Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

October 19, 2012

High School Roundup: Old Orchard heads to playoffs

From staff reports

WINTHROP - Old Orchard Beach clinched a berth in the Western Class C football playoffs, rolling to a 31-6 victory Thursday night against Winthrop.

The game was moved up a day in anticipation of poor weather Friday night.

The Ramblers (2-6) failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Nick Carlin rushed for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine carries for Old Orchard (6-2).

"We had guys playing three or four different positions (and) somebody was going down every week," Winthrop Coach Joel Stoneton said. "But we played hard and we kept fighting."

Old Orchard led 17-0 at the half, then put the game out of reach when Joe Gildard intercepted a Jared Hanson pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown with 6:11 left in the third quarter. The score, coupled with an extra point from Jim Strohm, gave the Seagulls a 24-0 lead.

Gildard also rushed for 100 yards.

"We knew (Winthrop) would come out fired up," Old Orchard Coach Dean Plante said. "We turned the tide with a couple of big plays."

Dan Moody led Winthrop with 57 yards on 12 carries. His 1-yard touchdown run with 3:28 remaining spoiled the shutout.

Both teams were sloppy in the first half, combining for seven turnovers and 14 penalties. But it was Old Orchard that capitalized. The Seagulls snapped a 0-0 tie when Carlin plowed into the end zone from 1 yard with 48 seconds left in the first quarter.

Strohm kicked the extra point to make it 7-0.

The score capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive.

The Ramblers, who had four turnovers and eight penalties for 56 yards in the first half, reached the Old Orchard 25 midway through the quarter. But penalties, coupled with a few drops, pushed Winthrop back and stalled the drive.

The Seagulls extended their lead with a touchdown and a 26-yard field goal by Strohm in the final 2:15 of the first half.

Carlin rushed for his second 1-yard touchdown with 2:13 left in the second quarter, finishing off a drive that started at the Winthrop 46 thanks to the second of two Bryan Roberts interceptions.

Winthrop turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, a fumble on a bad snap, and Old Orchard again capitalized.

This time it was a field goal by Strohm with 48 seconds left in the half.

"We played with them in the first half but you can't spot a team a (17-point) lead," Stoneton said.

FIELD HOCKEY

LAWRENCE 2, BREWER 1: Freshman goalie Emily Tozier came through when she was tested in the first half and Julia Lawrence scored two goals in the second as third-seeded Lawrence (11-3-1) beat sixth-ranked Brewer (6-6-3) in an Eastern Class A quarterfinal at Fairfield.

Lawrence will face second-seeded Messalonskee in the semifinals at noon Saturday at Thomas College in Waterville. The Eagles defeated Lawrence twice this season, 2-0 and 7-0.

Brewer hadn't scored on Lawrence this season (0-0 and 1-0), but forced Tozier to make a couple of tough early saves. Although the Bulldogs had six penalty corners in the first 12 minutes, Brewer ended the half with a 5-2 advantage in shots.

"We can't dominate 70 to 75 percent of the first half and have (that) shot ratio," Lawrence Coach Lisa Larrabee said. "So what we spoke about (at halftime) was a sustained attack, and having more movement and shots in the circle. They have to step up and shoot the ball, and not wait for an upperclassman."

(Continued on page 2)

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