All three local qualifiers will play semifinals at home

Southeastern Connecticut football fans, this year's CIAC playoffs are for you.

Three Eastern Connecticut Conference teams — East Lyme, Montville and New London — will all host semifinal games next Tuesday (all at 6:30 p.m.)

Montville and New London had each qualified before Thanksgiving with East Lyme needing to beat Waterford, which it did, 42-0.

The Vikings (9-1) got some help along the way, too. Vinal Tech/Coginchaug, which began the week as the top-ranked team in Class MM, was beaten by Cromwell Wednesday, 24-20.

Vinal's loss put East Lyme in a position to be the No. 2 seed and host a game provided it won and received bonus points from teams it had beaten.

ECC foes Bacon Academy and Woodstock Academy, along with Enfield, all came through for the Vikings. It will play host to Vinal Tech/Coginchaug, which is making its first postseason appearance.

New London (10-0) clinched the top seed in Class M with its 34-14 win over longtime rival Norwich Free Academy. The Whalers, who won Class SS last season, will play host to Bethel (8-2).

Montville (9-1) clinched the second seed after beating St. Bernard/Norwich Tech Tuesday (48-12) and will be making its second consecutive postseason appearance. It will play host to Bullard-Havens of Bridgeport (9-1).

n.griffen@theday.com