Baylee Lewis of Deering will play in the Thanksgiving Day game Thursday, just as his brother did. And his father. And his grandfather.

When it comes to lineage in the traditional game, the Lewis family ranks up there with other families whose brothers, fathers, grandfathers and uncles have played for the Rams.

“My grandfather graduated in 1954, my father graduated in 1989 and my brother graduated in 2007,” said Baylee, a senior co-captain.

Like his other family members, Lewis is a lineman, starting at center and also playing linebacker.

His grandfather, who died five years ago, was named Paul, as is his father and brother. Asked about his first name and its unusual spelling, he said: “I guess my mother was looking for something different.”

What hasn’t changed is the family’s devotion to all things Deering. Baylee has enthusiastically carried on the tradition.

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“When I was little and watching my brother’s games, I always dreamed of wearing the purple and white Rams horns,” he said.

“I told myself I would be a captain my senior year and I am. It has meant the world to play for Deering. This school is more than just a school for me. It’s been a family.”

Deering (1-7) will play Portland (8-2) in the 102nd Thanksgiving game, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Portland beat Deering 45-19 on Sept. 14 and reached the Eastern Class A final two weeks ago, losing to Cheverus 22-19.

The Bulldogs are heavy favorites to end Deering’s three-game winning streak on the holiday. After Portland’s dominance in the 1980s and 1990s, the Rams have won 10 of the last 11.

This will be Lewis’ third Thanksgiving Day game.

“It’s gone by so fast,” he said.

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Deering upset the Bulldogs 28-14 last year behind quarterback Kenny Sweet, who scored three touchdowns and passed for one. He rushed for 249 yards on 22 carries.

Sweet graduated along with some key linemen.

This season turned into turmoil when first-year coach Scott Parsons was let go after the fourth game for an inappropriate comment to a game official. Assistant coach Matt Riddell was appointed interim head coach for the rest of the season.

The school is in the process of finding a permanent replacement with Riddell as a candidate.

The Rams beat Oxford Hills 18-8 on Oct. 11 for their only win. The players have soldiered on and hope to continue Deering’s streak in the game. The Rams last played on Oct. 25 against Cheverus.

“I feel it’s going to be a good game,” said Lewis.

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“We’re going to put all our fight into it. I’m going to do whatever I can to give us a chance to win.”

Riddell, in his first season with Deering, soon learned of Lewis’ attachment to Deering football.

“Baylee bleeds purple,” said Riddell. “He knows all the traditions of Deering football and he reminds me of them. This is a pretty special game and we feel pretty special to be part of it.”

Lewis served as a waterboy when his brother played.

“I used to pretend I was playing for Deering when I was on the sideline as a kid,” said Lewis.

One recent tradition Lewis would like to continue is Deering’s current streak.

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“Since I started going to the games and now as a player, I’ve only seen Deering lose to Portland once on Thanksgiving,” he said.

That was in 2009, when Portland halted a seven-game Deering winning streak with a 41-6 victory. Just as Deering is determined to continue its run, Portland is just as determined to end it and finish with a 9-2 record, which would be its best since the 2005 season when the Bullogs also went 9-2.

Lewis has battled back from a knee injury in the third game of the season against Bangor. He just happened to be having his best game of the year with eight tackles when he got hurt.

“They thought I had torn my ACL but it turned out to be just a strain,” said Lewis.

He devoted himself to rehab and missed only two games, returning for the victory against Oxford Hills.

“Baylee has played very well,” said Riddell. “He’s done a great job at center and his snaps in the shotgun are right on the money. When he was hurt, we had to go under center because we couldn’t find anyone who snapped as well.”

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Riddell said being able to long snap is a valuable skill. College teams are always looking for accurate snappers.

Lewis wants to attend Husson University in Bangor to study criminology and if given the chance, play football.

Although the record isn’t what Lewis and his teammates hoped to have this season, he wouldn’t have traded his senior year for anything.

For the Lewis family, football is more than a game.

“Both of my sons have learned a whole bunch of life’s lessons,” said Paul Lewis.

Oh yes, here’s one more piece of the family football tradition:

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Baylee wears No. 51, just like his dad, and his brother wore No. 74, the same number his grandfather first wore at Deering. 

Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter:TomChardPPH


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