HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / WEEK 11 PREVIEW CAPSULES

Today's Games Plainfield at Waterford, 6 p.m. Records: Last week:

Plainfield (6-2); Waterford (0-8)

Plainfield lost to Killingly 42-0; Waterford lost to Montville 26-23 (OT)

Plainfield has had a solid season, its only two losses coming to Class M playoff teams Sheehan and Killingly, and although its chances of making the Class S playoff field are slim, at best, the Panthers can still finish an impressive 8-2 with wins over the Lancers and rival Griswold on Thanksgiving Day. Waterford wants to avoid a winless season and will try to bounce back after a gut-wrenching overtime loss at Montville last Thursday. Windham (2-6); Fitch (8-0)

Windham defeated Griswold 28-24; Fitch defeated East Lyme 20-14

This is the night the Falcons have been waiting for. After clinching the ECC Division I title last week, Fitch can clinch a Class L playoff bid with a win over the Whippets and enhance its chances of hosting a quarterfinal-round game. It's been a tough season for Windham, although it did derail Griswold's postseason hopes with last week's upset. The Whippets have played the Falcons tough in the past and you can be certain Fitch coach Mike Ellis will focus on stopping 6-foot-3, 237-pound fullback Natanael Barbosa, one of the ECC's best backs.

Outlook: Windham at Fitch, 6:30 p.m. Records: Last week: Outlook: Guilford at East Lyme, 6:30 p.m. Records: Last week:

Outlook: NFA at Windsor, 6:30 p.m. Records: Last week: Outlook:

Guilford (4-4); East Lyme (5-3)

Guilford defeated Bassick 42-0; East Lyme lost to Fitch 20-14.

The Vikings host the Indians in the final ECC/SCC crossover game of the season. East Lyme's ECC Division I title hopes were dashed with its tough loss to Fitch last week, but the Vikings hope to validate a strong season by winning their final two games and finishing 7-3. Guilford plays in Tier 3 of the SCC, but has been competitive, playing Class L playoff-bound Shelton tough before losing 17-0. 29-0

This is an intriguing late-season nonconference matchup. The Warriors, with five shutouts in eight games, have already clinched a Class L playoff berth and still have a game remaining against unbeaten rival Middletown on Thanksgiving Eve. But don't expect Windsor to look past NFA, which has played a difficult schedule and features a dangerous quarterback in Shea McManaway.

Thames River at Stonington, 6:30 p.m. Records: Last week:

Outlook: Friday's Game

Valley/Old Lyme at Haddam-Killingworth, 6:30 p.m.

Records:

Thames River (4-4); Stonington (2-6)

Thames River lost to Prince Tech 36-20; Stonington lost to Bacon Academy 13-7

The Bears missed out on a chance to win the ECC Division II title outright, instead settling for a three-way tie with Bacon and Montville, so they will try and bounce back against an improving Thames River team which led Class S playoff hopeful Valley/Old Lyme (8-1, 6-1 Pequot Sassacus); Haddam-Killingworth (6-3, 5-2)

Last week:

Valley/Old Lyme defeated Lewis Mills 35-3; Haddam-Killingworth defeated Old Saybrook/ Westbrook 14-7

Outlook:

This is a huge game for the Warriors, who can clinch a Class S playoff berth and win the division title with a win over their biggest rival. H-K, meanwhile, looks to play spoiler for the second straight week. The Cougars upset Old Saybrook/ Westbrook a week ago, all but eliminating the Rams from playoff consideration, and they would like nothing better than putting Valley/OL in playoff peril, too.

Chuck Banning