East Hartford — Team Nutmeg scored an abnormally high number of touchdowns by all-star game standards on Saturday, and New London High School helped it pile them on Team Constitution.

The Whalers’ Jelani Lucas caught a touchdown pass and teammate Troy Gray scored on an interception return as Team Nutmeg clubbed Team Constitution, 44-22, in the Super 100 All-Star Classic at Rentschler Field.

The game featured the state’s top seniors who were drafted onto their respective teams. The draft meant that high school teammates could become foes.

“Two years ago Sammy Miranda, who was playing for (the other team) made a huge play in the game and turned the momentum around and beat (my team),” Nutmeg and New London head coach Duane Maranda said. “I’m just happy that today, the New London kids that made the big plays were on my team, and for Troy and Jelani to make those big plays.”

Lucas blew past his defender and easily caught a 34-yard touchdown from Windsor’s John Nolan to give his team a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.

“(The defender) was looking inside a lot, so I just took the outside,” Lucas said. “People overlook me, so that’s what happens when they take me lightly.”

Lucas wasn’t playing the pity card talking about a lack of respect. He received few college offers following an outstanding (and versatile) career at New London. He had 53 catches for 828 yards his senior year along with seven interceptions, a 33.1-yard punt return average, and 19 touchdowns.

“I’m undecided,” Lucas said about his college plans. “I’m very undersized (he’s generously listed as 5-foot-10). A lot of schools wanted me to walk on, but I was very stubborn.”

“He’s got a visit next week,” Maranda said. “We’re trying to get him down to Henderson State University (Arkansas). They’re looking at him as a possible scholarship kid.

“Division I-AA and Division II (schools), they think he’s a little too small, but to me, he makes up for his lack of size with his ball skills and his spatial awareness. He’s going to surprise somebody. He’s going to be a steal.”

Gray put a stake in Team Constitution with over six minutes left in the third quarter. He returned an interception 60 yards to give Team Nutmeg a 30-14 edge.

“It’s a funny story because I wasn’t doing the right coverage the whole time,” Gray said. “Before that play, my coach said, ‘You have to drop deep,’ and of course, the first time that I did, (the quarterback) threw it up and I caught it. There were great blocks (on the return). (Maloney’s James Ubaike) destroyed somebody. I have to give all my credit to them for the touchdown.”

Gray, like Lucas, had seven interceptions his senior year. He’ll play slot receiver at Salve Regina this fall.

“Troy’s (touchdown) was huge,” Maranda said. “Jelani’s was good early, but Troy’s was what we needed late to take the momentum.”

Norwich Free Academy’s Khaleed Exum-Strong was selected Team Constitution’s offensive player of the game. He had 15 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown as he showed everyone a running style that could best be described as “angry.”

“Animal,” Exum-Strong said when asked to describe the way he runs. “Trent Richardson when he was Alabama, he was my favorite running back. And LaDanian Tomlinson with the stiff-arm.”

Exum-Strong ran for 2,146 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior and helped the Wildcats to their second state final in three seasons. He was also the Eastern Connecticut Conference, Class LL and State Open 220-pound wrestling champion. He’s headed to prep school at Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.).

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED