WINDHAM – Cheverus High scored on its first five possessions Friday night and rolled to a 47-0 victory against Windham in a Western Class A football game.
Make it 28 straight victories for the Stags over three seasons — a stat the team simply won’t discuss.
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Quarterback Liam Fitzpatrick said, “How many what?” about the streak.
“We take it one game at a time. Our focus is all on the next game,” said a smiling Fitzpatrick.
Cheverus’ last loss was at Windham, 7-6 in a muddy Western Maine final in 2009. This time there was no doubt.
Donald Goodrich scored four touchdowns and rushed for 237 yards in just over a half. He totaled 230 yards on only 11 carries and all his scores in the first half as the Stags (4-0) built a 41-0 lead.
Goodrich carried once in the second half for 7 yards before heading to the bench with the rest of the first team after the opening series.
The Stags threw only once, and it resulted in a touchdown. Ryan Casale gathered in Fitzpatrick’s 20-yard pass over two defenders late in the first quarter.
The Stags took the opening kickoff and needed only five plays to score. Four possessions later, Cheverus held a 35-0 lead with 6:25 left in the first half.
“Our offensive line was really pushing them off the ball,” said Fitzpatrick. “We had some big runs early, but all the credit goes to the offensive line. That’s been our bread and butter since Day 1.”
The Stags up front are Pat Ball at center, Jim and Dan Peabody-Harrington at guard, and Greg Grinnell and Matt Cushing at the tackles. Casale, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior, is the tight end.
Goodrich knocked off a 37-yard run on the opening drive. After a 13-yard run by Goodrich, Fitzpatrick scored from the 6 around left end.
Cheverus’ calling card for the last three years has been its sweep, and Goodrich gained big chunks of yardage running it. The Eagles (2-2) didn’t have an answer.
There’s no reason to throw more than once if the opponent can’t stop the run.
“We like the ground-and-pound attack,” said Cheverus Coach John Wolfgram. “We had good balance in the backfield and the line. We started early and really took it to them. We controlled the pace of the game.”
The second time Cheverus got the ball, Goodrich broke loose for a 41-yard gain. Another Goodrich run of 12 yards put the ball at the 2 and he scored on the next play, then ran in for the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0.
The Stags then drove 93 yards on seven plays, capped by Casale’s reception.
“I just put it up there and let him go after it,” said Fitzpatrick of Casale.
Goodrich added three touchdowns on runs of 28, 5 and 46 yards to close the half.
Brent Green added 71 yards rushing and Fitzpatrick 74 in the first half as the Stags churned out 375 yards rushing.
For the game, Cheverus finished with 496 yards on the ground.
The Stags held Windham to 97 yards on the ground and 17 in the air. Quarterback Damien Shepard led the Eagles with 38 yards rushing.
Even with his team up by several touchdowns, Fitzpatrick could be heard exhorting his teammates from his defensive back position.
“We’re always going to bring the intensity,” he said. “The game wasn’t over.”
The Stags did lose three fumbles, which is uncharacteristic.
Windham’s only chance to score came early in the second quarter when it faced fourth-and-goal on the 9. The Eagles went with a double reverse, with Jordin Allen getting the second handoff. Defensive back Michael Flaherty closed fast and stopped him on the 6.
Two plays later, Fitzpatrick ran 59 yards, setting up Goodrich’s 28-yard touchdown.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: TomChardPPH
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