LISBON FALLS

Anyone who has watched a football game understands that every play starts with the quarterback, and that his job is to either get the ball into the hands of his running back or make a clean throw to a receiver running down the field.

For the Lisbon Greyhounds, senior Kyle Bourget had taken on this job and had success, leading his team to a 6-1 regular season record as well as partially leading them to a Western Class D semifinal win over Old Orchard Beach, 25-12.

Partially you ask? Bourget went down in the game with what was confirmed by doctors on Wednesday as a torn ACL, forcing the quarterback to the sidelines for the remainder of the season and leaving coach Dick Mynahan with the task of filling the void.

Stepping in for the Greyhounds will be sophomore Tyler Halls, who was one of Bourget’s go-to receivers during the season. Ironically, the quarterback was injured on the defensive side of the ball when he went in for a block to protect Halls on a punt return.

“We felt pretty strong with those two guys,” Mynahan said of the passing combination. “We could have been in a game with anybody and if they were hot we could beat anybody. You take Kyle out of the mix and now we have to go back to square one. Tyler, to be honest, hasn’t taken very many snaps this year so he’s pretty much learning that position this week.”

Though Bourget only attempted 33 passes during the regular season, Mynahan said that the passing game was something his team kept in its back pocket, especially if games were tight.

“We didn’t throw a lot because we won a lot of games,” he said. “But in games that were hard and could have been close, Kyle made them not close by completing a few touchdown passes early on. He changed games all around with his arm.”

With Lisbon heading into Saturday’s Regional final game against Oak Hill, which served the Greyhounds their only loss during the regular season, 28-14, Halls will be called on to lead the team. Although Bourget will be watching from the sidelines, he said he has no doubts in Halls’ ability.

“I know he can step up,” Bourget said of Halls. “I know he can lead the team. He’s only a sophomore but he’s good. He needs to keep them up high and I’ll be telling him the whole time to keep his head high.”

Given the advantage the Greyhounds have had in regard to their running game, having Halls in the slot will be an extra threat, with his ability to run the ball when needed, especially with the upcoming match against the No. 3-ranked Raiders.

“He’s run the ball for us all year in punt formation,” Mynahan said. “He’s not afraid to run the ball, so if he has an opening he’s not going to be afraid to take it. He has really great vision and that’s how he usually plays is with that vision, and if he sees an opening he’s going to take it. He offers a different challenge to Oak Hill and I think they probably know that. With Kyle they knew what they were getting, but with Tyler they’re not sure what they’ll be getting, and to be honest, we’re not exactly sure what we’ll be getting.”

Though the nerves of playoff action will already be flowing for Halls and the ’Hounds, the new quarterback said he’ll be ready to go despite the unfamiliar position.

“I’m nervous, it’s my first high school start as a quarterback,” he said. “But I have good players behind my back and we’re ready to go. I’m going to have to take snaps well and throw the ball obviously, but that’s what I really want to do well at, is throwing the ball. I trust them (offensive line) a lot and I think they’re the best line out here.”

As the Greyhounds enter the weekend with a new quarterback and a missing receiver due to the switch, Mynahan said his team’s approach will remain the same as it has all year.

“I think our focus will be the same,” he said. “I look at other tournament games, I look at Oak Hill and their last playoff game, zero fumbles, two penalties. I look at our playoff game, a couple of fumbles and nine penalties. The difference in this game will be the team who makes the most penalties and turns the ball over the most. It may not be the only difference, but it certainly is a big part of the game.”

Although it appears that the pressure is on for Lisbon, both Mynahan and Halls are taking it one step at a time and enjoying the moment they’re in.

“This is just a bonus game for us,” Mynahan said. “I don’t think anyone picked us to be in a game like this at the beginning of the year, we certainly never picked ourselves. We’re going to be playing 12 or 13 kids Saturday afternoon, that’s a pretty small number for high school football. Thinking injuries all season long would be a factor for us, they didn’t happen and I give the kids a lot of credit for playing through some of the injuries. We’ll do the best that we can.”

“We’re just out here grinding,” Halls said. “We’re working hard, we’re fine, I think we’re fine.”

For now, Bourget will be cheering on his team, and though the season-ending injury creates heartache for the senior, he is proud of what he and his team has been able to accomplish.

“I think I’ve had a great senior year, all of the seniors have,” he said. “We’re the number one seed in the playoffs, we put together a great regular season and had a great first playoff game. Hopefully we can win two more.”

The winner of Saturday’s game on Thompson Field will play for the State Class D Championship on Nov. 22 against the winner of the Eastern Class D regional game between Maine Central Institute and Bucksport at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.