Oxford Hills has been 1-7 the last two years. The Vikings have now beaten Mt. Ararat three years in a row.
Friday night’s 14-0 verdict was the first of the Paul Withee era. The Vikings’ mission now is to give that era its own identity rather than mimic the last two seasons.
It won’t be easy, but some continuity from the shutout would be most welcome. Withee called the Vikings’ progress against the Eagles “three steps forward and two steps back,” but liked some of his team’s intangibles.
The defense, led by last year’s leading PTC tackler, Jordan Croteau, made most of the forward progress.
“We did a real good job of contain on the perimeter. The defensive ends and linebackers did an outstanding job,” Withee said. “They hit well. They played with more intensity and more attitude.”
Withee, who won three Class C titles at Foxcroft, is now hoping for more offensive consistency. Oxford Hills moved the ball well between the 20s, but stalled in the red zone after the first quarter.
Logan Sanborn, last year’s starter at quarterback who was slated to play wide receiver this year, has been pressed back into service under center in the absence of John Frechette, who is recovering from a preseason concussion.
Sanborn had four completions for 80 yards, including an 18-yard TD to Josh MacDonald in the first quarter. Croteau also had a short touchdown run.
Withee said Frechette would be tested early in the week to determine if he’s ready to return.
The Vikings have a daunting stretch coming up regardless of who is under center. They host Lawrence, then go on the road to Messalonskee and Lewiston before returning home to face Bangor.
Incidentally, Brunswick and Edward Little await after that.
“That’s a murderer’s row …what most people consider the top five in the conference,” Withee said. “All of the other teams are going through the same thing. But we’re playing them the next five weeks, three of five on the road.”
DEVIL OF A NIGHT
There’s no argument about which Friday night score raised the most eyebrows around the state.
The only question about Messalonskee’s 48-27 rout of Lewiston is how much to read into it.
Messalonskee was forecast to finish near the middle of the Eastern Class A pack, where the Eagles have taken up primary residence in recent years. Lewiston, meanwhile, was considered a co-favorite to win the Pine Tree Conference title, and an opening-night 41-2 flattening of Mt. Ararat did nothing to dispel those notions.
But it all seemed to unravel in Oakland. Messalonskee scored at will all evening, rolling up more than 400 yards.
“They beat a good team (Class B champion Mountain Valley) in an exhibition game,” Lewiston coach Bill County said. “We feel like we can compete, and he (Messalonskee coach Wes Littlefield) took us to the cleaners on offense.”
The bad news wasn’t limited to the scoreboard for the Blue Devils.
Fullback Joe McKinnon was benched after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the same first-quarter play. Halfback Matt Therrien was carried off the field with a left ankle injury early in the second quarter and was out for the duration.
Ricardo Juco and Kevin St. Pierre filled in admirably in a supporting role to Jeff Turcotte, who fought off his own arm and leg issues to the tune of 246 yards and three touchdowns.
Next week’s short journey to Brunswick is another stop on a brutal schedule that also includes trips to Lawrence, Bangor and Edward Little.
“We’ve got to regroup. We can’t burp,” County said. “Maybe this is a hiccup and maybe not. We’ll see. I think (Messalonskee is) going to challenge a lot of people.”
ROUGH RECEPTION
Telstar has learned volumes in two weeks as a varsity football entity.
Perhaps foremost among those lessons: This isn’t the developmental league.
Winthrop, a traditional Campbell Conference power, and Winslow, a drop-in from Class B, feasted on the Rebels to the tune of 41 points apiece. Both games essentially were over at halftime.
“I knew the league was going to be very tough,” Telstar coach Tim O‘Connor said. “It’s all that I expected and more.”
After an undefeated season against junior varsity competition and the graduation of a successful senior class, Telstar was without seven starters for disciplinary reasons in the 41-14 home loss to Winthrop.
The Rebels were back to a full complement of players Saturday.
“Both coaches understood where we were coming from,” O‘Connor said of Campbell Conference colleagues Joel Stoneton of Winthrop and Mike Siviski of Winslow. “They didn’t come out and annihilate us. They probably could have, but nobody wins that way.”
Sophomore Jared Vermette and senior Drew Wilson each ran for a long touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 41-21 defeat at Winslow.
After being held to minus-five net rushing yards in the first half, Telstar finished with a team total of 166 at a clip of more than five yards per carry.
“When we played Winthrop, we were (trailing) in the second quarter and it seemed like we let down a little bit,“ O’Connor said. “One emphasis this week was to make sure we played all 48 minutes. We got a lot of different kids to play, and we need that experience.”
UNTOUCHABLE
Jake Ouellette of Leavitt had a unique statistical line Friday night at Belfast. Ouellette carried the ball three times for 95 yards and three touchdowns.
In other words, he was never tackled. It was a recurring theme: Leavitt raced to a 48-0 halftime lead and cruised in a laugher, 56-6.
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