NEW HAVEN, CT – Xavier High School of Middletown, which was ranked No. 1 in the New Haven Register, New London Day, and Hartford Courant season-ending polls, is the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s choice to receive the Joseph W. Kelly Trophy, which is awarded annually to Connecticut’s top high school football team.

Xavier captured the Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West title on its way to a perfect 12-0 record and the Class LL state championship.  The Falcons defeated Southington, 45-30, in the Class LL title game on December 3 behind 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns from senior running back Amari Spievey.  Xavier had previously defeated Trumbull, 20-7, in the semifinals.

It is the first time that Xavier has earned the Joseph W. Kelly Trophy.  It also marks the sixth time since 1994 that a SCC school has earned the Kelly Trophy (Cheshire 1994 and 1995; Hand 1997, 2004; West Haven 2002).

“Xavier certainly distinguished itself as the premier Connecticut high school football program in 2005,” said Walter Camp Football Foundation President Allen Jackson. “We salute Coach Sean Marinan, his staff and players on a tremendous season and a job well done.”

Coach Marinan and the captains of Xavier squad, as well as all of the major award winners and members of the 2005 Walter Camp All-America team, will be honored at the organization’s 39th annual national awards banquet on Saturday, February 11 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. 

In addition, the Foundation will hold its annual Fan Fest on Friday, February 10 at the Connecticut SportsPlex on Route 80 in North Branford from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Dinner ($250.00) and Fan Fest tickets ($10.00) can be purchased by calling (203) 288-CAMP.

- www.waltercamp.org -