Thursday’s games

NFA at Ledyard, 6 p.m.

Records: NFA (0-5); Ledyard (5-0)

Last week: NFA lost to Shelton 49-28; Ledyard defeated Waterford 34-22

Outlook: It has been a mostly murderous schedule for NFA thus far, a sampling of powerful teams from other conferences. Now the Wildcats come back to the ECC to face a team with a legitimate chance at the postseason. Will the quality of NFA’s schedule start to benefit the Wildcats? Ledyard moved into first place in ECC Division II last week at Waterford.

Valley/Old Lyme at Capital/Achievement First, 6 p.m.

Records: Valley (4-0, 3-0 Pequot Sassacus); Capital/AF (3-2, 3-1)

Last week: Both teams were idle

Outlook: After Valley/Old Lyme’s victory over Coventry/Bolton/Windham Tech/Lyman almost two weeks ago now, coach Hill Gbunblee reminded his players the appetizers were over and the entrée was about due. It begins here with a road game at Capital/AF, which sits one game behind the Warriors in the Sassacus Division. It gets no easier next week either at Cromwell/Portland. But this is the stretch that will define Valley/Old Lyme’s season.

Friday’s games

New London at Windham, 6 p.m.

Records: New London (2-3, 0-1 ECC Div. II); Windham (5-0, 1-0)

Last week: New London defeated Weaver 14-12; Windham defeated Killingly 41-26

Outlook: Windham became the talk of Connecticut high school football by going into Killingly and earning a decisive victory last week. Can the Whips sustain the momentum? A win here and next week at Waterford will set up a game at Ledyard on Nov. 4 that will likely decide the ECC Division II title. New London, meanwhile, rallied from a 12-0 deficit last week to defeat Weaver.

Woodstock at Montville, 6 p.m.

Records: Woodstock (2-2); Montville (1-4)

Last week: Woodstock defeated Bacon Academy 28-0; Montville lost to Thames River 61-0

Outlook: Montville has lost three straight since it defeated Bacon in mid-September. Woodstock, meanwhile, had a happy weekend, welcoming back coach Sean Saucier, who had been away from the game since his son, Braiden, the starting quarterback, suffered a medical emergency during the first half of Woodstock’s season opener at Enfield (Sept. 9). Woodstock’s Teddy Richardson threw touchdown passes for 50, 97 and 12 yards last week.

Prince at Thames River, 6 p.m.

Records: Prince (1-4, 1-4 Connecticut Technical Conference); Thames River (4-0, 2-0)

Last week: Prince Tech was idle; Thames River defeated Montville 61-0

Outlook: This is a special night for the Thames River program – the home opener and first game on the new, turf field at Grasso Tech. The Crusaders are an emerging story, both a contender for the CTC title and a state playoff berth in Class MM. This game will be streamed by GameDay on theday.com (6 p.m., Casey O’Neill and Jose Sanabria).

Fitch at Stonington, 6:30 p.m.

Records: Fitch (3-2); Stonington (1-4)

Last week: Fitch lost to Xavier 45-6; Stonington was idle

Outlook: There weren’t many bigger disappointments across the state last weekend than Fitch, which lost decisively at Xavier. The Falcons, with tough games remaining against Killingly and Ledyard, can’t afford many more losses to keep postseason hopes alive. The Bears finally return home after three straight road games, the last of which was a 33-18 loss at Rocky Hill Oct. 7.

Waterford at Griswold/Wheeler, 6:30 p.m.

Records: Waterford (3-2); Griswold/Wheeler (2-3)

Last week: Waterford lost to Ledyard 34-22; Griswold/Wheeler lost to East Lyme 27-20 (OT)

Outlook: Waterford was tied with Ledyard late in the third quarter last week before wilting. This is not an easy assignment here, what with the Wolverines having taken East Lyme to overtime last week. Waterford has not played a road game since Sept. 16 at Stonington and has but one more home game for the rest of the season.

Saturday’s game

East Lyme at Bacon Academy, noon

Records: East Lyme (2-3); Bacon (0-5)

Last week: East Lyme defeated Griswold/Wheeler 27-20 (OT); Bacon lost to Woodstock 28-0

Outlook: Aiden Patterson ran 10 yards for a touchdown in overtime last week as the Vikings, whose defense produced two sacks on Griswold/Wheeler’s ensuring series, won their second straight. Patterson ran for 118 yards and caught a 35-yard TD pass from quarterback Ronin McNamara.