KENNEBUNK — Friday night was supposed to be a night to salute high school football at Kennebunk High’s newly redesigned Memorial Field.
Kennebunk players and fans may still get to celebrate, but they’ll have to wait a day. A Class B South game Friday against Massabesic was halted because of lightning with 4:05 to play in the third quarter, with the Rams leading, 23-6.
The decision to stop the game was made right after Kennebunk defensive tackle Owen Bourque tackled Massabesic quarterback Cameron Bradbury for a loss on fourth-and-inches. Kennebunk will have the ball at the Mustangs 39 when play resumes at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re in a battle right there and I thought we had a little momentum going in and we’ll just have to be ready to turn it back on tomorrow,” said Kennebunk’s first-year coach, Keith Noel.
Asked if he thought Kennebunk should have been awarded a win without the game being completed, Noel said, “You want the kids to play, so that’s where we’re at.”
Massabesic assistant coach Steve Bridges was the point person for the Mustangs after the athletic directors for both schools discussed scenarios via a phone call. Massabesic head coach Lucas Labbe is serving national guard duty in Vermont.
Bridges said he felt it was imperative that his team have a chance to finish the game.
“The kids have got their heart in the game. This is still a ballgame. We’re only down two scores. It’s not over,” Bridges said. “I can’t make a decision to call it when every (player) wants to play. I know, as a player myself, I would want to finish the game.”
An hour after the decision was made, the Kennebunk facility, including the new artificial surface field, was being deluged by heavy rain while lightning flashes persisted, often just seconds apart.
Kennebunk led 16-6 at the half.
Kennebunk scored first on a 3-yard run by Brady Stone, shortly after Stone recovered a Massabesic fumble at the Mustangs 18.
Max Andrews made it 13-0 with a 36-yard touchdown catch from Gray Compton (7 of 10, 153 yards). A tall, powerful athlete, Andrews high-pointed a throw against 1-on-1 coverage, kept his balance and then trotted in.
Massabesic, coming off a 50-3 loss to Bonny Eagle, righted itself behind the running of Bradbury and cut the deficit to 13-6 on a 7-yard run by Bradbury that finished a 10-play, 77-yard drive.
Andrews booted a 39-yard field goal in the second half.
On the first possession of the third quarter, Massabesic’s defense, which did a good job against the run for the most part, twice forced third-and-long situations, only to give up big plays.
On a third-and-13, Compton threw deep into double coverage, and Andrews (four catches, 86 yards) sliced between defenders and go up and snare the ball. Later in the drive, Compton was sacked by Dom Bubar and Aiden Bshara to create third-and-22. But Compton delivered again with a strike down the middle to sophomore Austin West for 41 yards to the 7. Maddox Ralls made it into the end zone with a strong 7-yard run on third-and-goal after bouncing off would-be tacklers in the backfield.
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