Groton — Fitch waited 10 years to raise the Colonel Ledyard Memorial Sword, the prize that goes to the winner of its annual Thanksgiving Day game against Ledyard.

The Falcons don't plan on letting it go any time soon after posting a hard-fought 6-0 overtime victory.

"It's been a long time," senior Isiah Sebastian said. "It means everything, not only for us but all the coaches and everyone that came to watch. It's really, really important."

Sebastian's game-ending interception in the end zone sealed the win and ignited a celebration that might last until the start of next season.

Senior Hollis Scott's tough 3-yard run up the middle accounted for the game's only touchdown on Fitch's first possession of overtime.

Fitch's smothering defense led the charge, stopping Ledyard inside the Falcon 10-yard line on three different drives.

Heading into the game, the Falcons still felt the sting of last year's 55-20 loss on Thanksgiving Day. They had dropped nine straight in the series.

"The way that this game has gone, it wasn't going to be easy for us to win this sword back," said Fitch coach Mike Ellis, Jr. "When we won it back, it was going to be like when the Red Sox came back from 0-3 and won four in a row.

"We found a way to do it and we rose to the occasion. ... A lot of these coaches and players have never seen the sword, so it's nice to have."

The Falcons (4-6) made big plays all game, including senior Kyle Niddrie blocking a 26-yard field goal attempt on the last play of regulation.

Ledyard won the toss before overtime and chose to start on defense. Each team got a possession at the opponent's 10-yard line.

Fitch, which managed roughly 125 yards of total offense, came out with a renewed determination.

Scott powered up the middle for six yards to open the drive. After Hamear Stephens took a pitch and picked up just one, the Falcons faced a third and goal from the three.

The Falcons went with Scott, who finished with a team-best 41 yards on 12 carries. Scott plowed straight ahead and disappeared under a pile of players. The officials took a hard look and then signaled touchdown.

"I was determined," Scott said. "I told my coach that I'm getting in the end zone."

Ledyard's overtime drive got off to a rocky start, as the Colonels nearly lost the ball on a fumble. Junior Max Ebdon, who shared the quarterback duties with Stanley Green, tried to connect with a receiver in the corner of the end zone but a perfectly positioned Sebastian made the interception. It was Sebastian's second pick of the game.

"They hit me before on the pass and they got me," Sebastian said. "I wasn't going to let it happen again."

It was a frustrating day for the Colonels (3-7).

Ledyard also played stellar defense but failed to execute deep in Fitch territory.

After setting up first and goal from the Fitch 5-yard line just before half, the Colonels lost five yards on four running plays. Ebdon was stuffed for a 3-yard loss on fourth down.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Colonels stalled after reaching the Fitch nine. Fitch's Tyler Nelli broke up a pass in the end zone.

Ledyard had a chance to win the game on the final play of regulation. Ebdon's 44-yard pass to Green put the Colonels at the Fitch 9 with time running down. Niddrie saved the day by blocking a 26-yard field goal attempt.

"Our defense, we played our hearts out," Scott said. "We stopped them every drive and never gave up."

The Colonels moved the ball through the air at times — Ebdon went 5-for-7 for 135 yards but had three interceptions — but rushed for only 56 yards.

"What a game," Ledyard coach Mark Farnsworth said. "Both defenses did well. Offensively, we had a very tough time moving the ball when we needed to. We got down inside the 10 a few times and just couldn't punch it in.

"We just couldn't get that final five yards to get over the line. The kids fought hard. ... I'd love to have it end differently for them."

g.keefe@theday.com