Sanford 9
Scarborough 27
Every team celebrates its victories. And the Scarborough High football team definitely celebrated its win over Sanford last Friday evening at the Mitchell Sports Complex. It was only the second game of an eight-game season, but the win was so much more than that. The last time the Red Storm got a chance to celebrate a victory was in 2005, so the 27-9 win over Sanford ended a couple years of frustration.
A second half surge by Scarborough turned a close game into a runaway as the Red Storm added to its slim 7-3 halftime advantage by scoring three straight second half touchdowns for 20 unanswered points.
“It’s only one step. It’s only one game, but I’m proud of them,” Scarborough head football coach David Sterling said about his players following the game.
Both defenses played well early on and neither team was able to mount a serious scoring drive. Scarborough defensive back Jon Bendle stopped Sanford’s first possession with an interception, but the Red Storm was unable to take advantage of the turnover.
The Redskins put together a solid drive at the end of the opening quarter with running backs Pat Stefanilo and Matt Matoin picking up good chunks of yardage that moved the ball from the Sanford 34 to the Scarborough 15. A third down pass completion from quarterback Justin Young to Ryan Fortier proved pivotal in keeping the Redskins marching downfield. But a holding penalty against Sanford pushed the ball back to the 23. That infraction was followed by a short run from Spencer Perkins and two incomplete passes thanks to some very good pass defense.
On fourth-and-eight from the Scarborough 21, the Redskins set up for a 38-yard field goal attempt by Perkins and the Sanford senior calmly booted the ball through the uprights for a 3-0 lead with 11:40 to play in the second quarter.
Scarborough answered immediately with its own scoring drive. The Storm’s Kenny Mancuso raced in from nine yards out to give Scarborough a 6-3 lead with 7:10 to play before halftime. And Logan Oliver’s successful point after kick pushed the lead to 7-3.
The Redskins’ next possession was a quick three-and-out and Scarborough soon had another scoring opportunity. The Storm worked their way downfield, but a pass attempt was broken up by Perkins and a fourth down play on the Sanford 29-yard line was stopped short of the first down.
Once again the Redskins were unable to get their offense going and they had to punt the ball back to the Storm. Scarborough running back Tony Stanley broke free on the first play from scrimmage gaining 27 yards to the Sanford 40.
Scarborough quarterback Max Erwin then connected with wide receiver Reid Griffith to get the ball to the 19 and another pass completion to Griffith put the ball at the Sanford 5-yard line. But Turner made another big play for Sanford, stepping in front of a first down pass and intercepting the toss in the end zone.
Scarborough had its chances to break open a close game, but they were turned back on two occasions and led just 7-3 at the break.
The Red Storm picked up some steam in the third quarter. Mancuso capped off a 76-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run to give Scarborough a 13-3 lead with 2:37 left in the period. The point after attempt was wide.
The Redskins next possession was one they’d rather forget as a first down running play lost four yards. Scarborough defenders Ian Brady, Peter Doyer and Brian Woodbury then combined for two straight quarterback sacks that dropped the Redskins back another 13 yards. Scarborough’s bigger and more experienced line started to take control and the Storm suddenly had plenty of momentum.
It took Scarborough six plays to find the end zone again with Erwin throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Griffith. But a penalty against Scarborough negated that score sending the Storm back to the Sanford 21-yard line.
On the very next play, Erwin rolled right and found Griffith again. The Storm receiver beat a double team and raced into the end zone to give the hosts a 20-3 lead with 9:20 remaining.
Mancuso added a 29-yard touchdown run the next time the Storm touched the ball and their lead grew to 27-3 with just over four minutes left on the clock.
Sanford running back Ryan Legere gave his squad one last thing to cheer about with a 62-yard touchdown run that pulled the Redskins within 27-9 with 2:41 to play.
“Our offensive linemen really stepped up and played well tonight,” said Sterling.
And most agreed that the near-win at Biddeford in the season opener did a lot to boost the confidence of the Storm entering week two. “It made these young men focus on what they had to do for this week,” Sterling concluded.
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