Officials at Norwich Free Academy, who mulled a potential move to a different league, decided Thursday to keep their football program in the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

Athletic director Eric Swallow said a number of variables affected the decision, perhaps most notably the unwillingness of other ECC schools to leave with NFA for the Southern Connecticut Conference.

"We didn't feel like we wanted to be the only school to abandon the ECC," Swallow said. "We have to do what's in our best interest and we believe remaining loyal to the ECC is in our best interest."

Swallow acknowledged ongoing talks between several ECC schools and SCC officials. He said a potential four-division scheduling format for the SCC would have been more appealing to ECC schools, who preferred a more geographically friendly format. Ultimately, that was a factor in leading Fitch and New London to stay.

NFA's decision to remain in the ECC prompts a three-division format for next season:

Division I: NFA, Fitch, East Lyme, New London and Ledyard; Div. II: Bacon Academy, Waterford, Stonington and Montville; Div. III: Killingly, Plainfield, Griswold and Windham.

ECC officials will allow Div. III schools to avoid crossovers to Div. I, leaving NFA, Ledyard, Fitch, East Lyme and New London with six guaranteed conference games next season. They're faced with the unenviable task of finding four nonleague games.

"It's a major concern for all of us," Swallow said.

Swallow mentioned the possibility of playing teams from Rhode Island and Massachusetts to fill out schedules.

"We'll all need to get creative," he said.

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter:@BCgenius