STANDISH — Bonny Eagle controlled the flow early Friday night in its high school football opener against South Portland.

But the Red Riots made just enough plays to stay close. And then came their big plays.

In the final three minutes, South Portland used an 80-yard fumble return by Dylan Rottkov and a 60-yard punt return from Finn Zechman to set up the winning score and stun the Scots, 18-14.

Spencer Houlette scored from the 1 with 28 seconds remaining to win it.

Bonny Eagle drove to the South Portland 39 with one second left before Zechman knocked down the Scots’ final desperation pass.

“It’s nice to be on a team that stays fired up the entire game,” Zechman said.

Bonny Eagle totaled 313 yards, including Zack Brannon’s 192 yards in the air. But the Scots also turned the ball over five times, with three fumbles and two interceptions.

“If you thought about all the things you can’t do – if you want to win a football game – I think we did just about all of them,” Bonny Eagle Coach Kevin Cooper said. “We can’t turn the ball over. We have to be able to cover punts. We have to be able to tackle better.

“Give credit to South Portland for sticking with it and battling.”

Ahead 14-6 late in the fourth quarter, Bonny Eagle reached the Red Riots’ 20 for a first down, driving for a clinching score.

But a shotgun hike resulted in a fumble. Lineman Dan Guiliani knocked the ball loose and Rottkov picked it up. Rottkov, who had left the game twice with leg cramps, bolted down the field. Nearly caught, he cut to his left and reached the end zone.

“Dan Guiliani made a great play and I saw the ball,” said Rottkov, who never considered pouncing on it. “I wanted to score.”

South Portland went for 2 points to tie it, but a pass was incomplete, leaving Bonny Eagle up 14-12 with 3:03 remaining in the game.

The Riots then held Bonny Eagle to three plays and out.

The Scots’ punt came to Zechman at his 28. He moved right, broke two tackles and cut up the field. He was finally brought down at the Scots’ 12 with 1:43 left.

“It came down to blocking,” Zechman said.

A second-down, 8-yard pass from Matt Crockett to tight end Sam Brown gave South Portland a first down at the 1. Houlette scored his second touchdown of the night and South Portland led for the first time, 18-14.

South Portland also made its mistakes, losing two fumbles and being whistled for six illegal procedure penalties in the first quarter.

“Some communication problems, and a lot of Week 1 excitement,” Red Riots Coach Steve Stinson said. “Skill-wise, we’re trying to bring these guys along. They are a very talented group.”

Houlette, a sophomore, gained 90 yards on 23 carries. He’s needed with senior running back Nick Mezzanotte out with a knee injury.

Brannon gave Bonny Eagle a 14-0 lead with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ben Autry in the first quarter and a 15-yard scoring run in the second.

South Portland closed to 14-6 before halftime on Houlette’s 9-yard run.

 

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