Walter Camp Foundation, Inc.

Notre Dame-West Haven Named Walter Camp Kelly Award Recipient

The Green Knights (11-1) won the Connecticut State Class L title and earned the #1 ranking in all three state polls.

NEW HAVEN, CT – Notre Dame of West Haven, 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 Award, which is awarded annually to Connecticut’s top high school football.

It is the second time that Notre Dame has earned the Kelly Award (1991). It also marks the seventh time since 1994 that a Southern Connecticut Conference school has earned the Kelly Award (Cheshire 1994 and 1995; Hand 1997, 2004; West Haven 2002; and Xavier 2005).

“Notre Dame certainly distinguished itself after playing such a difficult regular-season schedule in the SCC and then beating two undefeated teams in the state playoffs,” said Walter Camp Football Foundation President Alphonse Paolillo, Jr. “We salute Coach Tom Marcucci, his staff and players on a tremendous season and a job well done.”

Notre Dame captured the SCC Division I East title on its way to a 9-1 regular-season record. On Thanksgiving, the Green Knights defeated rival Hamden, 31-15, and with the victory earned a spot in the Class L playoffs.

In the state semifinals, Notre Dame traveled to West Hartford and defeated previously-undefeated Conard, 42-14. On Saturday, December 5, the Green Knights overcame a first-half deficit to defeat undefeated Pomperaug, 28-21, in the Class L championship game. It was Notre Dame’s first state title since 2001. The high-scoring Knights also set a SCC record by averaging 39 points a game this season.

Coach Marcucci and the Notre Dame team, along with members of the 2009 Walter Camp All-America team, will be honored at the organization’s national awards banquet on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. In addition, the Foundation will recognize three individuals – NFL Hall-of-Famer John Elway (Stanford), former NFL All-Pro David Fulcher and ABC broadcast personality Robin Roberts (Southeastern Louisiana) – with major awards.

The Foundation is offering a "Holiday Ticket Promotion" for the National Awards Dinner. Buy two tickets for $400 (you save $150) before December 25. Please call (203) 288-CAMP (288-2267).

Walter Camp “Joseph W. Kelly Award” Connecticut High School Champions

2009 – Notre Dame (West Haven)

2008 – New Canaan

2007 – Ansonia

2006 – Ansonia

2005 – Xavier (Middletown)

2004 – Daniel Hand (Madison)

2003 – New Britain

2002 – West Haven

2001 – New Britain

2000 – Fitch (Groton)

1999 – Bloomfield

1998 – Bloomfield

1997 – Daniel Hand (Madison)

1996 – Weaver (Hartford)

1995 – Cheshire

1994 – Cheshire

1993 - Cheshire

1992 – Cheshire

1991 – Notre Dame (West Haven)

1990 – Derby

1989 – Ansonia

1988 – Stratford

1987 – East Catholic (Manchester)

1986 – Trumbull

1985 – Hillhouse (New Haven)

1984 – Middletown

1983 – Ansonia

1982 – St. Joseph’s (Trumbull)

1981 – Naugatuck

1980 – Trumbull

1979 – Newington

1978 – Amity (Woodbridge)

1977 – Trumbull

1976 – Fitch (Groton)

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Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp — a former Yale University athlete and football coach — is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation — a New Haven based all volunteer group — was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All America team.