Howdy,

Ledyard quarterback Ty Ebdon hasn't had many opportunities to chuck it this season as the team swapped out last year's spread offense for GOD'S OFFENSE, i.e. the run-based double wing system.

Blocking isn't as glamorous as passing, but Ebdon digs it.

“I’ve been turned into a lead blocker, which is not too bad because I like hitting people,” Ebdon said after Friday’s 35-7 win over Plainfield. “That’s why I play football. I just like the contact. It’s awesome.”

A double wing quarterback spends most of the game handing the ball off. He's also required to block much of the time (imagine an NFL quarterback being told to block on over 90 percent of the snaps).

"He's just a relentless competitor," Ledyard head coach Jim Buonocore said of Ebdon. "He wants to win. He loves to compete. .... He is like a fullback at quarterback. He would be an outstanding fullback in this offense. He loves to run. He's physical. He loves to be involved in contact, so his ability to lead (as a blocker) on the power play or the counter, or handle the ball as a runner, he's the perfect kid for this offense."

Ebdon only attempted three passes during Friday’s win. He and his receivers didn’t connect on any of them.

Ebdon did get his chance to shine as a runner, however. He ran 12 times for 110 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two conversions. The Colonels’ even sprinkled in a pistol set to maximize Ebdon's rushing skills.

"It's not bad," Ebdon smiled when asked if he liked the new offense. "I like throwing the ball. I like letting it rip. I got a couple of chances tonight. ... But it's been different, yeah."

Buonocore said, "He was a great quarterback for us in our spread, and he’s a great quarterback for us in the double wing. I think you saw his ability tonight with his legs, which really was what we needed to do in order to be successful.”

Ebdon's night was made possible by center Shawn Hundley, guards Jeff O'Hanlon and Mike Leandri, tackles Chris Cliett and Matt Nova, and tight ends Daric Johnson, Max Ebdon and Collin Krauth.

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Jawaun Johnson missed his fifth game of the season Friday as he continues to recover from a blood infection. Johnson, NFA’s standout junior quarterback, played last weekend against Bacon Academy after having not played since NFA beat Griswold on Oct. 2.

“I couldn’t really go full-speed (against Bacon),” Johnson said after watching the Wildcats get their first win without him, 27-6 over Stonington. “And I was sore after. The regular kind of soreness, but sore. So we just decided it was smart to give it another week. Maybe I’ll play on Thanksgiving. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back in.”

Johnson said he is also thinking about more than just playing against New London. He’s got the upcoming track season he wants to be healthy for — he is the defending Class LL champ in the 100 and 200 meters, was second in New England in the 100, and also had three Eastern Connecticut Conference titles. And there is of course his senior year of football to look forward to.

“Of course I want to be out there with my teammates,” he said. “But I’d rather get healthy. And I’d like to help them win a lot of games next year too.”

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Stonington was able to move the ball pretty effectively against NFA, but save for one short drive, were unable to punch anything into the end zone. They recorded 11 first downs and had drives of nine, 10, and 11 plays.

Junior quarterback Liam Wallace showed a lot of moxie in his third start under center.

“He had a lot of poise dealing with some situations where he was taking some hits, taking some shots,” coach A.J. Massengale said. “He hung in there. He did a good job of moving the pocket when he needed to.”

The Bears made the move not because of anything Amadi White wasn’t doing. It was just a way to get more athletes on the field. Massengale has been pleased with how White, a senior, has handled the transition to wide receiver as well.

“Amadi’s bought into it,” he said. “We’re asking a lot of him. It’s the first time he’s running down the field. He’s working at it and getting better. I think he could be very good at it.”

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Thanks to Steve Nalbandian for the notes from the NFA-Stonington game.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More soon.

Vaya con dios.

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED