Mix of old, new propel Ponies to playoffs Foxcroft Academy to battle No. 1 Bucksport Saturday

For the eighth straight season, the LTC Class B playoff pairings bear the hoof prints of the Foxcroft Academy Ponies.

Despite a youthful roster with just seven seniors, all of whom are starters, and several upperclassmen who were first-year varsity players, the Ponies have gone 8-2 en route to their fifth regional title game appearance in head coach Paul Withee’s 12-year tenure.

“We kind of have the old blended in with our new and it’s been a nice mix,” said Withee.

It’s the first LTC final appearance for Foxcroft in four years, and a great source of pride for the outgoing seniors who have provided plenty of leadership both by example and voice this season,

“I’d have to say the way all the other players are playing for us [seniors] is a big thing we’re proud of. I had no idea we’d be this good,” said senior co-captain and two-way starter Jeff Steinke, the Ponies’ renaissance man who is also playing the lead in the school’s production of Lil’ Abner this week and applying for early admission to the University of Pennsylvania.

“Our team has a lot of chemistry and there’s a lot of emotional support,” he added. “This year, we play together well and there’s never any blame. I think having more experience and leadership has been a key for us, too.”

The Ponies have been pretty consistent this season as they’ve beaten everyone on their Class C schedule except Bucksport, their foe in Saturday afternoon’s regional title game. Even in losses they’ve been impressive as they gave unbeaten defending Class B champ Winslow one of its closest games this season – a 20-0 loss at Winslow in week two – and Bucksport its smallest margin of victory (24-14 at Dover-Foxcroft).

“I just figured we were a year away because of our youth, but the experience and maturity we had on the offensive line would keep us right in the hunt,” said Withee.

Foxcroft finished the regular season ranked first among LTC Class C teams in offense with a 296.7 yards-per-game average. The Ponies were second overall among all LTC teams in defense as they allowed just 148.4 yards per game.

“We made some defensive changes, going from 4-4 and 6-2 fronts to a 5-3 the last four or five weeks,” Withee explained. “That made us bigger tackle to tackle and allows our linebackers to be more aggressive.”

Those linebackers are three of the best in the league with Steinke in the middle and sophomore Lincoln Robinson and junior Josh Sands on the outside.

Offensively, the Ponies started with a very solid foundation built on linemen Steinke (center), Brandon Croan and Rob Crocker (guards), and Trey Merrill and Brendan Robinson (tackles). From there, Derek Morong was plugged in at fullback, a position he has excelled in with 471 yards on 58 carries. It got even younger in the other skill positions as sophomores Lincoln Robinson and Josh Withee, Paul’s son, won the halfback and quarterback positions while juniors Danny White and E.J. Imbert took the wingback/receiver slots.

“It didn’t take very long for them to get going at all. Josh Withee’s been primed to be our quarterback since he was old enough to touch a football,” Steinke said.

The statistics don’t argue with that as Withee has completed 39 of 99 passes for 645 yards and eight touchdowns. He has also thrown nine interceptions, but most of those came early in the season.

Meanwhile, White has rushed for 573 yards and caught 15 passes for another 236 and nine total touchdowns. Sands leads the team with 777 rushing yards.

“This is the group I’ve had my eye on since junior high … Maybe even longer than that since I’ve been watching them play with my son since Pop Warner,” Withee said. “And they’re exceeding our expectations.”

Much like first-time varsity players Aaron Sutton, Steve Larrabee, and Bruce White – all seniors who have been plugged into starting roles – (cornerback, defensive end, defensive end, respectively) and played very well.

Sutton has given up two completions all year while Larrabee and White are consistent tacklers.

“They typify our team,” Steinke said. “They came in, worked hard, and did whatever they could to make us better.”

Andrew Neff’s High School Report is published each Wednesday. He can be reached at 990-8205 or aneff@bangordailynews.net.