Just one year ago, the Windham football team wrapped up a 1-7 season with a home loss to Westbrook. After that game, Eagles coach Matt Perkins remained upbeat, talking about the bright future he saw ahead.
Perkins’ status as a prophet was confirmed Friday night as his Windham team won its sixth straight game with a 42-0 dismantling of Westbrook (1-7) on the road, locking up the No. 3 spot in the Western Maine Class A playoffs. The Eagles (6-2) will host No. 6 Massabesic at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
“This is great,” said Windham junior quarterback Jackson Taylor, who threw for four touchdowns on Friday. “Last year when we got down, we couldn’t get back up. This team is resilient. We fight back. But we’ve still got a lot of work to do. We’re still a team in the ranks.”
The Eagles struck early and often to spoil Westbrook’s Senior Night. After forcing a fumble on Westbrook’s second play from scrimmage, Windham got on the scoreboard with 9:35 to go in the first quarter as Taylor hit Matthew Gledhill over the middle for a 21-yard touchdown. Tyler Littlefield sent his first of six point-after kicks through the uprights to make it 7-0.
Within three minutes, the lead tripled as Windham forced a Blue Blazes punt and took over at the Westbrook 37. Two plays later, Taylor found Tucker Miller behind the defense for a 37-yard TD strike. Westbrook fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Taylor again found Gledhill over the middle, this time for 25-yard TD toss. The kick made it 21-0 with 6:51 still left in the first.
In the first minute of the second quarter, Gledhill added his third TD of the night, coming on a 16-yard pass from Taylor. After another Westbrook fumble, Windham junior running back Jack Mallis took a direct snap and rambled in from 25 yards out with 9:54 left in the half as the Eagles took a 35-0 lead into the break.
Though Windham turned the ball over three times on fumbles in the first half, the Eagles did not punt and used five plays or less on all their scoring drives.
Taylor, who took his licks as signal caller a year ago, said the difference this season is simple: The offense is on the same page and he has excellent protection, giving him time to see the field and make plays. “It’s slower, more relaxed” in the pocket, he said. The result is a spread offensive attack to be reckoned with.
“You have to play pass first,” Westbrook coach Jeff Guerette said. “(Taylor) can read coverages and pick out the weaknesses in the coverages. Then he’s got a great arm. He’s as good a throwing quarterback as there is in the league.”
Taylor’s success wouldn’t be possible if his linemen weren’t winning their battles in front of him.
“They’re definitely, along with Bonny Eagle, the most physical team we’ve played this year,” Guerette said.
The physicality extends to the defensive side of the ball as well, as Windham forced seven Westbrook fumbles in the first half, recovering five of them. The Blue Blazes gained only two yards in the half, with six of their offensive plays going for a loss.
Taylor completed 6 of 12 passes before being relieved by Cody Laberge on Windham’s second possession of the second half. Max McDonald added a fourth-quarter TD on a 7-yard carry for Windham.
After losing a close game in the opener to No. 1 Deering, then falling to Bonny Eagle in game two, Windham has impressed with six wins in a row, two coming against playoff teams in Gorham and Cheverus.
“They’ve come a long way,” Perkins said. “I’ve really been proud of the seniors and the leadership. They really listen and they work. The difference between this year’s team and last year’s team is these guys are just so coachable. They’ve really listened and executed what we’ve asked. Our goal every week has been to get better, and they’ve really worked to do that.”
The transformation began in the offseason when the Eagles hit the weight room hard. It continued when practices began, as the team meshed together.
“All of us united as one,” said senior lineman Cody McLean. “We’re one unit. The front line, the receivers, the quarterback – everybody. We communicate a lot. Big-time communication. We all get along and know how the whole line works.”
“We’re a big family,” Taylor said. “We play for one another.”
For the past couple weeks, the Eagles have been without injured two-way starting lineman Jimmy Tocher, yet they’ve hardly skipped a beat, thanks to their depth.
“Corbyn Cook’s come in and done an awesome job,” Perkins said. “He’s a kid who has really worked hard in the weight room in the offseason and come a long ways. For him to step up and get it done is really nice.”
Part of the challenge this season for Perkins and his staff has been persuading the players that they can compete with – and beat – anyone.
“That’s kind of been a curve for us to convince them that they can compete and can play,” Perkins said. “We’re not the 1-7 team from last year. That’s been a big thing for us, to get over that hump.”
While the turnaround has been remarkable, no one in the Windham huddle is satisfied with a top-3 seed and a nice regular season. There are games left to be won.
“We’ve got to fix stuff, stop the turnovers,” Taylor said. “We got some work to do this week to sharpen it up for Saturday.”
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