SCARBOROUGH – It all came down to one play that Scarborough hadn’t called all season. The jet sweep.

Receiver Chris Cyr took the handoff from quarterback Ben Greenberg and ran around right end to score a 2-point conversion in the second overtime Friday night, lifting Scarborough to a 58-57 victory over South Portland in a Western Class A football game.

“It was incredible but all the credit goes to the line and everyone else on the team,” Cyr said. “Coach was like, ‘You know it, let’s go for it.’

“I think this game will get us rolling now. I don’t think anyone’s going to want to play Scarborough in the playoffs.”

The play concluded an epic struggle in which the Red Riots (4-2) came up just short after rallying from a 21-0 deficit in the second quarter. The Riots scored on their final possession in regulation when Duncan Preston ran in from the 6 and hit Hayden Owen for the conversion with 32.5 seconds to play.

“I’m very proud of how the guys came out and battled back in the second half,” South Portland Coach Steve Stinson said. “Unfortunately we spotted them 24 minutes of intensity. We were disappointed in that but happy with how the guys responded.”

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Scarborough (3-3) was led by Dan LeClair, who ran 28 times for 198 yards and four touchdowns, including the Red Storm’s final TD in the second overtime.

“My stomach was a little jittery before that play,” LeClair said, “but just like all game, I had faith in my line and my teammates.”

Greenberg ran 24 times for 200 yards and four touchdowns. He also hit 6 of 12 passes for 104 yards and an interception.

“He’s unbelievable; he runs as hard as he can every single play,” Cyr said.

South Portland quarterback Duncan Preston ran 13 times for 69 yards and three TDs. He also overcame a 1 for 7 first half to finish 11-of-20 passing for 155 yards with a TD and interception.

Scarborough opened the the first overtime with a 10-yard run and 2-point conversion by LeClair for a 50-42 lead.

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South Portland responded with a 5-yard run by Joey DiBiase (19 carries, 114 yards, three TDs) and a Preston to Owen pass for a TD. Preston ran for the conversion and it was tied at 50.

South Portland opened the second overtime with a 10-yard Preston to Owen pass and Nick Mezzanotte PAT for a 57-50 lead. Scarborough responded with a 6-yard TD run by LeClair and the final points of the game, earned on the sweep right for the conversion by Cyr. Final: Scarborough 58, South Portland 57.

Scarborough wasn’t comfortable despite a 27-6 halftime lead.

“We knew they’d come out fired up,” LeClair said. “They’ve got a lot of really good athletes on that team and we knew it wasn’t over.”

It certainly wasn’t. The Red Riots rattled off 21 points to tie it at 27 after three periods. Greenberg opened the fourth quarter with a 7-yard TD run and Cam Langlois’s PAT made it 34-27.

From there is seemed liked the last team with the ball would win, as each team scored two TDs to end regulation tied at 42. Then came overtime.

 


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