Ridgefield Scores and Standings, Nov. 24

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Now the Ridgefield football team will set back and wait.

The Tigers improved their state playoff hopes Wednesday by routing Danbury 56-14 in the regular season finale for both teams.

Ridgefield, which finished at 8-2, knew a victory would put it in good shape to garner the school's first state playoff berth since 2002, and the fired-up Tigers left nothing to chance.

John Turner and Sam Gravitte each scored three touchdowns for the Tigers, who built a 28-7 halftime lead, then matched that total in the second half en route to their most impressive victory of the season.

Turner set an early tone by racing 60 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Gravitte scored on runs of 58 and 9 yards and Connor Rowe tossed a 25-yard TD strike to Matt Flanagan as the Tigers built their halftime cushion.  

In the third quarter, Ridgefield extended its lead to 42-14 on Rowe's second 25-yard TD pass to Flanagan and Gravitte's 3-yard scamper.  

Turner capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with TD runs of 15 and 29 yards.

Here's how the playoff race shapes up for the Tigers:

Ridgefield is now eighth in the Class LL rankings with 1,080 points, 10 ahead of Glastonbury and Pomperaug, who also won their games to finish at 8-2. The Tigers will pick up 20 guaranteed bonus points, moving them to 1,100 points, with 30 additional bonus points available on Thursday. Their max-out mark is 1,130.

Pomperaug has 20 guaranteed bonus points, which will increase the Panthers' point total to 1,090, with 20 more available on Thursday for a max-out number of 1,110.

Glastonbury, which has no guaranteed bonus points left, does have 40 additional bonus points available for a total of 1,110.

Shelton (Derby) and Norwich Free Academy (New London) play their games on Thursday. A win puts Shelton at 1,040 (Shelton would only get 70 points for beating a non-league opponent three classes lower). They have 60 bonus points on the line Thursday (although most of the teams the Gaels need to win are heavy underdogs) for a maximum 1,110.

Finally, NFA would move to 1,110 points with a victory over 8-1 New London with 40 bonus points available on Thursday. Its max-out is 1,150.

Among the contenders, NFA is the only team with a potential max-out total higher than Ridgefield's, so the Tigers will be rooting for New London on Thursday, in addition to Staples beating Greenwich in the FCIAC championship.

If the Tigers pick up 20 bonus points, they will be assured of finishing higher than Pomperaug, Glastonbury and Shelton, whose maximum potential point total is 1,110.

Ridgefield also will finish ahead of Greenwich if the Cardinals lose to Staples. The Tigers will clinch a playoff spot if they get 20 bonus points and NFA loses to New London. Ridgefield also clinches it it gets the 20 bonus points and Greenwich loses.

If Greenwich and NFA win, Ridgefield could be in some trouble, although all four of the teams NFA needs to win for its bonus points are underdogs: East Lyme (4-5) over Waterford (6-3), Fitch (5-4) over Ledyard (8-1), Plainfield (3-6) over Griswold (5-4) and Wilbur Cross (1-8) over Hillhouse (6-3).

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Football

Ridgefield 56, Danbury 14

THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE

No games scheduled

STANDINGS

• Football

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball