Heavy rains and high winds would have left most high school fields in the state more suited to a mud rally instead of a football game – but clear, crisp blue skies and the pristine sports turf field at Scarborough’s Mitchell Field set the scene for a picture perfect afternoon of football as the middle school Red Storm took on the Noble Squires for the Southern Maine Youth Football League Gold Ball Championship on Nov. 4.

With the stands full of fans wearing a sea of red to support their defending champs, Scarborough won the toss and elected to receive. But unlike most games this season, the Red Storm was unable to score on their first position against the tough visiting Squires. Noble’s first possession didn’t fare any better as they quickly went three-and-out. But once the nerves had settled, the Scarborough offense, lead by quarterback Ben Wessel, was back on the field with a vengeance. Kellen Smith of Scarborough returned the Noble punt for 46 yards, only to have 10 yards tacked on due to a holding penalty. On the next series of downs, the Scarborough running game took over, with Matt Brown and Adam Ek getting the team to the 28. Scot Thibeault took it the next 27 yards to set up a third-and-goal on the one. Two plays later, Thibeault slipped in for six points and the lead. Anthony DiBiase’s point-after kick was good and with 3:08 to go in the first quarter, Scarborough had a 7-0 lead.

The teams battled back and forth as DiBiase recovered a Ricky Flowers fumble, getting the ball back for Scarborough. But Noble’s Jake Bagley got the ball back on the next play by intercepting Wessel on the 42. Thibeault got the ball back by recovering a fumble for Scarborough. Wessel then connected on the next series to Thibeault, Kolbey Adams and Smith to end the first quarter on the 26.

On the next play, Brown drove down field 19 yards to the seven. Wessel unsuccessfully tried to connect with Thibeault and Smith, but a short lateral pass to Brown gave Scarborough their second touchdown. Wessel’s two-point conversion pass to McCann made the score 15-0 just one minute into the second quarter.

With five minutes to go in the half, Scarborough stumbled a bit, but Noble stumbled also, with Flowers getting hit by McCann and DiBiase. Flowers managed a first down pass and then got sacked by Mike Dedian. Matt Brown rattled Flowers, causing a fumble that Zach Sheckley recovered. But then Scarborough fumbled with Noble’s Jesse Bell recovering the ball to end the half.

Scarborough’s defense was tested on Noble’s first drive in the second half. Thibeault stopped L.T. Flores on second-and-one and then a block in the back penalty set Noble back 10 yards. Pressure from Logan Mars, Brown, Thibeault and McCann knocked the Squires into a fourth-and-17 situation, forcing a turnover on downs. The Red Storm offense took over and Brown turned a fumble into an 18-yard recovery, setting up first-and-goal from the eight, punching it in for a touchdown on the next play. A successful point-after kick gave the Storm a 21-0 lead with 7 minutes to go in the third.

Flowers’ next drive showed his determination to get his team on the board with a 20-yard kick return, but the Red Storm defense wouldn’t allow more than another five yards and got the ball back on the Noble 37. The Storm offense drove 44 yards over the next 11 plays to end the third quarter in scoring position on the 19. A pass from Brown to Dillon Russo for a fourth quarter touchdown and Wessel’s two-point conversion pass to Conor McCann put the Red Storm up 27-0.

Noble refused to give up and on a series of nine plays, moved to the goal line to set up the Squires lone touchdown on a three-yard keeper from Flowers. Bagley took it in for a two-point conversion and Noble avoided the shutout to make the final score 27-8.

At the end of the game, Scarborough Head Coach George Spino stressed the importance of heart, mind, determination and the tough balancing act between student and athlete. He thanked the parents and guardians for their help during the long season, as well as the support from his staff of coaches and the Scarborough Football Club. A sparkling, new Gold Ball trophy was awarded to the team by S.M.Y.F.L. Vice President Paul Remmes, who joked that after last year’s win, Spino had rubbed all the gold finish off.

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