Defense delivers for Ledyard in 8-0 win over New London
Ledyard — Picture it: The perfect season to date. Media accolades. Potential division title and playoff berth within reach. A warm Thursday night on the home turf with 2,000 fans watching.
A football infomercial at Ledyard High.
And then, illustrating why coaches don’t sleep, the franchise went down for the Colonels early in the renewal of a timeless rivalry, turning the path to victory into a barefoot walk over broken glass.
Ryan Outlow, who gained nearly 800 yards in Ledyard’s first four games, missed most of this game after leaving with turf toe and a hyperextended knee, leaving the Colonels to get resourceful and escape with an 8-0 victory over New London.
Ledyard (5-0) remained in the middle of the Class S playoff race.
“We didn’t expect ‘FroPedia’ to get hurt,” Ledyard quarterback Justin Outlow said, alluding to one of his brother’s nicknames. “When we saw him go down, the rest of us had to step up in the moment. Andrew Harris (who moved from guard to fullback) and Wyatt Crawford played excellently today.”
Crawford scored Ledyard’s lone touchdown late in the first half on a 6-yard run. The Colonels missed the two-point conversion and didn’t ice the game until the final minute. New London’s third turnover in the second half resulted in a safety.
“I don’t think we figured out a way as much as trying just to keep things simple,” Ledyard coach Mike Serricchio said. “This wasn’t the time to start drawing things up in the dirt. Lucky for us, Andrew Harris can go from the line to a back and Wyatt Crawford’s motor never stops.”
Ledyard’s defense, which because of a turnover and an unsuccessful fourth down try, had to deny New London twice in Ledyard territory in the second half. The Whalers had three turnovers and two first downs in the second half.
New London’s best chance to score came early. Backup quarterback Christian Irizarry hit Lio Griffin-Hill for 55 yards on fourth and one, giving the Whalers the ball at the Ledyard 5. Jonah Eddy’s sack helped Ledyard’s defense ultimately hold.
“We’ve given up five touchdowns in four games,” New London coach Johnny Burns said. “It’s tough to be 2-2. We’ve got some good bodies and good kids. They’re getting better. But how many times can you shoot yourself in the foot in the red zone like that?”
New London ran 31 plays for 123 yards. Ledyard ran 40 for 125.
“We want to be the new Ledyard team,” Justin Outlow said. “Losing Ledyard is over to us.”
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