Eagles’ gridiron experience could be key to 2023 success

By Ed Pierce

There’s something to be said for experience and especially when it comes to prep football. It can make the difference between making costly penalties and choosing the right route for receivers to exploit down the field. Entering the 2023 varsity season, the Windham High School varsity football squad will rely heavily on its experience to take them to another level on the gridiron.

Members of the Windham High School varsity football team
gather before a preseason scrimmage game at Cony on Aug.
24. The Eagles open the regular season on the road with a 
game against Skowhegan at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.
PHOTO BY LINDSAY LEWIS ARBOUR   

Under the leadership Coach Matt Perkins, the Eagles finished the 2022 campaign at 5-4, but key contributors were able to rack up valuable minutes that Perkins believes will be beneficial going up against a schedule of tough opponents.

“We feel that our strength is that we are very balanced on both sides of the ball, and we feel like we have a lot of depth at many positions,” Perkins said.

According to Perkins, Windham played Cony tough in a pre-season exhibition scrimmage last week and he felt it gave the Eagles a better idea of what it will take to win this fall.

“We felt like our team took some big steps and improved from the scrimmage,” Perkins said.

Windham will be led by senior wide receiver and defensive back Ezra Foster (6-foot, 180 pounds), senior offensive and defensive lineman Jacob Goslant (6-foot-2, 240 pounds), senior offensive and defensive lineman Joe Somma (5-foot-11, 230 pounds). Foster, Goslant, and Somma, along with senior running back/linebacker Tobias Perkins, senior wide receiver/linebacker Briggs Valliere, senior running back/linebacker Dan Mitchell and junior lineman/linebacker Braydon Penny, were members of the Eagles’ 2021 squad that made it all the way to the Maine Class B championship game before falling by a point, 14-13, to Marshwood at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

Perkins said those players, along with senior running back/defensive back Marcus Tillery have shown outstanding heart and hustle in practice and are highly motivated in leading the team into its season opener Friday, Sept. 1 at Skowhegan.

Following the opening week’s regular-season matchup against the Skowhegan River Hawks, the Eagles will host the Bangor Rams on Friday, Sept. 8.

Windham will be at home on Friday, Sept. 15 against the Edward Little Red Eddies, and then Windham visits Thornton Academy on Friday, Sept. 22 for a matchup against the Trojans.

The rest of the schedule for the Eagles includes a road game on Friday, Sept. 29 against the Portland Bulldogs before returning home to face the Scarborough Red Storm on Friday, Oct. 6.

The Eagles travel on Friday, Oct. 13 for a road contest against the Oxford Hills Vikings and then host the Lewiston Blue Devils on Friday, Oct. 20.

The final regular season game for Windham will be on the road on Friday, Oct. 27 against the Bonny Eagle Scots.

Perkins said having players on this year’s Windham team who know and appreciate the value of hard work is significant.

“We feel that because of the work ethic and drive of this group, we could have a successful season,” Perkins said. <