teams had trouble slowing down North Branford. Plainfield fell to the Thunderbirds, 56-6, on Sept. 21. Have a hunch this one is going to be decided late in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Capital Prep/Achievement 22, Plainfield 20
Platt Tech at Thames River
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Where: Grasso Tech HS, Groton
Records: Platt Tech 2-2; Thames River 2-2
Last week: Platt Tech defeated Quinebaug Valley, 28-15; Thames River lost to ATI, 23-6.
Last season: Thames River won, 47-0.
The skinny: With Killingly looming on the schedule next week, the Crusaders are in ‘must-win’ mode already to keep their Class MM state playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: Thames River 28, Platt Tech 21
Cheney Tech at Quinebaug Valley
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Where: St. Marie Greenhalgh Complex, Putnam HS
Records: Cheney Tech 2-2; Quinebaug Valley 1-3
Last week: Cheney Tech lost to Wilcox/Kaynor, 27-0; Quinebaug Valley lost to Platt Tech, 28-15.
Last season: Cheney Tech won, 34-7.
The skinny: Both teams boast low-scoring wins over Prince Tech. The Beavers, however, topped Platt Tech, 29-14, on Sept. 15, while the Pride fell to the Panthers last week. Pride hoping to get offense in gear and avenge last season’s defeat in Manchester.
Prediction: Cheney Tech 22, Quinebaug Valley 14
Last week: 3-1
Overall: 14-7
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Football preview: Thames River in 'must-win' mode this week
