Southern: Football’s return highlights first week of fall sports season

(Editor’s note: For the Scarborough-South Portland football and South Portland-Cheverus boys’ soccer game stories, see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/.)

Fall sports are back in abundance and all is right with the sports world again.

Last week, local athletes began play in football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and golf, and early results have been encouraging.

Here’s a look at what you might have missed:

Football

South Portland’s Finn O’Connell looks to evade Scarborough’s Jayden Flaker in the second quarter of the Red Storm’s 40-3 victory last Friday. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

After a year’s hiatus, high school football is back and it was a triumphant return for Scarborough.

The Red Storm, Class A semifinalists in 2019, went to South Portland, the feel-good story of the season two years ago, reaching the Class B South semifinals. The host Red Riots had some chances to make it a game, but in the end, Scarborough rolled to a 40-3 victory.

Scarborough fumbled on the game’s first play and the Red Riots drove to the Red Storm 1 with a chance to make an early statement, but after being backed up by penalties, the hosts had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Brady Demers. Any momentum South Portland might have had went out the window on the ensuing kickoff, when Scarborough standout Jayden Flaker caught the ball at his 9, found a hole and raced 91 yards to pay dirt to put the Red Storm ahead to stay. In the second period, after another lengthy Red Riots drive failed to produce points, Flaker scored his second touchdown, catching a 30-yard pass from quarterback Keegan Weed. After South Portland drove again, it fumbled the ball away and Griffin Denbow scooped up the ball and ran 45 yards to produce a 21-3 halftime lead.

The Red Riots never seriously threatened Scarborough’s end zone in the second half, and after failing to score in the third quarter, the Red Storm ended all doubt in the fourth, getting a 6-yard touchdown run from bruising running back Andy Lancaster, a 12-yard TD pass from Tim Crockett to Brady Clough and, finally, a 26-yard Crockett touchdown scamper which brought the curtain down on a 40-3 victory.

Scarborough won its opener for the fifth consecutive season and gave new coach Packy Malia a victory in his debut.

“We settled down and executed,” Flaker said. “We have a lot of new players, so it took awhile to get the nerves out. We have a lot of dogs on the team.”

“It’s the first time for a lot of these guys on a varsity field and I’m proud of them,” Malia said. “I told them all week to weather that early storm and that we’re the better team.”

South Portland had 214 yards of offense, but was penalized seven times for 40 yards.

“We had too many miscues and we didn’t execute up front,” Red Riots coach Aaron Filieo said. “Schematically, we did do some things we liked.”

South Portland will travel to Massabesic Friday as it seeks to get in the win column.

“We have some things we like, but we’re very unrefined right now,” Filieo said. “We’re a young team as far as experience goes. We’ll get there one game at a time. We’ll watch film and learn even more and be ready to go next week. Massabesic runs the triple-option. Same offense but a new coaching staff. They’ve got a good, young team.”

Scarborough plays its home opener versus Bonny Eagle next Friday.

“I’m excited to see how we play,” Flaker said. “We have some injured guys coming back next week. We have to clean up the line a little bit and execute the offense, and we should be good.”

“I’ll have to see some film on Bonny Eagle, but we’ve always had a pretty good rivalry with them, especially the past five, six years, so we’re excited to play them,” Malia said. “Obviously, we have do better offensively. I think defensively we can hang with them. I’m looking forward to it.”

Cape Elizabeth was scheduled to open at home versus Hermon last Friday, but that game was canceled as Hermon was unable to play after players tested positive for COVID-19.

“It’s a tough situation, but we can only control what we can control,” said Capers coach Sean Green.

Cape Elizabeth will take the field for the first time in two years Friday when Fryeburg Academy comes to Hannaford Field.

Boys’ soccer

South Portland’s Joey Perron plays the ball during last week’s 2-0 win at Cheverus. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster

South Portland’s boys’ soccer team earned a confidence-building victory to start its season, 2-0, at Cheverus last Friday. Divin Mpinga scored both goals.

“We’re working hard this season and we believe we can win this year,” Mpinga said.

“We got off to a fast start and put a lot of pressure on them,” said Red Riots coach Bryan Hoy. “We believe we’re a very good team, so we anticipated this was the way the game would go. We know Cheverus is really good, but we feel we’re very strong as well.”

South Portland hosted Windham Wednesday and goes to Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough beat visiting Deering, 2-0, in its opener. Zander Haskell scored twice. The Red Storm hosted Thornton Academy Thursday and play at Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth started with a 2-0 home loss to Yarmouth. After going to Wells Thursday, the Capers visit Greely Saturday and welcome York Tuesday of next week.

Greater Portland Christian started with a 3-2 win over Pine Tree Academy. The Lions welcome Chop Point Friday and play host to Vinalhaven Monday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, two-time reigning Class B champion Cape Elizabeth opened with an encouraging 2-0 win at Yarmouth, its top competition in the region. Emily Supple scored both goals, one from Evelyn Agrodnia and the other from Maggie Cochran. After hosting Wells Thursday, the Capers welcome Greely Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story), then travel to York Tuesday of next week.

Three-time reigning Class A South champion Scarborough started with decisive wins at Deering (8-1) and at home over Biddeford (4-0). Against the Rams, Ali Mokriski scored four times while Lana Djuranovic contributed two goals and an assist, and Una Djuranovic had a goal and three assists. In the win over the Tigers, Mokriski had two goals and two assists, while Delia Fravert and Lana Djuranovic also tickled the twine. The Red Storm were at Thornton Academy Thursday and host Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

South Portland opened with a 2-0 home loss to Cheverus and a 3-0 setback at Windham. The Red Riots look to get in the win column Tuesday of next week when Thornton Academy pays a visit.

Greater Portland Christian dropped its opener, 8-0, to Chop Point.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s field hockey team opened its season by blanking visiting Falmouth (2-0) and host Portland/Deering (8-0). Maggie Pendergast and Lily Stone scored the goals versus the Navigators. In the win over Portland/Deering, Stone and Anjali Bhatnagar had two goals apiece, while Daisy Stone, Lillian Finley, Emma Lally and Nadia Grinyuk had one each. The Red Storm have a test at two-time reigning regional champion Biddeford Saturday, then host Sanford Tuesday of next week.

South Portland lost at Kennebunk, 8-0, in its first game, then fell, 6-0, at home to Windham. The Red Riots sought to get in the win column Wednesday at Thornton Academy. After hosting Noble Friday, South Portland goes to Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth opened at home versus Wells Wednesday. The Capers welcome Freeport Saturday and play host to Lake Region Wednesday of next week.

Volleyball

Scarborough’s volleyball team, the preseason favorite in Class A, began with 3-0 wins over visiting Windham and at Bonny Eagle. The Red Storm welcome Cheverus Friday, go to Cape Elizabeth Monday and travel to Gorham Thursday of next week.

South Portland started with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-9) home victory over Cheverus, then dropped a three-set (23-25, 12-25, 14-25) home decision to Gorham. The Red Riots welcomed Marshwood Thursday, host Bonny Eagle Monday and go to Yarmouth Thursday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth opened with a three-set home win over Gray-New Gloucester, then downed host Greely, 3-1. The Capers hosted two-time reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Thursday, go to two-time reigning Class A champion Falmouth Saturday and host Scarborough Monday.

Cross country

Cape Elizabeth hosted Greely, Old Orchard Beach and Yarmouth in a season-opening cross country meet last week. The boys’ team came in first, as Vaughn Lindenau (16 minutes, 58 seconds) and Owen Patry (17:00) were the top two individuals. In the girls’ competition, Hadley Mahoney was tops individually in 19:42, but the Capers were second to the Rangers.

Scarborough joined Portland and Sanford at Deering. Zachary Barry (16:26) was the top individual, but the Red Storm boys were second to the Bulldogs. In the girls’ meet, won by Portland, Scarborough was second. Rowan Driscoll came in fifth individually (23:37).

South Portland joined Thornton Academy and Westbrook at Falmouth. The boys won their meet, as Jacob Ramos was second individually (18:00). The girls’ squad was fourth. Anna Brown was ninth individually (24:47).