Ledyard wasn’t just celebrating a 37-14 beatdown of Branford on Friday night, Oct. 16, they were celebrating a complete takeover, fueled by junior running back Titus Streckfuss’s monster four-touchdown performance and a couple of brutal Branford turnovers right when the game was on the line. The Colonels, now sitting pretty at 4-1, absolutely ran the table on Branford at Bill Migneault Field, dropping the Hornets to 4-2.
The Ledyard Machine Rolls On
Seriously, if you thought Ledyard was gonna take it easy, you were dead wrong. Head coach Mike Serricchio’s squad basically ran a clinic in textbook single-wing football. They scored on their first FIVE possessions straight, man, and honestly, they probably would’ve made it six if they were merely running out the clock at the end. Streckfuss, the junior phenom, was the undeniable engine, crossing the goal line four times and even punching in three 2-point conversions. The Colonels were so locked in, they only had one pre-play penalty all night, a false start late in the fourth. Coach Serricchio might want to let that slide, seriously. This team is *dialed*.
Fumbles Flip the Script
Things actually started with Branford getting out to an early lead, taking it 7-0 and then 14-6. Senior QB Chris McKittrick was doing his thing, hitting Aiden Dupre for a 6-yard TD pass and then scoring on a 2-yard run himself. But then, disaster struck for the Hornets. After Ledyard battled back to tie it up at 14-all, Branford coughed up the ball not once, but TWICE, deep in their own territory in the final five minutes of the first half. Talk about a gut punch, right? Ledyard wasted no time. They drove 30 yards to grab a 21-14 lead after the first fumble. Then, on the ensuing kickoff, they pounced on another loose ball at the 45. Streckfuss, like a shark smelling blood, punched it in from three yards out as time expired in the half. Just like that, 14-14 became 27-14 Ledyard. That’s a serious momentum swing, folks.
The Clock-Eating Drive
If there was any doubt left, Ledyard squashed it immediately after halftime. They went on an absolute odyssey, a 16-play drive that ate up the first 10:34 of the third quarter. Ten minutes, sixteen plays, and Branford simply watched. The Colonels relentlessly moved the chains, with Favry, Grimm, Velez, Greene, and Streckfuss all taking turns running behind the unbalanced line of Brayden Gugliotta, Kadin McCarthy, Jack Williams, Jack Gallagher, Christian Smith, and center James Lacadie, all anchored by blocking back Chris Robertson. They amassed roughly 350 yards of total offense, controlling the ball for all but four minutes of the entire second half. This Ledyard team means business, matching their 4-1 start from 2024 and making it clear they’re aiming for their third straight Class SS playoff appearance. They’ve been averaging 52 points in their wins over Platt Tech, Montville-St. Bernard, and Killingly, and you saw why on Friday.
Ledyard is 4-1 now and rolling, solidifying their spot at No. 5 in Class SS. Branford, at 4-2 and also No. 5 in Class M, has some work to do after this one if they’re looking for their first playoff berth since 2021. This Colonels squad is proving they are legit contenders, and after a performance like that, you gotta wonder who’s gonna slow them down next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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