Stonington - The sign outside New London High School's locker room reads, "Keep that noise outside these doors." But was that possible this week, given how the noise, stemming from one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent memory, reached thunderous levels and pervaded every area of their lives?

Duane Maranda, New London's coach, admitted he didn't know how his team would react, even during pregame Friday night at Stonington.

It wasn't long, though - the game's first play from scrimmage - when the noise became a symphony for the Whalers.

First play: Jelani Lucas gathered a fumble and raced 70 yards for a touchdown. It sent the sideline into delirium, ultimately helping the Whalers to a 38-14 victory, turning last week's 21-17 loss at Plainfield and the ensuing controversy into a duller ache.

"We were freaked out before the game," Maranda said. "The only thing I can compare it to, and it's a horrible comparison, is like when you walk into a wake and nobody quite knows what to say to the people that just lost somebody.

"Even the Stonington team felt like they were having to act different around us. Our kids weren't sure what do to or think either. Jelani's play was huge, just to get their energy up. He's a big time player and he made a big time play."

Lucas later caught two touchdown passes and had 72 receiving yards overall.

"I didn't even know the ball was in my hands till I started running," Lucas said of the fumble return. "Tough week, but we overcame it."

New London quarterback Danny Maranda finished 14-for-23 for 201 yards. Maranda threw a third touchdown pass to Major Roman, a 40-yard slant to Mike Commander that set up a score and scrambled for 26 and 24 yards on other occasions to set up scores. New London sophomore Chase Cook scored on a 7-yard run.

The defense, meanwhile, forced three fumbles and picked off Stonington quarterback Amadi White twice. Tre Scott's interception ended the first half before senior Troy Gray's state-leading sixth interception thwarted a drive.

White threw touchdown passes to Tyler Burnside and Seamus Wallace in the second half. Jack Riordan rushed for 75 yards.

"We have resilient kids," Stonington coach A.J. Massengale said. "We just put ourselves in bad spots. We didn't play well and we didn't coach well."

The Whalers (3-1) have officially won one in a row now, looking forward and not back.

"We made sure to talk to the kids every day about what happened after the Plainfield game. We didn't ignore it," Maranda said. "When you ignore it, the kids start to talk about it among themselves and that's when it becomes a distraction. We talked about it and there was nothing left for them to talk about in the locker room."

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius