ECC could send as many as 6 to football playoffs
Nov. 22—The Eastern Connecticut Conference will send at least three teams to the state high school football playoffs and could send as many as three more, depending on the outcomes of Thanksgiving Day games.
Fitch has already qualified in Class MM, but needs a victory Thursday morning at Ledyard to retain the Colonel Ledyard Sword and for a chance at a home game in the quarterfinals. Windham has qualified in Class SS and will play at home in Tuesday's quarterfinals, while Griswold/Wheeler earned a berth in Class S, based on Tuesday night's outcomes.
Killingly qualifies in Class L with a victory over Woodstock and Stonington qualifies in Class S by winning at Westerly in the country's oldest Thanksgiving Day game.
The most intriguing (and confusing) scenario belongs to Ledyard, which could qualify in Class SS with a victory over Fitch.
Ledyard (4-5), currently No. 11 (the top eight teams qualify), would earn a minimum 190 playoff points by defeating Fitch. The Colonels would need as many bonus points as possible, earned by teams Ledyard has already defeated winning on Thanksgiving. That includes Waterford over East Lyme, Stonington over Westerly and Weaver over Hartford Public. Bacon Academy's loss to RHAM on Tuesday night didn't help the Colonels.
The Colonels would also need significant help throughout the state. Torrington (5-4) would need to beat No. 10 Watertown (4-5); New Milford (6-3) would need to defeat No. 9 New Fairfield (4-5) and either No. 7 Foran or No. 8 Joel Barlow must lose. Foran plays crosstown rival Jonathan Law (3-6) and Barlow plays Weston (2-7).
The CIAC will announce the official pairings and game times Friday.
GameDay will stream Fitch at Ledyard live at 10 a.m. Thursday.
