Windham varsity football put Bonny Eagle up against the ropes in the final game of the regular season at Windham on Friday, Nov. 1, but ultimately fell, 30-28, to the Scots.
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| Windham junior Karl Longstreth rushes toward the end zone during a prep football game against Bonny Eagle on Friday, Nov. 1 at Windham High School. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
“We’re an unrecognizable team from when the season started ... just how the kids have matured, battled to get better and growing and figuring things out,” said Windham varsity football coach Matt Perkins. “They’ve done a really good job and earned the confidence that they can play with anybody. We had penalties and turnovers that cost us; we gave them two touchdowns tonight, two major turnovers – one in our endzone. Playing against a good team, probably the third best team in the state, you can’t do those things. We’re proud of our kids and how they battled. We executed well on both sides of the ball and ... kids really played hard; tackling was better. (We’ve got to) focus on the good things, but also focus on the bad, clean up those mistakes to make sure they don’t happen again.”
It was first and 10 from Windham’s 30-yard line and a fumble gave Bonny Eagle a touchdown. The kick was blocked and the Scots led 6-0.
Then it was first and 10 from the 25-yard line. Windham sophomore Parker Sperry got the ball to the 38-yard line for a first down. Windham junior and quarterback Karl Longstreth had a big run to put Windham on the scoreboard. The extra point was good, and Windham led, 7-6.
In the second quarter, Longstreth ran it in for another touchdown. The kick was good. Longstreth had 139 rushing yards, 28 passing yards and one interception in the game.
Bonny Eagle would answer by making it into the end zone in the second quarter, but their attempt at a two-point conversion was denied.
Windham defense was strong; Rubito blocked a pass and junior Mason Arbour broke up a pass as Windham took over on downs late in the second quarter. Windham led 14-12 at halftime.
Bonny Eagle scored early in the second half, but another attempt at a two-point conversion was stopped.
Windham Junior Wyatt Washburn caught a pass for a first down. Later, it’s second and five and Windham got a first down at the 5-yard line. Washburn completed a pass and it’s first and goal. Subsequently, Sperry throws a pass to Daignault who scored. The kick was good.
“Going into it we knew they were a good team; we worked (hard) all week in practices, and we had each other’s backs tonight,” said Daignault. “We executed well, and we had little mistakes that came to bite us in the end. We had our quarterback go down, which is tricky for any team, but it was a great job of AJ (Moody) stepping up, filling that role. It’s a momentum shift when someone goes down like that. We know what we have now, and we can compete with some of the best teams, and we think we are one of the best teams; we’re not going to look past anybody.”
Bonny Eagle scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Windham’s defense blocked the extra point. Bonny Eagle led by three points.
It was a first and 10 for the Eagles on the 33-yard line. Bonny Eagle intercepted a pass and scored but failed at a two-point conversion try.
Windham took over with a first and 10 Windham from their own 30-yard line. Sperry made it to the 47-yard line for a first down. Sometime later, Windham moved the ball to the 7-yard line for first and goal. Sperry scored and the kick was good; and Windham trailed by two points and the game ended that way.
“We definitely executed really well,” said Sperry, who had 124 rushing yards and two passing yards. “This is probably the best I’ve seen Windham play this year. We did most everything right. We came in ... we knew they were a good team, and we knew we had to work even harder. We tried our best, we knew we just had to fight, ... we’re definitely going to go (into the playoffs) as an underrated team; we’re going to show them what’s up.” <
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