Windham Middle School's Last Game of the Season - By Stephanie Coffin

Windham hosted the Thornton Academy Junior Trojans in the Semi-Final Playoff game Sunday afternoon.

The game opened with a kickoff from Windham with Saco receiving the ball. Saco took off at a quick pace and opened the game up with scoring on six plays taking a quick 8-0 lead over the Eagles. However, Windham wasn't sitting back without a fight and came back with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Nick Curtis from quarterback Tanner Bernier. 

The score continued to go back and forth depending on which team had possession of the ball. The game was fast paced with excitement on both sidelines pumping the kids up to win. Saco scored another 15-yard touchdown making the score 14-6. However, the Windham Eagles answered right back with another pass from Bernier to Curtis for an 18-yard touchdown pass closing the gap to 14-12. 

Windham stopped Thornton Academy for a period of time and the Windham Eagles continued to pushing the ball back up the field. Bernier threw a touchdown pass to Logan Emerson for seven yards with three minutes left in the first half.

Windham started the second half of the game with possession of the ball and Bernier shot off a 40-yard pass to Hunter Coffin and then set up another 10-yard pass to Coffin in which Coffin laid out his body for, resulting in a touchdown. Logan Emerson’s 2-point conversion brought the score to 26-20. 

Thornton Academy was able to score which brought the game to a tie of 26 -26 going into the fourth quarter. The game was tied with fourth and long, when the Eagles went with a fake punt and instead went deep, but ended up incomplete. Saco scored a quick touchdown and Windham received the ball back, but was not able to score. Thornton Academy scored yet again bringing the score 38-26. With two minutes, left Tanner Bernier threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Coffin and Coffin again converted on the 2-point conversion which brought the score to 38-34. With only four points separating which team would advance to the championship, the excitement grew. Windham was unsuccessful with the inside kick which would have put the ball in the Eagles possession. Thornton Academy took a knee ending the game 38-34. 

Congratulations to the Varsity team for a great year. Windham varsity middle school football may not have won the gold ball this year, but the boys went as far as they did together as friends and as teammates. Good luck to the eighth graders who will continue to strive and play football next year for Coach Matt Perkins and his staff. Thanks to the coaches who volunteered their time, the parents who volunteered weekly and a special thank you to our team "Mom" Sally Doherty for keeping us all in line.