South Portland 33
Biddeford 37
There were lots of big plays and plenty of scoring at highly charged Waterhouse Field last Friday evening where the host team from Biddeford needed a late comeback to top the upstart Red Riots of South Portland.
In a game that featured numerous lead changes and back-and-forth action, the Tigers prevailed for a 37-33 victory thanks to a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Gelinas to Andrew Allaire with just 57 seconds to play.
“It’s kind of hard now to understand how good a high school football game that was,” said a disappointed South Portland football coach Steve Stinson. “Scott (Descoteaux) and I played against each other in high school and we’re both coaching proud programs They play like we do – they play like they have a chip on their shoulder. (Near the end of the game) we weren’t going anywhere and they weren’t going anywhere, and it became a battle of wills and how much time was left on the clock.”
To their credit – and as they did the whole game – the South Portland squad refused to quit in those last 57 seconds and they used the remaining time on the clock to get within scoring range and nearly won the game. The Riots moved from deep in their own end to near midfield with a pass from quarterback David Hardison to Jamie Boudreau. Hardison then connected with Boudreau again for what appeared to be an improbable touchdown, but the Riots were penalized for too many men on the line of scrimmage and the ball was brought back to their own 41.
Two straight pass incompletions forced a third-and-15 situation and the successful combination of Hardison to Boudreau worked again as the go-to wide receiver hauled in the pass near the Biddeford 38 – and a South Portland first down with 12 seconds to play. Biddeford was penalized for pass interference on the next Hardison pass attempt and the Riots suddenly had the ball at the Biddeford 23 with one last chance to win. Hardison’s pass was lofted to the end zone for Nick Gaddar, but the Tigers intercepted to end the game and the Riots’ frantic last-minute drive.
South Portland (2-3) opened the scoring when running back Tuan Tran ran untouched through the Biddeford defense for a 38-yard score and a 7-0 lead following Matt Hebert’s successful point-after kick.
The Tigers (3-2) answered with a 12-play 67-yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 4-yard touchdown run by Biddeford fullback Justin Tarbox-Toussaint. The Riots blocked the point-after attempt and they led 7-6 with 27 seconds to play in the opening quarter.
The Riots then fumbled the ball with Biddeford’s Andrew Allaire catching the pigskin in mid-air and then breaking tackles on his way to a 39-yard touchdown. Biddeford’s two-point conversion was good and the Tigers led 14-7 in the opening minute of the second period.
South Portland started its ensuing drive with three procedure penalties on its first four plays. A Hardison pass was soon picked off by Biddeford near midfield and they marched to the Riot 15 before South Portland’s defense turned them away. A big fourth down sack by South Portland’s Caleb Mulkern ended the scoring threat.
“There’s only so much you can control – I know a lot of those penalties were caused by us. We lined up wrong and we moved and we did stuff,” said Stinson. “But that’s football. We have to be extra poised, and calculated, and cerebral as coaches to try and get that across to them (the players).”
Biddeford did get the ball back, finishing a 78-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Gelinas to Josh Scott to take a 20-7 lead with 1:17 left in the half.
The Riots used the remaining time very wisely, moving 70 yards in seven plays. Hardison connected with Nick Gaddar for two long pass completions and a run by Hardison placed the ball at the Biddeford 14. Hardison then connected with Boudreau for another Riot touchdown to pull within 20-14 at the break.
“There’s no one who cares more about this program than a kid like him,” Stinson said about the Boudreau, who left the field in a knee brace following the game.
South Portland running back Ryan Curit opened the second half with what appeared to be a 67-yard scoring run, but a needless blocking from behind penalty was called against the Riots and the ball was brought out to the Tigers’ 23-yard line. Three plays later, Tran scored his second touchdown of the night to tie the score at 20-20.
Biddeford again answered, albeit not the way they intended. Tarbox-Toussaint was stripped of the football as he rumbled inside the South Portland 10-yard line only to have Biddeford teammate Ethan Scott fall on the ball in the end zone for a Tiger score.
The next South Portland drive again showcased Curit. The sophomore running back went into the end zone on a 44-yard run only to have that score called back by a holding penalty. Undaunted and determined, Curit took the ball again two plays later and he raced 52 yards downfield for another South Portland touchdown – this time with no flags anywhere on the field. Hebert’s PAT tied the game at 27-27 with 6:41 to play in the third period.
“Tonight we were able to finish some drives and show that we can be a good football team,” said Stinson. “We’re pretty balanced with Gaddard and Boudreau and the two different backs that we have; and the line’s coming together and we’ve got a kid who can throw. But again it’s that stuff (penalties, turnovers, mistakes) that’s stopping us.”
Tarbox-Toussaint intercepted a Hardison pass on the Riots’ next possession and the Tigers seemed to gain momentum as they neared another score. But a hard hit by the Riots defense popped the ball out of Tarbox-Toussaint’s grasp and South Portland’s Tanner Kierstead recovered in the end zone to keep Biddeford off the board.
A long punt return by Josh Scott set the Tigers up at the South Portland 11, where once again the Riots defense stymied Biddeford’s offense. The Tigers settled for a 22-yard field goal from Tarbox-Toussaint and a 30-27 lead midway through the final quarter.
Less than two minutes later, the Riots took the lead after a pair of pass completions from Hardison to Gaddar and another to Curit got South Portland to the Biddeford 21. A nice touch pass from Hardison to Gaddar put the Riots into the end zone again – this time with a 33-30 lead and only 4:46 to play in regulation.
The teams traded possessions before Biddeford got the ball back at their own 38 with less than two minutes to play. Gelinas completed four of his next five passes including the game-winning touchdown toss to Allaire with 57 seconds to go.
“We’ve got a lot of football left to play,” said Stinson. “In the long run I think this’ll be the first of a lot of games that South Portland and Biddeford will play that are going to mean a lot (in the coming years).”
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