Sports: Blane Hart scores four TDs as East Lyme defeats Ledyard, 42-12
East Lyme hopeful demanding early schedule pays off
East Lyme — The record was not pretty: one win, four losses. Ah, but then the circumstances: East Lyme High School's four losses have come to schools with a combined 13-7 record to date, two of whom play in Class LL, the state's largest division.
And so maybe the Vikings, while disappointed with the results, know they're a little better than the record. And with Norwalk, Pomperaug, NFA and Weston as mere prologue now for the rest of the season, they had a chance to exhale a bit Friday night.
Blane Hart, who celebrated his 17th birthday with his twin brother Cameron, scored four touchdowns as the Vikings played as they are capable, throttling Ledyard, 42-12, at Dick North Field.
Suddenly, the pain of 1-4 becomes the duller ache of 2-4 with four games — and the chance of a winning season — ahead.
“I'm not mad about our schedule, although it's been tough,” Blane Hart said. “I think it's made us better players. We're going to get this going.”
Quarterback Chris Salemme fin-
ished 8-for-8 for 168 yards and a touchdown pass to Shawn Soja, helping the Vikings sprint to a 14-0 lead.
“We scored on our first two drives,” Hart said, ‘and thought to ourselves, ‘we don't have to punt.'”
Eventually they did, but not after assuming a comfortable lead.
“People like to look at records, but not necessarily who teams have played,” East Lyme coach Rudy Bagos said. “We've played a lot of good teams so far. We could easily be 4-2.”
The Vikings have their Homecoming game next week against New London, which was idle Friday night.
“We're playing for pride,” Bagos said. “And we still have a shot at the ECC (Division I) championship. I honestly believe we're one of the better teams in the ECC.”
Backup quarterback Noah Perry threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Hart in the third period. Hart's other three scores came on the ground. Andrew Haase also scored for East Lyme.
Caden Foote caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Sylvia for Ledyard (2-4), while Ben Askew also scored, set up by Braden Grim's 45-yard run.
“I've been telling the kids, ‘this is the schedule we have, so let's play it,'” Bagos said.
“It's been a lot of good competition. I wish we would see more of the rivalries in the ECC, but if this is our schedule, then this what we'll play.” m.dimauro@theday.com