Locals need a win and a prayer

The Ledyard and Waterford high school football teams have something in common this week — they're both hoping for a holiday miracle.

Waterford is ranked 13th in the current CIAC Class M playoff rankings and Ledyard 14th. That's well outside of the top eight that will qualify.

Both need plenty of help, but here's the thing: it's not far-fetched that either of them could get the breaks they need.

Ledyard (6-3) and Waterford (6-3) must first take care of their own business. Ledyard needs to beat Fitch (6-3) on Thanksgiving. Ditto for Waterford against East Lyme (5-4).

The Colonels and Lancers would then need teams in front of them to lose. The most sensible scenario which would allow one of them to qualify requires:

• East Catholic of Manchester (2-7) over eighth-seeded Cheney Tech of Manchester (7-2).

• Killingly (1-8) over No. 9 Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech (7-2).

• Wilbur Cross of New Haven (4-5) over city-rival and No. 10 Hillhouse (6-3).

• Maloney (8-1) over No. 11 Platt of Meriden (7-2).

Yes, those games are iffy. Can Maloney beat its rival? Can Wilbur Cross stop its four-game skid? Are one-win Killingly and two-win East Catholic better than Constitution State Conference teams with winning records?

It would further help Ledyard and Waterford if one (or more) of the following happens:

• Ellington/Somers (5-4) beats No. 5 Coventry/Windham Tech (7-2).

• Housatonic Regional/Wamogo (5-4) beats No. 6 Gilbert/Northwestern Regional of Winsted (7-2).

• Granby (0-9) beats No. 12 Enfield (6-3) — yes, that's nearly unfathomable.

• Brookfield (7-2) beats No. 15 Bethel (6-3).

• Torrington (6-3) beats No. 16 Watertown (6-3).

The odds that either the Colonels or Lancers could qualify might seem crazy, but Thanksgiving Week football is about the wild and unexpected.

Put it this way: if Cheney Tech loses Wednesday night, then Thanksgiving just got a whole lot more interesting for Ledyard and Waterford.

New London is second behind defending Class M champion Berlin (9-0) and has already qualified. It's also clinched a home quarterfinal. A win over Norwich Free Academy and bonuses could earn the Whalers the top seed even if Berlin finishes unbeaten, too.

A look at the other classes:

Class LL: NFA (9-0) is rated second and has qualified. It would earn a home quarterfinal if it beats New London (8-1), or either Newtown (8-1) loses to Masuk (9-0), or Trumbull (8-1) loses to St. Joseph of Trumbull (7-2) on Wednesday.

Class S: Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-0) and Montville (8-1) have both qualified and clinched a home quarterfinal.

n.griffen@theday.com