November 23, 2024
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Riots to clash with Ponies Showdown features LTC’s lone undefeated teams

Week 4 of the high school football season features rebounds and showdowns.

One team on the rebound is Bangor, coming off a 32-12 loss at defending state champion Lawrence of Fairfield in the rematch of their 2006 Eastern Maine Class A final.

One midseason showdown will be played out in Dover-Foxcroft, where two-time defending Eastern C champion Foxcroft Academy will host Orono in a clash of the only unbeaten teams left in the LTC.

Orono Red Riots (3-0) vs. Foxcroft Academy Ponies (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft: This is a clash of statistical contrasts, as Foxcroft boasts the LTC’s top defense while Orono fields the most potent offense.

Foxcroft has allowed just 18 total points and 136.3 yards per game in its three wins. Against the run, the Ponies have yielded 107 yards on 81 carries – or just 1.3 yards per try.

Defensive end Evan Worthing leads that defense with 10 solo tackles, 16 assists and three quarterback sacks, including two sacks in last week’s 16-6 win at Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln. Other top defenders include linebackers Ben Provost and Jerod Rideout.

Orono counters with an offense that averaged 397.3 yards per game in victories over Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield, Bucksport and Stearns of Millinocket.

Collin Bates is the LTC’s second-leading rusher with 460 yards on 43 carries, an average of 10.7 yards per attempt. Kash Keezer is fourth among conference passers, completing 11 of 21 attempts for 263 yards.

The Riots boast an additional weapon in Seth Dwyer, who has caught two TD passes, made 5 of 6 extra-point kicks and last Friday made two field goals in Orono’s 26-0 win over Stearns.

“It’s a huge challenge,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair. “Foxcroft’s the premier team in the LTC year in and year out. This year there are a lot of talented teams, but I don’t think anyone would dispute that the road to the title runs through Dover-Foxcroft.”

Bangor Rams (2-1) vs. Edward Little Red Eddies (0-3), 1 p.m. Saturday, Walton Field, Auburn: This marks a sandwich game for Bangor, which coming off its loss at Lawrence visits EL before back-to-back games against unbeatens Skowhegan and Lewiston.

While Edward Little is winless, coach Darren Hartley’s club has been competitive in losses to Oxford Hills of South Paris (14-7), Mt. Blue of Farmington (26-18) and Brunswick (36-26).

“Their coach is so positive and upbeat, and their kids play hard, so you know good things are going to happen for them,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “I just hope they don’t happen against us.”

Bangor’s offense has been led by senior tailback Shane Walton, who has averaged 215 all-purpose yards per game and combined with fullback Kyle Vanidestine for more than 500 rushing yards.

Senior linebacker Tyler McDade anchors the defense, while Walton has a Pine Tree Conference Class A-best four interceptions.

That defense will be tasked with containing an EL offense led by junior quarterback Cody Goddard, who passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns against Brunswick on Monday.

“Their quarterback throws the ball 40 yards on a line,” said Hackett. “They played Brunswick physically even and I thought Brunswick was as physical as anyone.”

Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (1-2) vs. Bucksport Golden Bucks (2-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Carmichael Field, Bucksport: Mattanawcook’s rugged early schedule continues against a Bucksport team that is just a one-point loss short of an undefeated start.

MA is coming off losses to John Bapst (22-20) and Foxcroft Academy (16-6) and needs a win at Bucksport to avoid flirting with a must-win scenario for the rest of the regular season.

Bucksport is in its customary contender’s position, with wins against Dexter (48-0) and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield (39-18) around a 29-28 loss to Orono.

Coach Joel Sankey’s club features junior tailback Nate Warren, who already has 730 rushing yards and 12 TDs this season while averaging 14.0 yards per carry.

Mount Desert Island Trojans (2-1) vs. Hampden Academy Broncos (1-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Weatherbee Complex, Hampden: MDI is after its third straight win against a Hampden team that hopes to end its two-game losing streak.

MDI has relied on a strong defense in a 19-13 overtime win over Morse of Bath and a 20-14 road win at Waterville. Senior linebacker Danny Dunn and junior defensive back Jasper Cousins rank as the leading tacklers, while junior DB Terrence Jones forced three Waterville turnovers as the Trojans avenged a loss to the Panthers in last year’s playoffs.

Hampden is coming off a 56-6 loss at unbeaten Gardiner last Friday. The Broncos feature junior QB Shawn Smith (15 of 26, 180 passing yards, 171 rushing yards on 19 carries), while Eddie Becker has 214 rushing yards on 42 tries.

MDI defeated HA 19-0 at Bar Harbor in Week 3 last season. The last time these teams met on the FieldTurf at Hampden, the Broncos won a 17-6 decision in 2005.

“They’re looking for a win,” said MDI coach Mark Shields of Hampden, “so they’re going to be fired up, and they always play well on their turf field.”


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