It is about vengeance.

It is about history.

It is about a coach in pursuit of his dream, defenses in search of forcing an occasional punt.

It is about the hopes, fancies and emotions of a season.

And memories of a lifetime.

It is today's Class M-Small state championship football game: Unbeaten Ledyard against defending champion St. Joseph at 2 p.m. at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

Where to begin? Perhaps with last season's ending: St. Joseph 84, Ledyard 49. (Football score, not basketball).

"Our guys were there last year. They experienced it. They haven't forgotten. I certainly haven't," Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore said of the quarterfinal round loss (the Cadets went on to win the Class M title). "We're a year older, bigger, faster, stronger and more experienced. I think things will be a little different this time in terms of the competitiveness and being able to stay with them for four quarters."

Things have been different all season in Ledyard. No other team in the program's estimable history has ever been 12-0. This one could finish 13-0. And do so by defeating one of the state's great programs - the one that drove them all offseason.

"I want my revenge," senior River Thomas said.

The top-seeded Colonels have been an offensive video game this season, dropping 54 points on Wolcott in last week's semifinal. Quarterback Ty Ebdon has thrown for 2,130 yards and 30 touchdowns and senior JoJo Shumaker, who ran for 343 yards last week, has 2,355 all purpose yards and a state-best 44 touchdowns.

"They're very aggressive on both sides of the ball," St. Joseph coach Joe Della Vecchia said. "I don't think we've seen a back with (Shumaker's) speed this year."

And yet it may be Ledyard's defense that determines whether Buonocore, who has led three different schools to the playoffs, wins his first state title. The second-seeded Cadets (10-2) have a dynamic running back in Mufasha Abdul-Basir (2,263 all purpose yards, 20 touchdowns), receiver Lars Pedersen (43 catches, 1,952 all purpose yards, 20 touchdowns) and a stout offensive line.

"Last year's game is something I'd never experienced before," Buonocore said. "You felt helpless on defense. I'm sure Joe felt the same way. As the game went on, they wore on us."

This is Buonocore's third trip to the state championship game in his seven years at Ledyard. The Colonels lost to Brookfield in 2008 on a late field goal and to Ansonia in 2011. His players have made their coach a cause in 2014.

"We know how much he does for us," Ebdon said. "We want it for him."

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius