Howdy,

First things first — an enterprising gentleman who calls himself "Sean Ledyard" went all DYI and constructed a rap about the Ledyard Colonels.

The video has been linked below.

Should you require more beats and rhymes, Polecat HQ recommends that you to listen to the high priests of rap.

Pay homage to your forefathers, kids.

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You've spent the previous 118 days basking in football's warming glow.

You've endured snow in October, rain in December, and blackouts.

You've watched folks go batty about who was No. 1.

Now, you've reached the season's zenith — four state championships over 22 hours, and all for the low price of $20.

The CIAC state championships begin today at East Hartford's Rentschler Field.

The games won't be televised, but you can listen to the melodic tones of George DeMaio at WELI-960.

You can also tune in to Sporting News Connecticut, ciacsports.com, or ciacmobile.com.

Those of you with fancy electronic gadgets can follow the Polecat on Twitter at MetalNED, or visit the #ctfb hash tag.

There's no need for you to have to follow the games on the radio or Interwebs as you'll be at The Rent, won't you?

Friday and Saturday count as one session each. Tickets are $10 for both sessions. Parking is free. Bundle up in layers.

TODAY

CLASS S

NO. 2 HOLY CROSS-WATERBURY vs. NO. 8 CROMWELL

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Records: Holy Cross 11-1; Cromwell 10-2.

Championship records: Holy Cross 1-3; Cromwell 1-2.

Outlook: It's the championship equivalent of "The Odd Couple". Holy Cross likes to operate its offense on the ground and meticulously gobble up the clock. Cromwell likes to play fast and loose and throw the ball around. Can two teams share a field without driving each other crazy? … The Crusaders have two 1,000-yard rushers in Dave DiGiorgi (1,068 yards, 12 TDs) and Anthony Brown (1,152 yards, 13 TDs). They're running behind an offensive line that has more size than the Panthers; defense. … It's in Cromwell's best interests to force the Crusaders to throw. Zach Brown has passed for 864 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. … Holy Cross freshman Isaiah Wright has a chance to be a special player. He has 33 catches for 544 yards and four touchdowns and run for four touchdowns. … Linebackers Anthony Jamele, Joe Parent and Mitch Szyndlar lead the Crusaders' defense. Wright has seven interceptions, too. … Cromwell averages 41.7 points and will look to stretch Holy Cross' defense thin with quarterback Anthony Morales and running back Derrick Villard. Morales (3,365 yards passing, 42 TDs, six INTs) has the opportunity to set the state's single-season passing records for both yardage and touchdowns. He needs one more touchdown pass and 194 more yards to clinch both. … Think about this — while Morales has thrown for over 3,000 yards, Villard is close to breaking the 2,000-yard rushing barrier. He has 1,964 yards and 24 touchdowns. … It's worth watching how the Crusaders defend receiver Michael Antonio (49 receptions, 1,291 yards, 18 TDs). He's 6-foot-3 and the Panthers best deep threat. Fellow receiver Brett Director (48 catches, 978 yards, 10 touchdowns) finds holes in opposing defenses. … Linemen Mike Sullivan (109 tackles, state-high 18 sacks) and back Ricky Feggins (93 tackles, four INTs) are among Cromwell's top defenders.

SATURDAY

CLASS M

NO. 1 ANSONIA vs. NO. 3 LEDYARD

Where: 10:30 a.m.

Records: Ansonia 13-0; Ledyard 11-1

Championship records: Ansonia 16-8; Ledyard 4-5.

Outlook: See Ansonia and Ledyard. See Ansonia and Ledyard run. Run, Ansonia and Ledyard, run. … Ledyard's defensive front seven of ends Joshua Lawrence and Wilson, nose guard Colin Grim and linebackers Cal Williams, Darren Alexander, Daggett and Smith have the game's most difficult assignment — containing Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome. The sophomore has rushed for 3,399 yards and scored a state-record 59 touchdowns. He needs to 198 more yards to set the single-season rushing record. Making matters even more difficult for the Colonels is that the Chargers have a big offensive line and doesn't let too many defenders touch Newsome. ... Ansonia has used play-action to catch defenses off guard. Elliot Chudwick has thrown for 787 yards passing and 11 touchdowns. Andrew Matos (20 catches, 472 yards, five TDs) is his top target. ... Chargers' linebacker Tyler Wood leads a very quick defense. … Ledyard needs to play keep away as the Chargers strike fast. It has an offense capable of sustaining long drives, primarily with the legs of Alex Manwaring. He's run 366 times for an Eastern Connecticut Conference record 2,435 yards with 23 touchdowns. ... Ledyard quarterback John Rainey has thrown for 683 yards and 11 touchdowns and run for 468 yards and 10 touchdowns. ... The versatile Slade Baxley has 37 carries for 432 yards and five touchdowns, and caught 24 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. ... Center Evan Stockman, guards Alec Gabriel and Ben Morales, tackles Bobby Bozym and Kyle Wilson and tight end Dallas Smith have done an exceptional job of giving fullback Matt Daggett, Manwaring, Rainey and Baxley room to move.

CLASS L

NO. 2 HAND-MADISON vs. NO. 5 NEW CANAAN

Time: 2 p.m.

Records: Hand 12-0; New Canaan 11-1.

Championship records: Hand 9-6; New Canaan 8-3.

Outlook: There are no secrets between these two. Both use the spread offense they learned from the Tony Franklin System. Hand coach Steve Filippone and Lou Marinelli of New Canaan are like brothers and among the best at their jobs. Expect lots of passing and points. … Hand's Henry Foye has been terrific in his first season at quarterback. He's thrown for 2,384 yards and has one of the state's best — and toughest — receivers in Nick Vitale. … The Tigers have gradually improved their running game. Kevin Frey has been the lead back. Fullback Matt Walsh (6-1, 220) and even lineman Joseph Demichele (6-2, 285) are used when bulk is required in short yardage situations. … Hand's defense has allowed an average of 9.75 points, sixth-best in the state. It put on a clinic last Saturday as it punished defending champion Masuk of Monroe, 35-14. … Rams quarterback Matt Milano hasn't gotten on track through two playoff games. He's still among the state's elite, though. The second-year starter has thrown for 2,620 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's also run for eight touchdowns. … Kevin McDonough has run for a team-high 489 yards with six touchdowns. He also has 103 tackles at linebacker … New Canaan has mastered the art of dinking-and-dunking (when necessary). Its top receivers are Connor Kilbane (59 catches, 652 yards, seven TDs) and Patrick Newton (53 catches, 759 yards, nine TDs). … Rams linebacker Dylan Leeming has 102 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

CLASS LL

NO. 1 XAVIER-MIDDLETOWN vs. NO. 2 STAPLES-WESTPORT

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Records: Xavier 12-0; Staples 11-0.

Championship records: Xavier 2-2; Staples 3-4.

Outlook: Xavier is the defending champion, have won 25 straight games and are the No. 1 team in The Day's Top 10 state coaches' poll. … Staples is the FCIAC champion. … You more astute and mature readers will remember one of the greatest sports' dynasties of the eighties and early nineties — the Legion Of Doom, Animal and Hawk, the Road Warriors. Xavier is the 2011 incarnation of that team as it beats opponents up with brute force. … The Falcons' defense has allowed a state-low eight points a game. They're led by linemen Sean Marinan (6-foot, 255), Austin Wezenski (6-1, 266), linebackers Ryan Craig (84 tackles), Tom Harrington (69 tackles), and Jovan Santos (55 tackles), and defensive backs Ryan Jacobucci (seven interceptions) and Max Tylki (60 tackles). … Xavier's offense likes to trample opponents with the run and averages 280.8 yards. … Mike Mastroianni (1,337 yards rushing, 21 TDs) has great balance and a knack for making people miss. … The Falcons use two quarterbacks. Pat D'Amato has thrown for 1,176 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's also run for 575 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tim Boyle has thrown for 658 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. … Jacobucci (38 catches, 913 yards, nine touchdowns) is Xavier's top receiver. … Staples will look to use its trademark option game to keep the Falcons off-balance. … Jack Massie has thrown for 1,461 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions and run for seven touchdowns. … The Wreckers split up the rushing duties between Joey Zelkowitz (996 yards, 11 TDs), Jon Heil (795 yards, nine TDs) and Nick Kelly (696 yards, 13 TDs). … James Fruscaiante has 33 receptions for 787 yards and nine touchdowns. … Staples always takes great pride in its defense. Linebackers Lance Lonergan (106 tackles, 5½ sacks) and Peter Hoets (104 tackles, team-high 14 sacks) are the team's top tacklers. … The Wreckers' tough-mindedness will come in handy. They've trailed in five games, including last Saturday's semifinal against Newtown. They fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but roared back with 30 unanswered points.

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Recommended reading:

Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican American: Crusaders face formidable foe in Class S state final

Kyle Brennan, Waterbury Republican American: Cross boasts multiple ways to score points

Mark Jaffe, Waterbury Republican American: Parent makes a two-way impact for Holy Cross

Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press: Panthers' 'Fantastic 4' have title hopes

Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press: Xavier, Cromwell football put it all on the line

Roger Cleaveland, Waterbury Republican American: Ansonia's wrecking crew opens holes

Chris Elsberry, Connecticut Post: Newsome, an Ansonia sophomore, already among elite

New Canaan relishing opportunity to play in sixth straight state final

Positive influence of Marinelli, Petroccio goes beyond the gridiron

Mike Pucci, New Haven Register: Familiar Class L foes Hand and New Canaan to meet again

Mike Pucci, New Haven Register: Falcons finally get Staples rematch

Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press: Running tough all in a day's work for Mike Mastroianni

Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press: Falcon success story one of bloodlines, offensive lines

Sean Patrick John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Hearst Inc.: Class LL, L and M previews.

Enjoy your weekend at The Runway.

Vaya con dios.