The Hand football team has been a picture of dominance in not only the SCC but also the state of Connecticut the past two campaigns. The Tigers’ annual regular-season final Thanksgiving clash with Guilford was no exception–as Hand struck early and often in securing another convincing victory.

The Tigers capped off a 10-0 undefeated season and 22 straight wins with a 51-28 rout of Guilford on Nov. 27 on the road. Hand also earned the top seed in the Class M State Playoffs by virtue of the perfect mark and hosted No. 8 New London in a quarterfinal on Dec. 3 (after press time).

The Tigers also secured the regular-season SCC title while making it their 45th victory over Guilford. This also marks Hand’s 25th trip to the playoffs since the CIAC instituted a state playoff system in 1976, and the Tigers enter the 2024 playoffs housing a 32-10 all-time record in the second season while being 15-0 at Strong Field.

“This is the completion of one journey and the beginning of another,” said Head Coach Erik Becker after the undefeated regular season. “We play in the SCC, which is largely made up of Class LL and L schools, so we essentially play up a weight class each week. We also pride ourselves in having an elite football culture. I am big on fundamentals and keeping the flame burning of the culture that was started here by Larry Ciotti. We pride ourselves on becoming bigger, faster, and stronger, and rising up to any challenge.”

Senior Sam Markovitz opened up the scoring for Hand in the rivalry contest when he caught a 15-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors an early 6-0 lead. Senior Paul Calandrelli (seven rushes for 53 yards on the night while also completing six passes on eight attempts for 69 yards and two touchdowns) then added a nine-yard run to the end zone to put Hand ahead by 13. The Tigers then secured a 20-0 lead after the opening frame on a touchdown toss to senior Quinton O’Dea with three minutes to play.

In the second quarter, Hand kicked a field goal to go up by 23 around 10 minutes before intermission. The defense then got in on the point-production action by scooping up a fumble recovery by junior Stone Leckey for a score to secure a 30-0 edge. Guilford did not get on the board until eight minutes before the break with a 20-yard touchdown pass and cut its deficit to 30-6. But any thought of a comeback was short lived, as Hand next struck for a pick-6 by junior Conor Casagrande to bring its lead to 31.

The Tigers went 3-for-3 in terms of all phases of the game, going for tallies when they returned a punt for yet another score from senior Owen Donahey 60 seconds before the half to lead 44-6.

For the third quarter, Guilford scampered 63 yards down the field and trailed by 30 after a successful two-point conversion late in the period. The Grizzlies scored on another touchdown rush from two yards out to bring the contest to a 44-20 score. The Tigers got back to adding to their lead with a rushing touchdown with seven minutes left in the evening by sophomore Diego Portly (eight carries for 60 yards). Guilford then threw a 78-yard bomb for a touchdown, but it was certainly not enough, as Hand rode out the final five minutes to a perfect regular season.

A win over New London would put Hand in the semifinals on Sunday, Dec. 8 at home against either No. 4 St. Joseph or No. 5 Watertown. The victor there moves onto the finals on Saturday, Dec. 13 or Sunday, Dec. 14.

As part of the 20th Hand team to go 10-0 or better since 1976, Becker declared that the bullseye grew bigger and bigger on the collective backs of the Tigers with each week that went by. As they took each club’s best shot during the regular season, they will carry over the same mentality into December, as they look to retain their state crown.

“We go into each game with the belief that we will get every team’s best game,” said Becker. “But we welcome that pressure and believe it is a privilege. We also know that the next game on our schedule is the only game on our schedule. We had a good new London team coming to play us. We are not done yet, but the boys are able to just lock in, and they are an incredible group to coach. I am so proud of them.”

Becker is in his fourth year as Tigers’ head coach. Assisting him are Peter Ladas (defensive coordinator), co-offensive coordinators Tyler Tarantino and Tim Chalmers, quarterbacks coach Bill Ryan, and lineman coach Mike Marino. The freshman coaching staff is comprised of coach Tyler Michaud, offensive coordinator Carl McDowell, and lineman coach Ed Olson. Team statistician is Stephen McIntyre, and tech coordinator is Danny Ives.

The 2024 Hand football roster is comprised of seniors Cooper Burke, Calandrelli, Kenny Carter, Cooper Burke, Trevor Cash, Braeden Clark, Donahey, Jake Hanson, John Healy, Markovitz, Tyler Narracci, O’Dea, Ken Pompilli, Nicholas Pompilli, Morris Selmani, Aedan Virgulto; juniors Finn Barry, Kyle Borduas, Anthony Bowe, Ayden Brennan, Casagrande, Paul Fumex, Aidan Lane, Carrig LaVigne, Leckey, Tim O’Malley, Cameron Oranzo, Henry Pearson, Cole Preskar, Robert Reh, Brendan Riordan, Andrew Seehusen, Dashawn Winter, Tyler Wohlgemuth; sophomores Lucca Boyce, Henry Condo, Brayden Dempsey, David Elder, William Emerson, William Kennedy, Andrew King, Jacob Linke, Sam Lizondro, Lucas Newcomb, Luciano Pesce, Portley, Owen Scheps, Grady Van Hine, Wilson Walker, Andy Wang, Shain Wolfe; plus freshmen Cole Brinn, Cam Brophy, Will Curran, Caleb Davis, Hayden Duncan, Edmond Flood, Brayden Gies, Cole Hanson, Nate Kessell, James Kilbourn, Owen Lane, Michael Lavin, Henry Miller, Michael Santi, Hunter Schillo, Chase Spadaro, and Aiden Zuba.

2024 Hand Tigers’ Football Regular Season Results

Sept. 13: Hand 36, New London 14

Sept. 20: Hand 34, Fairfield Prep 3

Sept. 27: Hand 44, Berlin 14

Oct. 4: Hand 52, Shelton 29

Oct. 11: Hand 26, Hillhouse 0

Oct. 25: Hand 35, Cheshire 22

Nov. 1: Hand 15, Hamden 7

Nov. 8: Hand 25, Notre Dame-West Haven 0

Nov. 15: Hand 62, Xavier 31

Nov. 27: Hand 51, Guilford 28