Windham 13
Massabesic 6
This Friday night, the Windham football team will open up their season with a home game against perennial powerhouse Deering. To get ready for that game, the Eagles took on always-tough Massabesic in a final preseason tuneup last Friday night.
While it is only preseason, the results have to bode well for the Eagles’ chances against Deering in the opener, as Windham looked strong in a 13-6 win over the Mustangs.
Things didn’t exactly start well for Windham on Friday. Their first drive of the game stalled out near midfield where they were forced to punt. The Mustangs’ Tyree Jones then returned the punt 90 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 Massabesic lead after the two-point attempt failed.
Windham’s second drive ended with a fumble and their third with another punt. Despite not getting any points, the Eagles were holding the Mustangs to just six after the first quarter. It turns out those were the only points Massabesic would get all game.
“I thought our defense was great,” said Windham head coach Matt Perkins. “I think we gave up three first downs with our ones. They played great. They flew to the ball against an offense that’s very good.”
Holding the Mustangs to six points allowed Windham to eventually grab the lead midway through the second quarter when they scored on the ground. With the extra point, the Eagles took a 7-6 lead.
“We’re getting there,” Perkins said. “We’re getting first downs and we’re making plays. A couple drops here, we get on the goal line, you have to get in (the end zone). It’s improving and I think the next step is right in front of us.”
Shortly before halftime, the Eagles took advantage of another opportunity. With Massabesic driving into Windham territory, the Eagles knocked the ball loose and pounced on it. Eight plays later, Tyler Littlefield found Nate Dixon open on the left side for an 11-yard touchdown pass and a 13-6 lead.
That’s where the score would stay as the teams couldn’t find the end zone in the second half. Both teams are set to open up their regular season schedules this week with Massabesic taking on Noble and Windham playing host to Deering.
“The thing I am encouraged about, whatever the score, is from Monday to now we felt like we have played at the next level and we’ve improved,” Perkins said. “What (Massabesic runs) is tough stuff. They run a tough offense to defend. We had three days to draw it in the dirt and get ready and we wondered how much time do we want to spend on this and how much time we wanted to spend on our first week opponent which is Deering. You have to kind of corral what you’re doing and try to focus. And for us we just want to get better at what we do.”
Now, the Eagles have to turn their sights to Deering, a team that came from behind to beat the Eagles 47-26 in last season’s opener.
The Eagles were hoping to spoil the 2007 home opener for the Rams, and for a while it looked like they would do just that. The teams went into the dressing rooms at halftime with Deering up 20-19.
Windham had the first quarter lead thanks to quarterback Jackson Taylor, who threw two long touchdown bombs, a 90-yard strike to Travis Guerrette and a 64-yard bomb to David Ingraham. Running back Nate Johnson chipped in with a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
While the Eagles won the first half, and even kept a 26-25 lead through three quarters, they weren’t able to hold the lead.
Taylor scored a touchdown on the ground with a 16-yard run, but those were the last points the Eagles would score as the Rams ripped off 28 unanswered points to take the lead and the win.
Additional material by Sports Editor Mike Higgins
Windham High School 2008 football schedule
Football
Sept. 5 Deering 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 @ Bonny Eagle 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 @ Portland 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 South Portland 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 Kennebunk 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 @ Gorham 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 Cheverus 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 @ Westbrook 7 p.m.
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