Griswold — The Stonington High School football team ended Friday night’s game against Griswold in the same, frustrating way it began — with a turnover.

The Bears turned it over seven times in a 42-14 loss to Griswold. Five of those turnovers were fumbles that resulted in four Wolverines touchdowns.

“I can’t explain it,” Stonington coach A.J. Massengale said. “It just got away from us tonight.”

The Bears (2-5) fumbled the ball away on their third offensive play and three times in the game’s first four minutes.

“We have a lot to improve upon,” Massengale said. “We’re a better football team than this. I know that. This wasn’t anywhere near where our team is. We have to do a better job.”

Griswold senior Davaughn Luty didn’t help matters for Stonington. He ran 17 times for 59 yards and three touchdowns and caught three passes for 90 yards and a score. He even had an interception in the Wolverines end zone for a touchback.

“We’re peaking right now,” Luty said. “Last year, we were only 3-7. Now we’re 6-2. We’ve flipped it around. We’ve got our stuff together. (We're) growing up. Senior leadership. The team has come together like a family and playing at a high caliber. ... It’s looking good.”

Senior Bryce Mileski added seven carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns for Griswold.

Junior Nate Miller was everywhere for Stonington. He ran nine times for 91 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown. He returned an interception 26 yards to the Wolverines 9-yard line late in the first quarter to set up the Bears’ first touchdown.

Miller also had a sack and a fumble recovery.

Senior Jon Humphrey scored on a 3-yard run for Stonington.

The Bears were still in the game in the second half even after turning it over four times. Miller’s touchdown run cut the Wolverines’ lead to 20-14 with 3 minutes, 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

Griswold took over from there. It had a third-and-8 from its own 42 on its next drive when Luty got open for a 39-yard catch from sophomore Andrew Koziol.

Luty scored on a 6-yard run three plays later. He also caught the conversion pass from Koziol to push the Wolverines ahead 28-14 with 44.8 seconds left in the quarter.

Stonington fumbled again at its own 37 to start the fourth quarter. Mileski scored five plays later on a 1-yard run.

The Bears’ fifth fumble set up Mileski’s 35-yard touchdown run.

Stonington still has a chance to win the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II title if it beats Bacon Academy next Friday. The Bears are 2-0 in the division, the Bobcats 1-1.

“We have kids playing in spots that maybe they're not always in (due to injuries), so were asking a lot of some kids,” Massengale said.

“We are trying to make it work. We’ll make it work.”

n.griffen@theday.com