Wallingford - Not many high school football teams have the luxury of having a quality backup quarterback.

New London High School is one of the fortunate few.

With starter Josh Clements sitting out for precautionary reasons after taking a shot to the head last week against Griswold, junior Josh Zurita got the call for Friday night's non-conference game against Sheehan at Riccitelli Field.

The high-powered Whalers kept rolling, remaining unbeaten at 9-0 by cruising to a 40-7 victory.

Zurita, who completed 6-of-8 passes for 74 yards and had an interception, relied on his steady offensive line for protection and handed the ball to sophomore Kyle McKinnon, who rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

"I had a feeling that I'd be in this spot at some point in the season," said Zurita, who opened the season as the starter before Clements took over. "I had to step up."

New London coach Jeff Larson was pleased with Zurita's play.

"For a kid that just sticks around and gives you everything he's got every day, for him to step in and play, I have all the confidence in the world in him," Larson said.

There's a chance that Clements could return for the Thanksgiving Day game against Norwich Free Academy.

"All his tests came back negative," Larson said. "We're just being on the safe side. No need to put a kid in jeopardy for a football game. ... He's fine."

Larson had faith his football team would respond, no matter the starting quarterback. The Whalers have maintained a razor-sharp focus this season.

Friday, they jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead and sealed the win by scoring on three straight possessions in the third quarter.

"It was a test," Larson said. "When we go to other parts of the state, we've got to show up and be ready to play. And they were."

Larson's disciplined defense continues to be one of the stingiest around. The only Sheehan touchdown came on Gionni Gibbs' 39-yard fumble recovery and return off Zurita's mistake in the third quarter.

New London opened the scoring in the first quarter with a defensive touchdown, as junior Carlos Lozada recovered a fumble in the end zone off a bad snap.

"I jumped on it and it slipped through my hands," said Lozada, who added a 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. "Then I just scooped it up. It was my first touchdown of the year on defense."

McKinnon scored the next three touchdowns. First, he capped a seven-play, 33-yard drive with a 4-yard run. Senior Jaime Daniels' fumble recovery at the Sheehan 19-yard-line led to McKinnon's five-yard scoring scamper for a 21-0 lead.

In the third quarter, sophomore Jevon Elmore's 81-yard kickoff return set up junior Stephan Dance's 3-yard touchdown run. On New London's next drive, McKinnon busted around the right side and into the clear for a 32-yard score for a 33-7 lead.

The Whalers were firmly in control. Sheehan never drove deeper than the New London 18-yard-line.

One of their goals is to to finish the regular season undefeated.

"It's important," Zurita said. "It would be a big accomplishment."

g.keefe@theday.com