Stonington — The football players of Stonington High danced on the field before the game (to Michael Jackson), showing all the concern about protecting a 3-0 record as one of those actors on the beach in a Corona commercial.

And then the Bears sang (and danced) at game’s end, too, celebrating a memorable night in program lore and legend.

Stonington — make that undefeated Stonington — rallied from deficits of 14-6 and 21-14, finally hanging on in the closing seconds for a 34-28 win over East Lyme, a prelude to a rousing rendition of “Here’s To Old Stonington” in front of the delirious student section.

“I was dancing on the field with them, too,” Stonington coach A.J. Massengale said, alluding to the pregame vibe. “They’re not a group that is going to get down on themselves. That ability to stay loose helped us stay strong.”

Patrick McGugan caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Carter early in the fourth period, helping the Bears snap a 28-28 tie. From there, the defense held on, aided by Charlie Warsdale’s sack of East Lyme quarterback Ronin McNamara in the final 10 seconds.

“Let me find my words here,” McGugan said. “Coming into this season, we knew we had something special here. And we pushed ourselves. This win happened because of all that. This was a win for all five of our great coaches and all 55 of our guys.”

East Lyme led 14-6 at half until Cole Phelan returned the opening kickoff of the second half 75 yards for a touchdown. The Vikings (2-2) rallied immediately when McNamara found Matt Leone for a 48-yard score, not long before McGugan caught an 8-yard scoring pass to get the Bears within 21-20.

Stonington took a 28-21 lead when Cooper Light caught a 13-yard touchdown pass and Carter hit the pylon (full body dive) on the two-point conversion.

The Vikings tied it on their next possession when Alex Dreyfus used his pitching arm from baseball to throw an 88-yard option pass to Greg Page to make it 28-28.

The Bears won it from there.

Carter threw for 202 yards, spraying it around to Phelan, Light and McGugan most of the night. Aidan Patterson had 93 rushing yards for the Vikings.

“These kids believe in themselves,” Massengale said. “They don’t get negative.”

Both teams have a bye next week.

m.dimauro@theday.com