LINCOLN – For weeks Bucksport’s John Harvey, known as one of the fastest players in high school football, has battled an ankle injury that has hindered his progress.

After a week of rest, the sophomore hauled in two touchdowns and grabbed two key interceptions to lead the No. 3 Bucksport Golden Bucks to victory over the No. 2 Mattanawcook Academy Lynx 23-8 in an LTC Class C semifinal Friday night.

Extreme weather conditions forced the Golden Bucks to practice inside last week, creating no-contact practices and giving Harvey the opportunity he needed to heal.

“It felt a lot better this week,” Harvey said of his ankle. “I could move around a lot better.”

The Bucks advanced to next week’s Eastern Maine final against No. 1 Foxcroft, which defeated Stearns of Millinocket 22-0 Friday night.

With the Lynx trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter, Mattanawcook seemed poised to tie the game. On fourth down with the ball on the 7-yard line, however, Harvey, a defensive end, used his renewed speed and mobility to snare his first interception of the game while in the back of the end zone.

Harvey struck again in the fourth quarter, grabbing a Mattanawcook pass with the Lynx in Bucksport territory on the 43-yard line, trailing 14-0.

His second interception led to his second touchdown of the game as he made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone on a 28-yard pass from senior quarterback Dow Cain for the successful completion of a six play, 70-yard drive for a 20-0 lead with 7:34 remaining in the contest.

Harvey’s first score of the game came on a 59-yard pass from Cain over the middle where he outran a Mattanawcook defensive back to get a two-step lead to create enough space to make a reception.

“We don’t have team speed like Bucksport does,” said Mattanawcook head coach Mike Carney. “They have a guy [Harvey] that runs a 4.2. He should be starting for Maine tomorrow. I don’t have anyone that can touch that.”

Harvey finished with two receptions for 87 yards. Harvey’s two second-half catches were Bucksport’s only two passing attempts of the second half. Cain completed 5 of 13 passing attempts for 122 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

The Bucksport running game helped to open up Harvey for his two scoring receptions. Senior fullback Phil Harvey carried the ball 13 times for 83 yards and junior tailback Chris Woodman rushed 15 times for 63 yards.

The Lynx, which had come into the game expecting to use the running game to open up the passing attack on a slippery field, were held in check when star tailback junior Tyler Gardner was held to 46 yards on 18 carries.

The Lynx, who finished their season at 6-4, were unable to gain momentum on their snow- and ice-covered home field.

“We just weren’t clicking offensively until the end,” Mattanawcook senior captain linebacker-tight end Tom Lasko said. “There was no give in this team. We fought all the way. Bucksport is just one hell of a team.”

Lasko led the Mattanawcook defense with 14 tackles and scored the only touchdown of the game for the Lynx on a 22-yard pass from junior quarterback Dustin Hanscom.

Hanscom finished with 10 completions on 17 attempts for 206 yards.

Senior captain Jon Carney grabbed an interception in his final game as a Lynx and freshman Bobby Junkins blocked an extra point. Carney had seven receptions for 145 yards and a two-point conversion pass from Hanscom.

“Bucksport beat us straight up,” Mike Carney said. “There are four top teams in Class C that are all very good and any of them could beat the other on any given day. They came up here and played on heck of a game.”

Bucksport (7-3) 7 0 7 9 – 23

Mattanawcook (6-4) 0 0 0 8 – 8

B – Siverly 19 pass from Cain (Lalonde kick)

B – J. Harvey 59 pass from Cain (Lalonde kick)

B – J. Harvey 28 pass from Cain (kick blocked)

MA – Lasko 22 pass from Hanscom (Hanscom pass to Carney)

B – Lalonde 33 field goal