Three Yale recruits in Connecticut playoffs

With the regular season coming to a close today, the playoff field for the CIAC tournament has been set.

Three players on the list of Yale recruits applying early are among those in the field.

Staples defensive end Chris Coyne and linebacker Pat Murray, who have both received their likely letters, will be traveling to Glastonbury for a Class LL quarterfinal on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. St. Joseph running back L.J. Hunt, who last I heard was still having his application looked over by the Yale admissions department, will get to play at home when the Cadets host Woodland in a Class S quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Going into Thursday's season finale against Greenwich, Murray and Coyne ranked third and fourth on the Wreckers with 88 and 85 tackles respectively. Murray has a team-high 11 sacks while Coyne has made seven sacks.

They have been used in the passing game on offense although it should be noted that throught nine games the Wreckers have run the ball 281 times while attempting 99 passes. Murray and Coyne had nine catches each, which ranks second on the squad. Murray had 165 receiving yards and three TDs while Coyne had 150 yards and a touchdown reception.

Hunt has nine catches for 60 yards and a TD on offense and has made 34 tackles on defense and has a team-leading 675 yards rushing (again these stats don't include the most recent game).

Across state lines, lineman Stephen Shoemaker leads undefeated Bronxville (N.Y.) against General Brown of Dexter, N.Y. in the New York Class C championship game Sunday at noon at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Shoemaker is a star of a Bronxville defense which has posted five shutouts in 12 games including four in a row to start the season. Shoemaker is second on the team with 76 tackles and has a team-best 11 sacks. On the offensive side of the ball, the 300-pounder has helped Bronxville run for more than 3,500 yards and average 11 yards per rush.