Windham varsity football contends for Class B state championship on Saturday

The Windham High School varsity football team will face 
Marshwood High School on Saturday in Portland for the
2021 Class B Maine football championship. 
COURTESY PHOTO PORT CITY PHOTOGRAPHY    

EAGLES FACE MARSHWOOD FOR 2021 TITLE IN PORTLAND

By Matt Pascarella

It’s been 12 years since Windham last won the Class A state football championship, but that all could change Saturday afternoon when the unbeaten Eagles (9-0) meet Marshwood (8-3) at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland with the Class B title up for grabs.

In 2009, Windham captured the Gold Ball by defeating Bangor, 35-21, in the state championship matchup and last appeared in the Class A state title game in 2017, falling to Scarborough. Windham also appeared in the Class A state championship game in 2014 but ultimately fell to Thornton Academy in that game.

Now competing in Class B, Windham secured a berth in this year’s championship game by knocking off Lawrence, 42-35, in two overtimes in the regional finals at Lewiston High School on Saturday, Nov. 13.    

That was a close one and a real cliff-hanger that extended into two overtimes with Windham ahead for most of the first half, but Lawrence came back to tie the game at 21 before halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, regulation ended with the game tied at 28. After the first overtime the game was tied at 35.

In the second overtime, Windham scored and led 42-35. The Eagles’ defense was able to hold back Lawrence for four downs to become Class B North champions.

With Lawrence to receive to open the regional title game, Windham sacked the Bulldogs within seconds. Later, the Eagles took over at Lawrence’s 27-yard line on a first and 10. Windham senior quarterback Robert ‘Will’ Ledbetter threw a 63-yard strike to senior Colby Mizner who ran the ball in for a touchdown. The kick was good, and the Eagles were up 7-0.

Lawrence tied the game up, but Windham forged ahead before the end of the first quarter when senior Nick Garrison scored.

Early in the second quarter, Lawrence tried to tie the game. Windham blocked the field goal kick and Eagles held a one-point lead.

Ledbetter completed a pass to Alex Yeaton for a touchdown and Windham led 21-13.

“We worked our butts off all season,” said Yeaton. “It’s just nice to hold that plaque at the end of the game, we really earned it.” He said that Windham will continue working hard; they want that gold ball.

Ledbetter said this was a gritty win and Windham Coach Matt Perkins told the team they had an opportunity to do something others do not have. Ledbetter said the team rose to the occasion and took that opportunity.

Windham defense stalled Lawrence late in the first half. Senior Tate Chork prevented a gain from the Bulldogs on Windham’s 25-yard line.

Lawrence managed to score again before the end of the half and got a 2-point conversion with the game tied at 21 at that point.

Lawrence took a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter. But Garrison answered with a touchdown and the score was tied at 28.

“I thought we really rallied together as a team,” said Garrison. “Overall, it was a great team effort ... on both offense and defense, but we really had to come together at the end.”

Windham made one last attempt during regulation to score but were stopped by Lawrence.

In the first overtime each team had a chance to score from the 10-yard line in front of the end zone. The defending team had four chances to stop it. After one overtime, the game was tied at 35.

Windham scored in the second overtime and led 42-35. Windham junior Blake Peeples blocked a pass, and the Eagles were one defensive play away from a regional championship.

Garrison hit Lawrence’s quarterback as Lawrence was about to throw a pass and Chork knocked the ball down. That was the ballgame.

“We kept our composure; the composure we have of these guys is something special,” said Perkins. “We got some guys who are really strong leaders and guys that live in the moment.”

Perkins said the best thing about the team is they are great players and great kids. He is proud of how they represent Windham and their team.

Windham will play Marshwood in the State Championship at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2:30 p.m. <