South Portland’s Matthew Frey drives with the ball against Lewiston on Saturday, Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer
Last Friday night’s lightning suspension of multiple games was something new for veteran high school football coaches, especially those involved in the five games that began Friday but finished on Saturday.
“The Friday night into Saturday, that was unique,” said South Portland Coach Aaron Filieo. “Everything else after that was just like we’d played a Saturday game, which we’ve done plenty of times before.”
South Portland lost to Lewiston 19-16 on a last-play field goal after the Red Riots rallied from a 16-0 deficit in the fourth quarter.
Filieo said he was impressed with the effort and resilience of both teams. He noted that during the week leading to the game, his team did not practice in pads because of the oppressive heat index. Then, after playing in relatively cool conditions Friday night, the Red Riots had to deal with hot, muggy weather for a 1 p.m. resumption on Saturday.
“Any time you hear people say kids these days are soft, I’ll tell you what, our guys proved that to be 100 percent wrong,” Filieo said. “They fought like hell to battle back.”
Kennebunk (2-0) resumed its game with Massabesic on Saturday night and stretched a 23-6 third-quarter lead into a 38-6 win.
“You had a 24-hour halftime, essentially,” said Kennebunk Coach Keith Noel. He and his staff multitasked Saturday before the resumption, working on adjustments against Massabesic while also preparing for this week’s game against Westbrook.
Noel said he adjusted this week’s practice schedule by going a little lighter than normal on Tuesday.
AT LEAST ONE COACH had previous experience with a lightning-suspended game – Marshwood’s Alex Rotsko.
“But he’s coached probably 5,000 high school games,” Filieo quipped.
Actually, it’s only 339 games for Rotsko, with an overall record of 276-63 between 19 seasons at Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and now 12 in South Berwick.
Rotsko said in his previous lightning game, Longmeadow was leading by 40 points in the fourth quarter, so the teams agreed to just let the JVs finish the varsity game the following Monday.
When Marshwood went back to Biddeford for a second day, a bit more was on the line. The Hawks, who lost their season opener to Deering, were trying to end a five-game losing streak. Prior to last season, when Marshwood finished 2-7, the Hawks had a total of five losses while winning the previous three Class B state titles.
Marshwood finished with a 40-6 win over Biddeford after leading 21-6 when the game was stopped Friday.
TWO SUSPENDED GAMES involving New Hampshire teams were not completed. Sanford and Dover were tied 7-7 when play was stopped, and the teams decided to not continue.
Sanford Athletic Director Zach Lemelin said in an email he has been told by the Maine Principals’ Association that the game will be considered a tie.
Bishop Guertin of Nashua led Scarborough 13-10 at halftime. After making arrangements to finish the game Monday afternoon, Bishop Guertin officials informed Scarborough on Sunday they would not be coming back. Interstate games are considered exhibitions by the New Hampshire schools but count for Maine teams in the Crabtree standings, which determine playoff teams and seeds.
Scarborough Athletic Director Mike LeGage said he’s waiting to hear from the Maine Principals’ Association’s football committee as to whether the game will be counted.
IT’S A BIG GAME at Bonny Eagle any time Thornton Academy comes to town. And after suffering two one-touchdown losses against top-ranked teams, Thornton will be a dangerous foe, said Bonny Eagle Coach Kevin Cooper.
“As a coach, (if you’re 0-2), you play well in your next seven games and you can still have a great record. Where 0-3, that’s a little hairy,” Cooper said. “So we would expect Thornton to come out and scratch and claw for everything. Besides the fact that it is Bonny Eagle and Thornton. I know from our end, this game means a little bit more.”
Bonny Eagle will be without Cooper’s son, CJ Cooper, for the rest of the season. The standout junior wide receiver tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral knee ligaments last Friday against Noble. Kevin Cooper said CJ will also have to miss the basketball season but may be able to compete in outdoor track. Cooper was third in the Class A 400 meters as a sophomore.
Bonny Eagle has been getting great play from dual-threat senior quarterback Terrell Edwards. He ran for three scores and threw for two more in a 50-3 win against Massabessic, then rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns, and added a TD pass in a 45-14 victory against Noble.
Cooper said the Scots are “still definitely developing” when it comes to the offensive and defensive lines, but senior two-way tackle Kaden Sullivan has been “playing really good football on both sides of the ball. We’ve leaned on him a lot.”
THERE ARE TWO FLOCKS of Rams atop Class B South. Deering and perennial contender Kennebunk are both 2-0.
Deering was 3-21 in its first three seasons in B South, with three different head coaches. New coach Brendan Scully’s squad backed up its Week 1 win at Marshwood with a 35-6 victory in Farmington against Mt. Blue.
Deering sophomore Joe Foley has rushed for 288 yards and six touchdowns. He scored four times at Mt. Blue. The Rams’ defense is also getting it done, led by defensive tackles Deshawn Lamour and Christian Silva, and linebackers Jack Caron and Santino Cavallaro.
Deering hosts Biddeford (0-2) at 6 p.m. Friday.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
