The Walter Camp Joseph W. Kelly Award
Awarded annually to Connecticut’s top high school football team as voted by the Foundation’s membership.
The St. Joseph of Trumbull Cadets, the Class L state champion and No. 1 team in the state’s high school football season-ending polls, is the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s choice to receive the 2019 Joseph W. Kelly Award.
It is the second time St. Joseph has won the award – the other was in 1982. It was also the fifth straight year a team from the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) has earned the honor, eclipsing the previous record held by the Southern Connecticut Conference (2009-2012).
“Utilizing a stingy defense and an explosive offense, St. Joseph was exceptional on its way to its third straight championship season,” said Walter Camp Football Foundation President Mario Coppola. “We salute Coach Joe Dellavecchia, his staff and players on an outstanding season.”
St. Joseph went 10-0 during the 2019 regular-season, outscoring its opponents by an average of 50.7 to 6.1. The Cadets then defeated Wilton, 49-7, in the Class L quarterfinals on December 3. In the semifinals, St. Joseph defeated New Canaan, 42-0, and culminated its championship season with a hard-fought 17-13 victory over previously undefeated Daniel Hand on December 14. It was the Cadet’s third state title with all coming in three different classes (Class S, M and L).
In their 13 games, the Cardinals averaged 47.3 points per game, allowing just 6.2 a game.
Coach Dellavecchia and the St. Joseph team will be recognized at the Foundation’s annual national awards banquet, presented by David McDermott Lexus, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 at Yale University’s Lanman Center. Walter Camp Player of the Year Joe Burrow, along with members of the 2019 Walter Camp All-America team, and other major award winners (Man of the Year-Curtis Martin; Distinguished American-Chris Berman), will be honored.
Earlier that day, St. Joseph, along with the three other state football champions (Newtown-LL, Weston-M and Sheehan-S) will also be feted the organization’s High School Breakfast of Champions event at the Omni New Haven Hotel. Also that morning, the Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team, High School Player and Coach of the Year will also be recognized.
Prior Year Winners of the Joseph W. Kelly Award
Darien High School (2017)
Darien High School (2016)
Darien High School (2015)
Southington High School – (2014)
Ansonia High School – (2013)
Daniel Hand High School – (2012)
Xavier High School – (2011)
Xavier High School – (2010)
Notre Dame High School – West Haven (2009)
New Canaan High School – (2008)
Ansonia High School – (2007)
Ansonia High School – (2006)
Xavier High School – (2005)
Daniel Hand High School – (2004)
New Britain High School – (2003)
West Haven High School – (2002)
New Britain High School – (2001)
Fitch High School – (2000)
Bloomfield High School – (1999)
Bloomfield High School – (1998)
Daniel Hand High School – (1997)
Weaver High School – (1996)
Cheshire High School – (1995)
Cheshire High School – (1994)
Cheshire High School – (1993)
Cheshire High School – (1992)
Notre Dame High School – West Haven (1991)
Derby High School – (1990)
Ansonia High School – (1989)
Stratford High School – (1988)
East Catholic High School – (1987)
Trumbull High School – (1986)
Hillhouse High School – (1985)
Middletown High School – (1984)
Ansonia High School – (1983)
St. Joseph’s High School – (1982)
Naugatuck High School – (1981)
Trumbull High School – (1980)
Newington High School – (1979)
Amity High School – (1978)
Trumbull High School – (1977)
Fitch High School – (1976)