Bonny Eagle 31

Deering 7

The undefeated Bonny Eagle Scots faced their biggest test of the season Friday night, when they faced off against the highly regarded Deering Rams, at Deering’s home field. What was expected to be a highly competitive contest quickly turned in to another one-sided affair for the Scots, as they rolled to an impressive 31-7 victory.

Bonny Eagle quarterback Nate Doehler scored three touchdowns and had 302 yards of total offense to lead the Scots to the win. Tailback Josh Ruby ran for 70 yards and had a touchdown of his own during the game.

For the Rams, tailback Jack Heary was again their key weapon on offense, rushing for 255 yards and scoring Deering’s only touchdown.

With the win, Bonny Eagle improves to a perfect 6-0, while Deering falls to 4-2.

“It’s always nice, when a lot of eyes are on you in the football community throughout the state, to be able to come out and play well, which is what we did tonight,” said Bonny Eagle head coach Kevin Cooper. “We beat a pretty good football team. So we’re very happy right now.”

Many within that very community were saying that the Scots would be looking for revenge against the Rams in this game. During last year’s playoffs, it was Deering that eliminated Bonny Eagle in the semifinals, so would the Scots be looking for some payback?

“I don’t think revenge really factors into it,” said Cooper. “We’ve developed a great rivalry with Deering, and we respect them very much. So, it’s more the fact that we view this game as a ‘rivalry game’ for us than revenge from last year’s playoff game.”

Bonny Eagle found themselves down early. After only four plays, Deering’s Jack Heary scored on a 53-yard run, and the Rams went ahead 7-0 after the extra point.

“(Heary’s) a great ballplayer. His ability to keep his feet going after being hit is as good as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Cooper.

Bonny Eagle answered right back on their first possession. Doehler hit Ricky Hoyt for a 36-yard pass, and followed up with another long pass to Hoyt two plays later, that one for 23 yards. Doehler scored his first touchdown three plays later on a three yard QB keeper. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Later in the second quarter, Doehler again hit Hoyt on a 32-yard pass, a key catch during an 11-play drive to the end zone. Doehler finished the drive with a one yard touchdown rush, with the extra point making the score 14-7.

The end of the second half saw a very bizarre play for Bonny Eagle. Doehler threw over the middle to receiver John Onesti, who caught it for a 14-yard gain. Onesti was immediately crushed by a Deering defender, getting hit so hard that the football popped out of his hands straight up in the air. While Onesti was still on his back, the ball fell back down to the ground and into Onesti’s hands, catching it twice on the same play.

“That was a little freaky that the ball came down to him, but he’s the type of guy that never gives up on a play,” said Cooper. “I’m not surprised that he’d be the one that would get that catch.”

A field goal made the score 17-7 in favor of the Scots, and after a scoreless third quarter, Doehler increased Bonny Eagle’s lead to 24-7 on a 23 yard rush to open the fourth, scoring his third touchdown of the night.

“I don’t know if I have the adjectives right now to describe how (Doehler) played tonight. He was tremendous,” said Cooper.

Josh Ruby finished off the scoring for Bonny Eagle with a seven-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

In the first five games of the season, Bonny Eagle’s defense has given up an average of seven points per game, and their performance against Deering was more of the same.

“Our defense, I don’t know what to say about that effort right now. Just tremendous, how hard they played,” said Cooper. “We bent a little bit at times, but didn’t break, and hung together, and were able to get the stops when we needed them.”

“We’ve got to do a better job, it’s that simple,” said Deering head coach Greg Stilphen. “I knew they were going to be ready to play, and there’s no excuse for us playing the way we played. We were moving the football, but sometimes it’s just not meant to be. Obviously, we’ve got to get better.”

Bonny Eagle’s next game is against Portland at home on Friday, Oct. 12, while Deering will go on the road to face South Portland on Saturday, Oct. 13.