Maine Central Institute may be determined to extract revenge in a rematch of the Class D football state final, but Oak Hill, the two-time defending champion, insists it will be ready.
“Everybody wants a little bit of revenge in games. I would too if I were them,” said Oak Hill quarterback Dalton Therrien. “That could be an advantage or disadvantage for them. We’ll just have to see Friday night.
“They’re a good team. They’ve got a lot of talent in some places but so do we.”
Last year Oak Hill used a big second half from Alex Mace to race past the injury-plagued Huskies 41-21 at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Oak Hill (10-0 Class D South) and MCI (10-0 Class D North) will have their rematch at 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Maine.
“Having the right mentality, knowing what we’re capable of, that’s what it comes down to,” Oak Hill receiver Connor Nilsson said. “For us seniors, it’s our last game, you know. We want to enjoy it but we also want to get the win.”
MCI is well aware that much of its success Friday night will hinge on its ability to stop Therrien, who has completed 68 of 120 passes for 1,297 yards, 17 touchdowns and one interception. Therrien also has rushed 100 times for 870 yards, 14 touchdowns and one fumble.
“They have a really good quarterback who likes to run so we’ll have to contain him,” MCI tackle/safety Alex Jones said. “They have really good wide receivers that can go out, run routes and catch the ball. They have a lot of playmakers. We’ll have to take care of all of them.”
A sound defensive game plan and the ability to adjust on the fly will be critical for the Huskies.
In its 21-20 victory against Lisbon in the Class D South final, Oak Hill ran two base offensive formations out of the shotgun: A run-heavy variation of the run and shoot with two wide receivers close to the tackles, a pair of split backs behind the guards and a running back a yard behind Therrien; and a four wide receiver, single back set.
The Raiders showed a willingness to run or pass out of each formation, and also at times have gone to the double wing – like they did in last season’s state title game. Each formation allows for plenty of variance and forces opponents to respect the run from Therrien or Levi Buteau, as well as the pass.
Jonah Martin and Nilsson have been Therrien’s top receiving threats, and Buteau has been the Raiders’ primary ball carrier after Therrien.
“They’re like us in that we make you prepare for a lot of different stuff and you don’t know what we’re going to throw at you,” MCI Coach Tom Bertrand said. “They can do a lot of different things, and we’re not sure what they’re going to show up and do.”
Oak Hill faced plenty of talented offenses this season but the Huskies will provide a different type of challenge. The Raiders took on tough-running fullbacks similar to Alex Bertrand and quick, shifty running backs the likes of Willie Moss, yet most of their opponents did not also have as capable a passing quarterback as Greg Vigue.
“They’re balanced. They can go inside, they can go outside and they can throw the ball,” Oak Hill Coach Stacen Doucette said. “We just have to play assignment football.”
Winning the line of scrimmage will also be key for the Raiders and much of that will fall on how well Oak Hill handles Curtis McLeod.
At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, the senior guard possesses the kind of speed and power to be disruptive on both sides of the ball.
A key question for MCI will be whether it is as good as its scores have indicated. The Huskies haven’t played a close game all season winning each game by at least 21 points.
Oak Hill, meanwhile, has shown it can close out close games, winning its previous two contests by a combined four points.
Has MCI’s run been more a function of overwhelming talent or a weak schedule?
That question will be answered Friday night.
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