Ledyard — It was 64 days ago when Bacon Academy shook up the Eastern Connecticut Conference football hierarchy with a 25-22 win over Ledyard on Sept. 26.

Sixty-four days might as well be six months.

Football time is much like dog time because evolution (or devolution) happens fast. Ledyard is a different team than the one that was humbled at Bacon. The Bobcats are a different team than the one that was the toast of the state.

The two teams meet again on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a CIAC Class M quarterfinal at Mignault Field.

“We are a totally different team, and I think just a much better team,” Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore said. “I don’t think I’ve had a team that’s improved as much as this team from Day 1 to now.”

Third-seeded Ledyard (9-1) has won its last seven games and by an average of 31 points.

The sixth-seeded Bobcats (8-2) have won five of their last seven.

“I think we’re definitely playing with more confidence,” Bacon coach Erik Larka said. “Offensively, we’re way more balanced. … It’s different from teams when teams were thinking, ‘Bacon is going to pass, so let’s just blitz Sean Kelly.’

“Each week (the defense) is gaining more confidence. ... (Junior end) Julien Lindo, he didn’t even start last season, and going into this season wasn’t starting. I think he’s one of the best defensive ends in the ECC now.”

The Bobcats had their way offensively in the first meeting. Ledyard had just increased its lead to 8-0 lead when Dan Narlock got himself far behind his defender and scored on a 60-yard touchdown.

Tyler Bolden caught a screen pass a minute into the second half, slipped two defenders, and went 70 yards for a touchdown and a 19-8 lead.

“The whole game, we didn’t play to our potential at all,” Ledyard senior quarterback Ty Ebdon said. “We were going, ‘It’s just another game against Bacon,’ but they’re a good team, and we didn’t show up. We’re lucky enough to get them again.”

Bacon led by as much as 25-8. Kelly completed 17 of 23 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another.

“Defensively, there’s a lot we can draw from,” Buonocore said of that game. “We did not play well that day. ... I don’t think we played with emotion or passion, and we had a couple of blown coverages that led to some big points.

“We’re better in the secondary, more confident and much more seasoned. We had two guys that were freshmen (James Smith) and sophomores (Max Ebdon) in Week 3 starting. They’re still freshmen and sophomores, but it’s week 11, so they’re much more seasoned and experienced. I think that’s going to go a long way for us because obviously Bacon is a tremendous team with an outstanding quarterback.”

The Colonels scored 14 points in the final six minutes, 20 seconds.

“We need to keep our foot on the gas pedal,” Larka said. “Sometimes our best defense is our offense. The third and fourth quarter (against Ledyard), we tried to milk the clock.”

Ledyard’s offensive philosophy is the biggest change among the two teams. The Colonels scrapped the shotgun spread for a run-based double wing. They experimented with it against Bacon, but didn’t fully commit to it until after that loss. Opponents have been repeatedly hit by a big offensive line, wingbacks Manny Deshields-Sanabria and Luke Saccone, fullbacks Justin Carter and converted lineman Tannor Daggett (285 pounds) and Ebdon (often as a lead blocker).

“Offensively, it’s night and day,” Buonocore said. “We’re not even the same team. We’re not even remotely close.

“When you talk about hard work, commitment and dedication, all of those different attributes that you want your kids to learn from a football program, this (team) is the epitome. ... They’re seeing the fruit of their labors, and that’s what excites me as a coach more than just any win.”

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED