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| Windham junior Alex Yeaton is shown moments before crossing in the end zone during Windham High's Class B quarterfinal playoff football game against Mount Blue on Friday, Oct. 29 at Windham High School. Windham won 56-0 and advances to the playoff semifinal matchup at home Friday, Nov. 5 against Skowhegan. PHOTO BY ALLISON TALON |
The cancellation of Windham High’s varsity football’s final game of the regular season against Sanford gave them a bye week which the Eagles took full advantage of in preparation for the Class B North Quarterfinal matchup against Mount Blue.
Windham was aggressive from the very start of the game and did not let up. The Eagles scored four touchdowns in just the first quarter and in the end, Windham had defeated Mount Blue by a very impressive 56-0 at home on Friday, Oct. 29.
Windham came to play, and their intensity remained for four quarters. After only one quarter the Eagles led 28-0. The Eagles controlled the field for the first half – and most of, if not the entire game.
Windham junior Alex Yeaton scored in the first quarter, to put Windham on the scoreboard.
Later in the quarter, a fumble from Mount Blue and Windham recovered the ball. It’s first down on the Eagles’ 26-yard line. Windham senior Nick Garrison made it to the end zone. After a two-point conversion, Eagles led by 15.
It’s second and one, then first and goal. Senior Tate Chork scored back-to-back touchdowns before the second quarter.
“We moved the ball really well with our run game,” said Chork with a big smile on his face. “We pounded the ball down the field and that just made opportunities for our passing game.”
Chork said coming off missing the Sanford game, this is a big morale boost, and the team will carry that momentum into the tournament. He said the team is a tightknit group that trusts one another.
The Eagles kept the hits coming in the second quarter when they their defense didn’t let Mount Blue get far.
Windham senior Colby Mizner ran the ball in; the kick was good. Then junior Max Arbour ran the ball in.
Windham could not be stopped. It was first and goal and junior Haddon Boyle made it over the line to give Windham another seven points after a successful field goal. At the half, Windham led 49-0.
In the second half, Windham gained possession from Mount Blue and sophomore Erik Bowen made it to the end zone. It was now 56-0. The Eagles held off Mount Blue until the end of the half.
Senior Jason Scott said the whole team played really well; everyone did their job and executed what they had practiced all week. He said the bye week helped to fix the little things; everything seems to be coming into place. Scott is looking to make a good run with his team during the playoffs.
“I was worried because we didn’t play last week, we could be lethargic,” said Windham varsity football coach Matt Perkins. “Right out of the gate [Windham] took care of business and our leaders led the way and I’m very pleased with them and their effort.”
Perkins said the team is swarming to the ball better and breaking down along with those little things you need to be better at when the competition starts getting more difficult.
Windham will host Skowhegan, at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, gates open at 5:30 p.m. <
