Hand shuts out Cheshire in Week 5 CIAC football showdown

In a significant CIAC football matchup on October 9, 2026, No. 4-ranked Hand defeated No. 9 Cheshire 38-0 at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Connecticut. This victory brought Hand's record to 5-0, marking their second perfect start in three years. The game also served as a tribute to coach Mike Ciotti, who is battling cancer, with a halftime ceremony emphasizing unity amid rivalry. Several teams achieved 5-0 records this week, including Guilford, North Branford, Southington, New London, and Waterford, while Holy Cross ended a long losing streak to Ansonia with a 48-37 victory, improving their record to 4-1. Both Holy Cross and Ansonia have byes next week.

• 6:52 PMYahoo Sports — Inside Week 5 of CIAC football: ‘Eat the Bear,' 5-0 starts and an NVL thriller