Stingy defense key as Ponies seek state title

Versatile. Strong. Big. You can call the Foxcroft Academy football team a lot of things. Coach Paul Withee is hoping that you’ll call them state champions on Saturday.

The Ponies will meet defending Class C state champion Boothbay Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland at 3 p.m. with the championship on the line.

Foxcroft Academy enters the game on a roll. The 11-0 Ponies have given up just six points in their last five games, including a 14-0 victory over Bucksport in last week’s LTC championship game.

“I think if we’re going to talk about our team, we need to talk about our defense,” Foxcroft Academy coach Paul Withee said.

The defense is led by a pair of senior down linemen in Trey Merrill (6-foot-2, 310 pounds) and Ryan McNulty (6-1, 270). Should a running back escape those two, he would likely be dealt with by senior linebacker Josh Sands (6-0, 190) or his sidekick, junior Lincoln Robinson (5-8, 180). Defensive backs E.J. Imbert and Josh Withee ensure the Foxcroft Academy skies remain turbulent for the opposition.

The Ponies allowed only a single touchdown to be scored against them on their home turf.

On the other side, the Ponies can be aptly described as versatile.

While Foxcroft Academy doesn’t have a running back with star quality, it has a stable of guys who run impressively and have made heavy contributions.

Senior Danny White (5-10, 175) led the Ponies with 557 yards rushing and an 8.4 yards-per-carry average during the regular season. White also scored seven touchdowns.

Sands was next with 423 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Robinson rushed for 382 yards and four touchdowns and sophomore Bobby Gilbert ran for 172 yards, two touchdowns and 10.6 yards a carry on 16 carries from the fullback position. Gilbert’s accomplishments are remarkable considering he transferred to Foxcroft Academy from Greenville and is playing organized football for the first time.

“I think that’s the real nice thing about our team,” coach Withee said. “We are versatile. If somebody shuts down our backs in White and Sands, we can turn to our fullback game.”

The Ponies balance out their attack with a strong, passing game.

Junior quarterback Josh Withee threw for 848 yards and eight touchdowns. Three receivers caught touchdown passes and three had more than 100 receiving yards.

“We can hurt teams with the pass. What are you going to do? Put eight in the box and leave three to cover? That leaves a lot of field to cover,” Paul Withee said.

Junior Brandon Hall and senior E.J. Imbert also present problems for defensive backs because of their size. Hall and Imbert are both 6-6 and Withee has been able to throw the ball high and let them go get it.

Paul Withee said the team runs a six-receiver rotation. Junior Matt Earnest is in that rotation and has hauled in four touchdown passes and earned Class C conference player of the week honors.

“We’ve had different kids that have stepped up each week and you just can’t focus on one. Dan Speed and Greg Perry are excellent blockers,” Paul Withee said.

Imbert is also a team leader. He said his job is to get the younger kids ready for the game.

“We respect Boothbay. They’re the defending champions and we’re just trying to get the kids’ heads right and focused on the game,” Imbert said.

Coach Withee doesn’t believe Boothbay has an advantage because of last year’s title. Withee has gone down that road. His team won the title in 1996 and were runners-up in 1997.

“I think it’s a matchup a lot of people have been hoping would come about,” he said. “We’ve gotten the respect of the coaches by having Class C teams voted in the top 10.”