New Canaan's Kevin McDonough looks for running room in the state semifinal victory over Windsor.

Photo Credit: Chris Cody/Ramfootball.com

New Canaan's Bobby Distler has helped the Rams return to the state championship game for the sixth straight year.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Bobby Distler and the seniors on the New Canaan High football team are used to pressure. It goes with the territory when players pull on the jersey of a team that has won six state championships since 2001.

This fall has had added stress for the Rams, who play for the Class L championship Saturday at 2 p.m. at East Hartford’s Rentschler Field against Daniel Hand High School of Madison. New Canaan (11-1) has been playing with its back to the wall since a 36-29 loss to Stamford on Nov. 5. The Rams could not afford a misstep in their final two regular-season games against Trumbull or Darien if they were to reach the state playoffs.

After that they had to go on the road to defeat No. 4 New London, winning by turning back a two-point conversion attempt. The Rams then needed a dramatic rally to upend top-seeded Windsor. Having survived that four-game minefield, the Rams take the field Saturday in search of their fifth state title since 2006.

“It has been a lot of pressure,’’ said Distler, a running back and linebacker. “We knew after we lost to Stamford that we couldn’t afford any more losses. When you play at New Canaan, there’s a tradition that you have to try to live up to.”

Fellow captain Kevin McDonough said the loss to Stamford may have helped the Rams. “It was a wakeup call for us,’’ he said. “It made us work a lot harder. We’ve played our best football since then. Looking back on it, that loss may have been a good thing.”

The Rams have established themselves as the state’s premier football program over the past decade. Saturday’s game will be their sixth straight title appearance, the third most all-time and the longest current streak of any team in the state. Since 1976, when the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference started keeping records, New Canaan has won eight state crowns. Only three schools have won more, led by Ansonia with 16.

New Canaan's seniors have compiled a 33-4 record in three years. They can add to that record and pick up another state title Saturday. Compared to the pressure they have been playing under during the past month, that’s a lot easier than needing a win to extend the season.

“Coach [Lou Marinelli] told us after the loss to Stamford we couldn’t afford to lose any more games,’’ Distler said. “It was a lot of pressure.  Now we’re looking forward to playing for the state championship.”