East Lyme — It wasn't exactly Masterpiece Theater.

Ledyard and East Lyme combined for eight turnovers — four apiece — and numerous penalties during Saturday afternoon's Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I football game.

But any win is a good win when you're fighting to move closer to respectability.

Ledyard had good reason to celebrate its 32-12 victory. The Colonels (3-3, 1-0) did a better job taking advantage of their opponent's mistakes, scoring three times off turnovers, and buckled down on defense. It was their second straight win.

"I think the kids are really starting to believe," Ledyard interim coach Mark Farnsworth said. "We've got some good things that are happening. We just have to come back every day and work on the little things. When this team focuses on the little things, they have a lot of potential."

Senior Herman Winston provided the spark, using his blazing speed to rush for 126 yards and three touchdowns and also returning an interception 74 yards for a score to account for all of his team's scoring in the second half.

"We really needed this win, because it shows that we can come out after a big win and work just as hard and get another," Winston said. "This is another good win under our belt and we're ready for the next team next week."

The opportunity to seize the momentum was there for the taking as the second half began with Ledyard clinging to a 7-6 lead. An East Lyme fumble set up Max Ebdon's 4-yard touchdown run that pushed the Colonels in front.

Neither team had a firm handle on the game. One play helped swing the tide in Ledyard's favor.

On the second half kickoff, the Colonels forced a fumble and sophomore Weston Bruce recovered, setting up his team at the East Lyme 5-yard line. On the next play, Winston raced around the corner for a touchdown and a 14-6 lead.

"It was what probably sparked the whole second half scoring," Winston said of the fumble.

The Colonels — and Winston — took over from there. They scored on their next two series.

On third-and-13 with Ledyard at its own 10, Winston followed his blockers around the left side and outran the defense for a 90-yard touchdown. He added a 27-yard scoring run late in the third quarter for a 26-6 edge.

Winston, the 100- and 200-meter ECC outdoor track champion last spring, is tough to catch once he turns the corner.

"We made some adjustments to some of our plays and got a couple of quick scores on the board with Herman running around the edge," Farnsworth said. "We've got to take advantage of his speed. He's an all-conference sprinter. Any time we get a chance for him to touch the ball in space is good for us."

To cap off an impressive performance, Winston stepped in front of a receiver to make an interception, easily bolting 74 yards for a fourth-quarter score.

East Lyme moved the ball well on the ground at times, but kept self-destructing. Junior Dylan Hatajik had two touchdown runs — an 8-yarder to open the scoring in the second quarter and a 1-yarder with 23 seconds left — and junior Isaac Tomblin powered his way for 114 yards on 24 carries.

The Vikings fell to 0-6, 0-4.

"We played well that first half and felt good," East Lyme coach Rudy Bagos said. "Then we had that fumble and they got another long run on third-and-long for a touchdown. We really got deflated and it was tough to get these kids back.

"They played tough, but mental and physical mistakes are going to kill a team, especially when we're trying to find our first win."

g.keefe@theday.com