During halftime of the Fitch-New London game in October, Fitch High's public address announcer relayed a Ledyard-Montville scoring update.
"The score at Montville-Ledyard is 38-7," the announcer stated without pointing out which team was leading.
I turned to another area sportswriter and said, "Nice of him to say who's winning. Wow, that surprises me that Ledyard is blowing them out."
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The writer replied, "Ledyard may not up. They have no speed."
Well, the team with supposedly no speed was the team on top en route to a 65-21 win over a banged-up Montville, which was considered a favorite to win the ECC Medium. In the Connecticut Sportswriters Alliance preseason poll, Montville was ranked 20th and Ledyard 26th.
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Now the Colonels (10-1) are the only Eastern Connecticut Conference team alive in the CIAC playoffs. Ledyard meets 8-3 Wolcott in the Class M semifinals 2 p.m. at Middletown High
Many underestimated the quality talent that Ledyard returned from a 7-3 team in 2010 that graduated 17 seniors. Few expected a complete cast of juniors to form such an effective and cohesive offensive line. Few foresaw the addition of St. Bernard transfer John Rainey, a Saint starting quarterback last year, back to his hometown. Not everyone was aware how much of a physical presence that fullback-linebacker Matt Daggett, who missed last year with a knee injury, would bring.
And we all short-changed the presence of Alex Manwaring, a senior back who gained 1,000 yards in about seven games last year. Everyone expected him to be productive, but let's see who projected him to roll up the 2,200 plus yards he has now.
Even when Ledyard needed a second-half rally to top Windham in the second game and lost 33-14 to New London in the third game, coach Jim Buonocore felt he had the makings of a special team.
That has obviously came to fruition, but he's not ready for a season synopsis.
"Our football team has done a nice job to get to this point," Buonocore said. "However, we are not satisfied. We want more. When everything is over, we will have time to reflect. At this point, our focus is on Wolcott. I commend my seniors, although we do not have many, they have done a wonderful job for us on and off the field. I am very proud of my entire team. We want to keep this train moving for another week."
While most never gave Ledyard its just due throughout the season, many now believe the Colonels are the favorite against Wolcott, which lost three games and recorded its first post-season win ever in a 33-27 OT win over Ellington/Somers, a relatively new co-op program.
"Wolcott is a very talented football team," Buonocore said. "They have a very dynamic football player in Devanted Bonvillian, who does it all for them on offense. They line him in a various spots and get him the ball in multiple ways. The quarterback Michale Nicol is a big kid who can also hurt you with his feet. They like to spread the field and throw the ball. Defensively, they are very sound and like to pressure with their linebackers. They are a strong, physical football team."
And so is Ledyard. The Colonels pushed around a big and physical Waterford team, 26-0, in the quarterfinals. The junior offensive line of tackles Bob Bozym and Kyle Wilson, guards Ben Morales and Alec Gabriel and center Evan Stockman have started every game, improving to the point where they rate as one of the state's best line. They, along with Daggett's and tight end Dallas Smith's crunching blocks, have paved the way for Manwaring.
Defensively, the linebacker corps of Smith, Daggett, Cal Williams and Darren Alexander are excellent in Ledyard's 3-4 set. The line of Josh Lawrence, nose guard Colin Grim and Wilson are active and effective as well.
Ledyard's supposed weakness in the secondary has not been victimized much outside of the New London game. Slade Baxley, Tom Finney, Jordan Kowalksi and Acklee Barber have done the job. The Colonels also occasionally use Manwaring on defense, which strengthens a unit which has posted two shutouts and limited six teams to under 12 points.
Another strength for Ledyard is superior coaching, reflected in the Colonels' fine special teams. A strong kicking and return game is a Buonocore staple, starting back to Jim Sr.'s days coaching New London. Baxley is perhaps the ECC's best punter, and Andy Lee has been a reliable kicker. The Colonels haven't allowed a return TD all season.
Ledyard hopes to maximize its strengths one more time to reach its 10th state final and first at The Rent (UConn home field) Dec. 10. The winner of Ansonia-Berlin awaits.
"This will be a great battle and a full 48 minute game for us," Buonocore said. "We are excited for the challenge and we are ready to take the next step to Rentschler Field."
