Dates for Milford Academy, Bridgton JV games

With the exception of the Harvard games, Yale's junior varsity games don't tend to be major draws.

That could change on Oct. 9 when Milford Academy plays the Yale JV squad at 2 p.m. at Clint Frank Field in West Haven (right next to Yale Field) especially with today's news that former Ansonia High running back Montrell Dobbs, who will be a captain of the 2012 Milford Academy squad, has committed to UConn.

Much like another former Ansonia High running back (Yale senior to be Alex Thomas) Dobbs is a true workhorse who seemingly gets stronger as the game moves on.

I spoke with Milford Academy coach Bill Chaplick on Thursday who had some words of praise for Dobbs and is hoping he will be the latest in a long line of top-flight running backs at Milford Academy. Among the running backs who have played for Chaplick at Milford Academy are LeSean McCoy, who ran for 1,080 yards in 2010 for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Shonn Greene, who had 766 yards this past season with the New York Jets. However, the player Chaplick compared Dobbs to was former Iowa running back Fred Russell, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher for the Hawkeyes.

Dobbs is one of a host of former Connecticut high school stars set to suit up for Milford Academy in the fall.

Defensive end Eddie Glenn out of North Haven, the Naugatuck duo of cornerback Ruben Berger and lineman Aaron Echevarria, Morgan quarterback Eric Bertinskas (who Chaplick said was planning to visit Iowa in the first week of August), St. Joseph linebacker Tyler Matakevich, another player Iowa recruiters have an interest in, Norwich Free Academy tight end Jaron Russell, Trunbull High receiver Franklin Gaines, Montville running back/defensive end Tyler Girard-Floyd, Masuk lineman Glenn Taylor and Ledyard defensive tackle Desmond Gray.

Although he won't be on the Milford Academy team, Chaplick sounds like a proud dad signing the praises of new Iowa commit Dean Tsopanides, a former Torrington High star who projects as a defensive end at Iowa. The original plan was to have Tsopanides play at Milford Academy in the fall but he made enough progress and opened enough eyes with his play in a week-long camp for Iowa to offer him a scholarship beginning in the upcoming season.

Yale JV will also host Bridgton Academy on Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. and since Yale will host Harvard on Nov. 19, the JV game will also be played at Yale on Nov. 18. When I have more details on the JV schedule, I will be sure to pass them on.