New London - The word "HIT" is labeled on the front of Ledyard's football helmets, an acronym for "Hardness. Intensity. Team."

"HIT" is also what Leo Clinton Jr. loves to do - and hard - thus making "HIT" quite apropos for the Colonels' senior linebacker.

"At all times, I'm always ready (to hit)," Clinton said during Monday's practice on the turf at Coast Guard Academy. "Even at practice. They hate it, but it's the only way to get better. …. They complain to me, but they get over it by the end of the day."

Perhaps, but he might want to ease up instead of injuring one of his teammates.

"Nah, because I'm not going to play like that in a game," Clinton said with a laugh. "That's what we've got pads for."

Clinton has been a defensive force for top-seeded Ledyard (12-0), which will play No. 2 St. Joseph in Saturday's CIAC Class M-Small championship game at 2 p.m. at New Britain's Willow Brook Park.

The 5-foot-11, 208-pound Clinton had a team-high 80 tackles prior to this past Saturday's 54-7 wipeout of No. 4 Wolcott in the semifinals.

"Leo has been a big asset to the team," Ledyard senior receiver-defensive back Phyllip Thomas said. "He makes most of our tackles on defense. He's flying around. He's always having fun with it, but he always knows what to do.

"It just seems like he's always smacking somebody. … Some running backs, if they're fullbacks, they think they can stand him up, but he stands every single one of them (up) and it seems like he treats them all the same and they're like little to him."

Clinton also might be the hardest hitter for a defense that's allowed just 11.3 points per game and at time has been overshadowed by one of the state's best offenses.

"Yeah, I would say Leo is probably one of the most physical on our team," Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore said. "He's probably one of the top three or four in terms of physicality within the league. He's an outstanding linebacker with tremendous instincts."

It didn't take Clinton long to acclimate himself to his new school and teammates after transferring from New London this year. It helps that he has an upbeat personality to match his fiery disposition on the field. He's also a bit hyper.

"I just have no chill," Clinton said. "I'm always energetic at all times. I don't know what it is. Maybe because it's because I don't get enough sleep. I wake up every day just like this. (I fall asleep) like 1, 2 (a.m.) and get up at six.

"(I'm a) big class clown. I don't get in trouble. I know when to stop ... once I get yelled at the first time."

Senior receiver-defensive back River Thomas said of Clinton, "He's a clown. Outside of football, he's all about jokes and laughing. On the field, he's very serious."

Clinton has brought his physicality to the offense as well. He's listed as a receiver, but he's run for three of his four touchdowns. He also has caught a pair of two-point conversions.

"When you look at him and watch him play, you'd certainly think he's a defensive football player," Buonocore said. "That's his mind set. He's defensive on the offensive side of the ball, and what I mean is when he's running with the football, he's looking to run you over. When he catches the ball, he's looking for somebody to run over. He's physical as a blocker. He's a presence out there. He's a big, strong kid who certainly gives us an advantage on our perimeter plays."

Defense is still Clinton's first love, though.

"Of course," he said, laughing one more. "I love hitting."

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED

CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

At Willow Brook Park, New Britain

Class S-Large

No. 1 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (12-0) vs. No. 2 Ansonia (11-1), 10 a.m.

Class M-Small

No. 1 Ledyard (12-0) vs. No. 2 St. Joseph (10-2), 2 p.m.

Class LL-Large

No. 1 Southington (11-0) vs. No. 2 NFA (8-2), 6 p.m.