BUCKSPORT – One of his team’s finest traits, Foxcroft football coach Paul Withee believes, is its ability to keep an even keel no matter the opposition.

But what if the team on the other sideline beat the Ponies by one point in last year’s Eastern Maine Class C final, had a 4-1 record coming into Friday night’s game, and was playing at home?

“We come out and approach every team the same way, week by week,” said Foxcroft lineman Trey Merrill, his face not giving away the fact that the Ponies topped Bucksport 32-20 at Carmichael Field in a highly anticipated showdown between the LTC Class C rivals.

Foxcroft used its tough balance of run and pass, and got a stellar defensive effort to run its record to 6-0.

The Golden Bucks fall to 4-2.

Foxcroft held Bucksport to 67 yards of total offense in the first half, including 25 on the ground.

“I think a key to this one was coming out intense on defense,” said halfback Danny White. “Our defense carries us.”

The Bucks were able to move the ball better in the second half, racking up 177 more yards of offense.

Quarterback Dow Cain threw for 140 yards. John Harvey had four catches for 101 yards.

“We made some adjustments in the second half which really helped us … but they’re a good football team,” Bucksport coach Joel Sankey said. “We had a difficult time running the ball. We made too many mistakes.”

Chris Woodman led the Bucks on the ground with 53 yards on 11 carries.

The Ponies opened the game with a touchdown on their first possession and then forced the Bucks to go 3-and-out on their first possession. But Bucksport roared back, forcing Foxcroft to do the same, and then got a TD thanks to Dow Cain’s 18-yard pass to Gunner Siverly to tie the game at 7-7.

The Ponies took a 20-7 halftime lead thanks to touchdowns on two of their three possessions in the second quarter.

Foxcroft quarterback Josh Withee went 7-for-11 for 116 yards and one interception.

Running backs Danny White and Josh Sands combined to score all five Foxcroft touchdowns.

Foxcroft also got good yardage from fullback Lincoln Robinson. He ran for 48 yards in the second half and provided some clock-eating runs up the middle. Robinson also caught a 23-yard pass in the first half

“He took control of this game tonight,” Sands said.

Foxcroft’s three main backs combined for 152 yards.

Early in the game, Paul Withee had kicker White keep the ball on the ground and out of the hands of speedy Siverly and John Harvey. But in the third quarter Harvey was able to grab one and run it back 93 yards for a touchdown.

“They kicked one deep and they kicked one to John Harvey, and he’s a very good football player,” Sankey said.

That score came on the kickoff following a 64-yard punt return for a TD by White.

“We knew how dangerous they were on those punt returns,” Sankey said. “That one got away from us.”

Siverly scored the final TD of the game when he caught a pass from Cain that had been tipped by a Foxcroft player.

PONIES 32, GOLDEN BUCKS 20

Foxcroft (6-0) 7 13 12 0 ? 32

Bucksport (4-2) 7 0 7 6 ? 20

F ? Sands 1 run (White kick)

B ? Siverly 18 pass from Cain (Lalonde kick)

F ? Sands 1 run (White kick)

F ? White 12 run (kick failed)

F ? White 64 punt return (pass failed)

B ? J. Harvey 93 kickoff return (Lalonde kick)

F ? Sands 3 interception return (kick failed)

B ? Siverly 7 pass from Cain (pass failed)

Foxcroft Bucksport

First downs 12 9

Rushing att.-yards 41-170 33-104

Passing comp.-att. 7-11 8-20

Passing yards 116 140

Total yards 286 244

Punts-avg. 4-43.7 4-30.2

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Intercepted by 1 1

Penalties-yards 8-45 4-30

Rushing

Foxcroft: White 12-53, Robinson 11-52, Sands 13-47, Withee 4-14, Gilbert 1-4; Bucksport: Woodman 11-53, P. Harvey 6-36, J. Harvey 2-13, Siverly 10-7, Cain 4-(-5)

Passing

Foxcroft: Withee 7-11-1-116; Bucksport: Cain 8-20-1-140

Receiving

Foxcroft: Hall 2-57, Robinson 1-23, Perry 1-15, Imbert 2-14, Gosselin 1-7; Bucksport: J. Harvey 4-101, Siverly 3-29, Carmichael 1-10

A?700 (est.)