Winslow starts fast, cruises to win over Belfast

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WINSLOW – They have been anointed as the team to beat in Eastern Maine Class B football, and through two weeks of the season the Winslow Black Raiders have done nothing in conflict with those predictions.

Winslow turned a rivalry into a rout in its home opener at Poulin Memorial Field on Saturday, scoring three touchdowns in the game’s first 4 minutes, 36 seconds and rolling to a 56-14 Pine Tree Conference victory over Belfast.

As was the case in its first game at Leavitt of Turner Center a week earlier, Winslow barely used its starters after intermission.

It wasn’t necessary – the Black Raiders’ halftime lead was 42-8.

“We came out of the gates flying,” said senior tailback Justin Lindie, who rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries.

The victory gives Winslow a 14-11 edge in the series between the schools since 1991, 26-15 since they first met in 1925.

“This means a lot,” said quarterback-linebacker Stephen Siviski. “It’s a big rivalry. I don’t know how long we’ve been playing, but since the mid-90s it’s been a pretty even score head to head. When you think about our division, it’s Winslow-Belfast.”

The 2-0 Black Raiders scored in nearly every conceivable fashion, getting three defensive touchdowns and one from its special teams. Seven different Winslow players scored at least one touchdown.

“That’s kind of an amazing thing, so many different kids made big plays on both offense and defense,” said Winslow coach Mike Siviski. “We’re pleased where we are right now with a lot of different kids contributing. A lot of different kids can do different things for us. It’s hard to defend just one person.”

Junior wingback James Wood got it started, catching a 12-yard TD pass from Stephen Siviski on Winslow’s first possession, a 69-yard drive that started as Lindie raced down the left sideline for 39 yards, and it became a 54-yard gain when Belfast was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After Belfast went three-and-out, Wood returned a punt 60 yards on a reverse to make it 14-0. Winslow recovered a fumble on Belfast’s next play from scrimmage, and two plays later Lindie scored from 21 yards out to make it 21-0 with still 7:24 left in the first quarter.

Winslow drove 63 yards early in the second quarter, with Siviski passing to fullback John Goulette for the final 11 yards to extend the lead to 28-0 with 8:15 left in the half.

Two plays later, a center snap in the shotgun formation sailed over the head of Belfast quarterback Jake Arthers and into the end zone, where Winslow’s Kevin McCabe recovered it for another touchdown.

Belfast (0-2) finally countered, taking the kickoff and marching 65 yards in 10 plays. Ricky Bernosky capped off the drive with a 3-yard TD run, and Arthers passed to Kyle Devereux for the two-point conversion to cut the gap to 35-8.

But Winslow wasn’t done, at least defensively, as Siviski stepped in front of an Arthers pass intended for the slipping Jon Walsh and returned it 41 yards for a TD with 1:17 left.

Ben Poulin, who made all eight of his extra-point tries in the game and is now 12-of-12 for the season, added the final point of the half.

Belfast drove to the Winslow 2 with the first possession of the second half, but Goulette picked off a pitch in midair at the 5 and raced 95 yards for his second touchdown with 8:28 left in the third quarter.

Travis Lee, who rushed for 117 yards on 18 carries, added a 1-yard scoring run for Belfast later in the period before Winslow reserve tailback Cory Bezanson scored the game’s last TD on a 48-yard run.

BLACK RAIDERS 56, LIONS 14

Belfast (0-2) 0 8 6 0 – 14

Winslow (2-0) 21 21 14 0 – 56

W-Wood 12 pass from Siviski (Poulin kick)

W-Wood 60 punt return (Poulin kick)

W-Lindie 21 run (Poulin kick) W-Goulette 11 pass from Siviski (Poulin kick)

W-McCabe fumble recovery in end zone (Poulin kick)

B-R. Bernosky 3 run (Devereux pass from Arthers)

W-Siviski 41 interception return (Poulin kick)

W-Goulette 95 fumble return (Poulin kick)

B-Lee 5 run (rush failed)

W-C. Bezanson 48 run (Poulin kick)

Belfast Winslow

First downs 22 11

Rushing att.-yards 53-200 34-276

Passing comp.-att. 10-17 5-6

Passing yards 127 67

Total yards 327 343

Punts-avg. 3-46.0 1-45.0

Fumbles-lost 9-4 1-0

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 7-60 6-68

Rushing

Belfast: Lee-18-117, R. Bernosky 10-55, McLeod 7-43, Mansfield 6-32, Walsh 2-10, Cross 1-(minus-2), Arthers 9-(minus-55); Winslow: Lindie 8-128, C. Bezanson 4-82, Goulette 5-27, Moser 4-23, E. Bezanson 2-18, Wood 1-6, Sc. Siviski 2-4, LaFrance 1-3, Morrison 1-(minus-1), Weed 1-(minus-3), Wheeler 1-(minus-5), St. Siviski 4-(minus-6)

Passing

Belfast: Arthers 10-17-1-127; Winslow: St. Siviski 5-6-0-67

Receiving

Belfast: Walsh 5-70, Carr 2-11, Cross 1-22, Felton 1-19, Lee 1-5; Winslow: Goulette 2-14, Lindie 1-34, Wood 1-12, McCabe 1-7

A-900 (est.)