Ledyard — This was supposed to be the season in which the Ledyard High School football began rebuilding its program.

The Colonels hired a new head coach over the offseason (Mike Serricchio) to help a team that's fallen on tough times get back to the days in which they were among one of the state's most consistent winners.

Then the pandemic came and wiped out the 2020 state high school football season, leaving players and coaches having to settle for featuring 7-on-7, one-hand-touch and linemen competitions.

It hasn't stopped Ledyard from trying to build itself back up, as shown by the way it celebrated after winning the tug-of-war that clinched its first win of the season on Thursday night, 39-36 over Montville.

"I think we are laying a foundation," Serricchio said. "To me, the foundation isn't about Xs and Os and schemes. It's the character and the integrity and the moral fiber of the team and the leadership of your upperclassmen.

"You want to talk about some kids who have faced some unprecedented adversity coming together and saying, 'you know what, this is what we've got, so we're going to make the most of it.' I think the foundation has been laid down because culturally, that was our biggest goal of our staff. We have to get the culture right first, and I could not think of a better example than what happened here tonight down a couple of touchdowns."

Ledyard tied the game at 36 with under two minutes left after a 71-yard touchdown pass from senior Jonathan Malave to classmate Walker Lenz and a two-point conversion.

"I'm so thankful that we had this opportunity to do this because (I'm a) first year coach with a new staff," Serricchio said. "Without this opportunity to come together and get to know the kids and build those relationships and get to know them and earn their trust, I don't know where we would be."

It is the first head coaching job for the 27-year-old Serricchio. He was hired in April and is the sixth head coach in the 54-year history of the program, as well as its fifth in six seasons.

"He's been great," Lenz said. "He came in and has been really good with the seniors and all players. I mean, it is what it is with no 11-on-11 (tackle football) because we can't change what's happening right now with coronavirus.

Anyone who thinks that players, coaches and even fans aren't taking 7-on-7 football seriously should've seen the way Ledyard and Montville went at it. Players and coaches whooped it up after touchdowns or groused after penalties. A sparse crowd of Colonels fans cheered for first downs and rang their cowbells.

"For seniors, this is it," Montville senior Antonio Brown said. "This is your chance to get the film that you need to go to college. This is it. We're getting into it. We want to win. We haven't won the past three games. We want to win. We're going to do whatever it takes."

Montville head coach Tanner Grove said, "It's hard to get them to shut it off, (the) real football game mode."

Lenz figured that there'd still be a great passion to win this season, even if helmets, pads and tackling weren't involved.

"We do 7-on-7 every summer," Lenz said. "Everybody gets competitive. Everybody wants to win.

"Play to win and play our hearts out."

n.griffen@theday.com