High school football capsules / Week 8

Today's Games

Bacon Academy at Ledyard, 6:30 p.m.

Records: Bacon (1-5, 0-3 ECC Medium Division); Ledyard (5-2, 2-1).

Outlook: Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore was reduced to watching game film on his I-Phone this week because neither the school nor his home had power. Yes, this game means that much. The Colonels need to keep winning to keep their Class M playoff hopes alive. In addition, a win here and a win by Waterford at Windham gives Ledyard the outright division title for the second straight season. This is Ledyard's final Friday night home game.

Killingly at St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, 6:30 p.m.

Records: Killingly (1-5, 0-2); St. Bernard/Norwich Tech (0-6, 0-3).

Outlook: One of these teams will win its first divisional game and avoid finishing last in the ECC Small Division. Killingly has lost to the division's top two teams, Stonington and Plainfield.

NFA at Griswold, 6:30 p.m.

Records: NFA (7-0); Griswold (3-4).

Outlook: NFA coach Jemal Davis returns to the sidelines following his school-imposed one-game suspension for violating the state's score management rule. ... The Wildcats won in Davis' absence, 31-6 at Bacon Academy. ... NFA can likely afford a loss and still qualify for the Class LL playoffs.

Saturday's Games

Montville at Stonington, 2 p.m.

Records: Montville (5-2); Stonington (6-1).

Outlook: This might be a state playoff knockout game. Montville must win to maintain its hopes in Class M, following its loss to Ledyard last week. Stonington, which will play for the ECC Small Division title next week against Plainfield, must win to keep its hopes alive in Class S. The winner will benefit from some significant bonus points, which reward schools for defeating quality opponents.

Valley Regional/Old Lyme at Lewis Mills, 3:30 p.m.

Records: Valley/Old Lyme (4-2); Lewis Mills (0-6).

Outlook: Valley/Old Lyme must win its remaining games to have a chance at the state playoffs. It shouldn't be much of a problem here. Lewis Mills, located in Burlington, is a relatively young varsity program that plays its home games at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

Fitch at New London, 7 p.m.

Records: Fitch (5-1, 2-1 ECC Large Division); New London (6-1, 2-0).

Outlook: The region's game of the week, not to mention the renewal of a great rivalry. The Whalers still have a chance to win the ECC Large Division and need a victory to keep pace in the Class M playoff race. Fitch's only loss came to unbeaten NFA. The Falcons are a contender in Class L. Fitch's style is a more methodical (but effective) double wing, while New London employs the spread and plays as fast as possible. This is the most evenly matched New London-Fitch game in years.

Sunday's Game

Woodstock vs. East Lyme at Waterford, 2 p.m.

Records: Woodstock (0-7, 0-3 ECC Large); East Lyme (0-6, 0-3).

Outlook: This is their chance. Both schools. Both are winless and are likely salivating at the thought of playing each other. East Lyme coach Paul Tenaglia, ever the optimist, likes his young defense and can't wait to see it mature in the coming years.

Monday's Game

Waterford at Windham, 6:30 p.m.

Records: Waterford (3-4, 1-2 ECC Medium); Windham (4-3, 2-1).

Outlook: A pivotal game in the division. Ledyard's lone divisional loss came to Windham, whose lone divisional loss cam to Montville. The Indians' lone divisional loss came to Ledyard. Translation: three one-loss teams. If Waterford wins, it can help Ledyard earn its second straight outright division title.

- Mike DiMauro