Isidore rain fails to dampen evening Players, officials, spectators undaunted

BANGOR – A lady named Isidore finally showed up at Cameron Stadium Friday night in the fourth quarter of Bangor’s 3-0 football win over Lewiston.

More than a few football games around the state were postponed for a day because of the rain the remnants of the hurricane was expected to deliver.

So, when Izzy finally arrived late in the game and people watching the game, who were already drenched from a steady drizzle, became wetter, the players laughed and carried on.

Carried is what Bangor running back Ryan Largay did. The senior ran the ball 29 times in the sloppy, wet conditions and fumbled just once. That fumbled was caused by a helmet and not a wet ball, we were assured by Ed Hackett.

Hackett is Bangor head coach Mark Hackett’s brother. For the past few years he has been in charge of getting the balls into play from the sidelines. Friday was particularly difficult because of the conditions.

He had a large plastic bag with a powdery looking substance inside. When the ball was tossed off the field he stuffed it into the bag.

“It’s called Speedy Dry and it evaporates water off the ball. It kinda’ stings the hands but it dries up the ball. Mark said a helmet caused the fumble,” he laughed. “But I might have a fumble in here for Lewiston.”

Bruce Anderson is one of the officials working the game. He has been doing this for a long time and said that Bangor is a “traditional” school and he never expected the game to be postponed. But he has worked a few that maybe should have been.

“The worst one I ever did was an Orono-Old Town playoff game. I can’t remember the year but it was cold and it rained. It was so cold the quarterback from Old Town broke his hand in the first quarter and because it was so cold he couldn’t feel it and he played the rest of the game with a broken hand,” Anderson said.

Bangor High School athletic director Steve Vandidestine said the decision to play was made by both schools.

“We watched the radar and watched the weather. Tonight’s not even in the top 15 of worst conditions [that Bangor has played in].”

In the stands fans were huddled under umbrellas. One such fan was Tom Stephens of Bangor whose son, Conor, is a captain on the team. He said a little rain wouldn’t keep him away. He has been attending Bangor games for 12 years.

“It rained but it’s perfect football weather. Football fans love weather like this. Particularly when they win,” Stephens said.

On the field, Lewiston was on the move late in the game when the ball was fumbled and Bangor recovered.

Ed Hackett joked that he caused the fumble.

Lewiston coach William County didn’t blame the fumble or his team’s loss on the weather and was glad the game was played.

“The kids were excited when we came. Football is football. For generations you played football in the rain. This was old school,” County said.