Earning area football bragging rights in September, October, or November is nice, but holding up the No. 1 finger in December is a whole lot better.When New London blanked Fitch, 21-0, Oct. 16, in a battle of 4-0 teams, it left the Whalers and Montville as the area's only unbeaten squads. Montville and New London played a week later (after deadline), leaving one top dog heading into November.

When New London blanked Fitch, 21-0, Oct. 16, in a battle of 4-0 teams, it left the Whalers and Montville as the area's only unbeaten squads. Montville and New London played a week later (after deadline), leaving one top dog heading into November.The New London-Montville winner emerged as the undisputed No. 1 area team…for now. Recent history has shown that regular season neighborhood supremacy doesn't always translate into every good team's ultimate goal-a state championship.

The New London-Montville winner emerged as the undisputed No. 1 area team…for now. Recent history has shown that regular season neighborhood supremacy doesn't always translate into every good team's ultimate goal-a state championship.Two years ago, New London routed Ledyard, 41-8, in Week 3 of 2007. There was no doubt which team was superior, although the Colonels were weakened by an injury to top back Tim McNeil. But at the end of the season, both teams finished with one loss, and Ledyard was ranked ahead of New London in state polls. Ledyard won every game after the NL loss to win the Class M state championship. Top-ranked Ansonia pummeled New London, 35-0, in the Class S title game.

Two years ago, New London routed Ledyard, 41-8, in Week 3 of 2007. There was no doubt which team was superior, although the Colonels were weakened by an injury to top back Tim McNeil. But at the end of the season, both teams finished with one loss, and Ledyard was ranked ahead of New London in state polls. Ledyard won every game after the NL loss to win the Class M state championship. Top-ranked Ansonia pummeled New London, 35-0, in the Class S title game.Last year, New London and Ledyard traded plights. Ledyard romped over New London, 27-6, on a 22-degree night in late November, settling both teams with one regular season loss. Once again, there was no doubt which team was superior on that night, but that's all that should matter since you only play a team once. In the final state poll, New London, which won the Class S state title, was ranked ahead of Ledyard, which lost in Class M to Brookfield on a late field goal, 16-14.

Last year, New London and Ledyard traded plights. Ledyard romped over New London, 27-6, on a 22-degree night in late November, settling both teams with one regular season loss. Once again, there was no doubt which team was superior on that night, but that's all that should matter since you only play a team once. In the final state poll, New London, which won the Class S state title, was ranked ahead of Ledyard, which lost in Class M to Brookfield on a late field goal, 16-14.In football, it's not what have you done for me lately, it's what have you done for me lastly.

In football, it's not what have you done for me lately, it's what have you done for me lastly.A state title trumps a regular season loss. That's what motivates Fitch (4-1 at press time), Ledyard (3-1), and East Lyme (4-1). Those teams lost to New London in October. But if Fitch, ranked No. 5 in Class L's playoff point race after week 5, and East Lyme, No. 4 in Class MM, go on to win their respective state titles and New London, No. 1 in Class M, does not repeat as a state champ, their losses to New London will have a quick expiration date.

A state title trumps a regular season loss. That's what motivates Fitch (4-1 at press time), Ledyard (3-1), and East Lyme (4-1). Those teams lost to New London in October. But if Fitch, ranked No. 5 in Class L's playoff point race after week 5, and East Lyme, No. 4 in Class MM, go on to win their respective state titles and New London, No. 1 in Class M, does not repeat as a state champ, their losses to New London will have a quick expiration date."Tons of teams have gone on to win state titles with one loss," Fitch coach Mike Emery said. "A lot of our kids were down after the loss to New London. The first question I asked the team in the next practice was 'When is a loss a good thing?' Someone answered, 'When you learn from it.' A loss is not always the worst thing to happen to you."

"Tons of teams have gone on to win state titles with one loss," Fitch coach Mike Emery said. "A lot of our kids were down after the loss to New London. The first question I asked the team in the next practice was 'When is a loss a good thing?' Someone answered, 'When you learn from it.' A loss is not always the worst thing to happen to you."Emery figures a team can benefit if it realizes it didn't practice with enough intensity or wasn't mentally prepared to play if it focused too much attention on one aspect of the game and neglected another area.

Emery figures a team can benefit if it realizes it didn't practice with enough intensity or wasn't mentally prepared to play if it focused too much attention on one aspect of the game and neglected another area."If you aren't tested in the regular season, you might go through undefeated and never realize there was an area that needed to be addressed," Emery said. "Then you might take your perfect record into the playoffs against a tough team from the other end of the state and get exposed."

"If you aren't tested in the regular season, you might go through undefeated and never realize there was an area that needed to be addressed," Emery said. "Then you might take your perfect record into the playoffs against a tough team from the other end of the state and get exposed."Fitch and East Lyme play what amounts to a state-playoff elimination game Oct. 30 at Fitch. The winner will land valuable playoff points to enhance their playoff status heading into the final four games. The loser will sustain a second loss and likely will be left on the outside looking in on post-season play. Fitch had an off week after losing to New London, giving Emery and Co. too much time to heal their wounds but welcome time to prepare for East Lyme.

Fitch and East Lyme play what amounts to a state-playoff elimination game Oct. 30 at Fitch. The winner will land valuable playoff points to enhance their playoff status heading into the final four games. The loser will sustain a second loss and likely will be left on the outside looking in on post-season play. Fitch had an off week after losing to New London, giving Emery and Co. too much time to heal their wounds but welcome time to prepare for East Lyme."You're always anxious to play after a loss, so this was a tough time to have a bye," Emery said. "On the other hand, it's a nice separation between the season's first half and second half. We're determined not to let one loss drag down our season."

"You're always anxious to play after a loss, so this was a tough time to have a bye," Emery said. "On the other hand, it's a nice separation between the season's first half and second half. We're determined not to let one loss drag down our season."

This is the opinion of Larry Kelley.