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

October 5, 2012

Football Notebook: Passing game and defense have Cony on the move

By Tom Chard tchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

After losing its first game of the season by two points to unbeaten Messalonskee High of Oakland, Cony High of Augusta has won four straight to equal its longest streak in four years.

The Rams have averaged 45.2 points per game during their run.

Included in the streak was a 49-15 victory against Bangor, a team Cony hadn't beaten since 1990.

Cony has a strong passing game with quarterback Ben Lucas, a 6-foot-4 junior. The team is deep at receiver.

Defensively, the Rams have allowed 22 total points in the last two games.

Coach Robbie Vachon said the last time the Rams won four straight was in 2008.

"We lost our first four games (that season) before winning our next four," he said.

"We lost to Lewiston 27-26 in the Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinals."

Vachon has been a coach in the program for 10 years, the last six as head coach.

Lucas is another in a recent string of talented quarterbacks for Cony. He succeeded Luke Duncklee, who is playing at Colby College.

As a sophomore, Lucas passed for 16 touchdowns and 1,600 yards.

Lucas has thrown for 16 touchdowns and 1,300 yards this season with four games remaining.

Last Friday night's rainy conditions at Brunswick didn't bother Lucas or his receivers. He completed 13 of 21 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-7 victory against the previously unbeaten Dragons.

Vachon expects college coaches to start contacting Lucas at the end of the season.

"Ben has Division I size. He's 22 pounds," said Vachon. "He still has a lot he can get better at. He's young for his class, having just turned 16."

MARSHWOOD HIGH in South Berwick will dedicate a walkway and bench tonight in honor of Guy Lajeunesse between the first and second quarters of its Homecoming football game against Cape Elizabeth.

Lajeunesse, who died of cancer in May, was a head football coach and teacher at the school. He coached and taught at the school for 19 years.

The walkway that leads to the school's stadium will be known as Lajeunesse Way.

A bench near the flagpole bears the inscription "In memory of Guy Lajeunesse, teacher, coach, mentor, MHS 1993 2012." Game time is 7 p.m.

IN THE HOPES OF getting a capital campaign going to install permanent lights at Memorial Field in Kittery, Traip Academy again is importing portable lights to play night games.

The Rangers played a night home field hockey game Thursday and will meet Dirigo in a football game at 7 p.m. Friday.

This is the second consecutive year that the Rangers will bring in portable lights. But this year they will be bringing in 10 sets, two more than a year ago. The light poles are between 30 and 40 feet high.

"We're trying to do at least one game a year," said Athletic Director Mike Roberge.

LIKE DEERING, South Portland gained its first victory last week.

The Red Riots (1-4) outlasted Massabesic 35-34 on Saturday at Waterboro.

"We had to replace nine starters on both sides of the ball from a 7-3 team a year ago," said Coach Steve Stinson.

"The kids have worked hard and have been plugging away. We played with a lot of energy and executed our plays against Massabesic. We scored 26 points total in our first four games and had 35 against Massabesic. We have a renewed sense of energy. We're playing a tough Sanford team (Friday night) at home."

The Riots will be at Deering on Oct. 12, then will close the season Oct. 20 at home against Portland.

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

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

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