One sport, golf, has held its postseason championship. The rest of the fall slate is winding down with many squads primed to play their final regular season game either this week or early next week.

No matter how you slice it, October has brought more intensity and the promise of glory to come has coaches, athletes and fans riveted.

Here’s a glimpse at the week that was and a look ahead:

Golf

Waynflete’s George Fahey shows off his form during Saturday’s Class C state golf match. Fahey repeated as individual champion. Joe Phelan / Kennebec Journal

Cheverus and Waynflete’s golf teams made it to states Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

In the Class C match, won by Kents Hill with a team score of 332, the Flyers, making their first ever appearance at states as a team, were third, just four strokes behind (St. Dom’s was second at 335). Waynflete did boast the top individual for the second year in a row, as George Fahey repeated as Class C champion with an 18-hole score of 73. Fahey edged Kents Hill’s Nico Von Gaudecker, who shot a 74.

“To be honest, it wasn’t even my best round, I think I was five under at one point,” said Fahey, who triple-bogeyed the 18th hole. “My putts were working early, then it was my irons. I used the driving iron a lot today to keep the ball in play.”

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“George showed that he can be a leader, a well-rounded golfer and most of all, a great teammate,” said Flyers first-year coach Ben Boonseng. “I had no doubt that George would post good scores for himself and for our team. He is an accomplished golfer which showed through his qualifier round and at states. Again, I am beyond proud of what he’s accomplished for Waynflete and himself.”

Also scoring for Waynflete were Ed Cox and Henry Kerr, who tied for 22nd with a round of 86, and Oscar Twining (91, tied for 29th).

“I had no expectations since this is my first year coaching,” Boonseng said. “I also did not realize that Waynflete has never qualified as a team for states in school history. I am beyond proud and overwhelmed with positive emotions for what the team has accomplished, both individually and as a team.”

In Class A, the Stags had a team score of 353, good for ninth, 38 strokes behind champion Falmouth. Scoring for Cheverus were Colin Hines (87, tied for 28th place), Liam Cloutier and Kevin Connolly (88, tied for 32nd) and William Haley (90, tied for 45th).

Football

Portland’s football team rolled to a 6-0 record last Friday by downing visiting Biddeford, 55-8. The Bulldogs put it away quickly with a 35-point first quarter, as Brandon Boyle caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Grant Crosby, Franco Katunda returned a fumble 30 yards for a score, Boyle had a 69-yard TD run, Reegan Buck scored on a 22-yard rush and Katunday had a second fumble return, this one from 15 yards out. By halftime, the score was 49-0, as Andrew Brewer scored on a 2-yard run and Buck had a 15-yard scamper. After the Tigers got on the board in the third period, Portland finished it off in the fourth with an Aidan McGowan 8-yard rush. The Bulldogs go to 3-3 South Portland for the “Battle of the Bridge” Saturday afternoon (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story).

Deering fell to 0-6 with a 54-0 home loss to Marshwood. The Hawks led, 21-0, after one quarter, 47-0 at halftime, then added one more TD in the third period. The Rams try again to get in the win column Friday at 2-4 Gorham.

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In eight-man action, Cheverus improved to 4-0 by blanking Gray-New Gloucester, 48-0, Saturday. No information was provided on the game. The Stags finish the regular season at home versus 1-4 Sacopee Valley Saturday.

Boys’ soccer

Waynflete’s Andrew Rogers eyes the ball during the Flyers’ 1-0 home win over York Friday. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster

Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team, the 2018 and 2019 Class C state champion and an undefeated squad a year ago during a pandemic-shortened season, is rounding into its familiar form as the postseason nears. Last week, the Flyers snapped a rare two-game winless streak with shutout wins over visiting St. Dom’s (9-0) and York (1-0) to improve to 8-2-1. Against the Saints, Dudley Holdridge and Samir Sayed each scored twice, while Matt Adey, Henry Hart, Oscar Herrera, Liam Slocumb and Payton Smith all had one goal. In the win over the Wildcats, Hart had the lone goal, while Waynflete allowed just two shots.

“Coach all week talked about this matchup,” Hart said. “We’ve prepared for it. We wanted to pass the ball around, keep our energy up and play our game. Coach said it was like a playoff game and I think we stepped up and really executed well. It was a scrappy game and I love that.”

“We’ve played a lot of hard opponents now, and each one, we’ve learned about how we can work together better as a defense,” defender Liam Anderson said. “It’s a new group in the back. For me, it’s all about effort.”

“We want to put ourselves in the best position Heal Points-wise to host playoff games as long as we’re in it,” added Flyers coach Brandon Salway. “This win isn’t just a confidence booster, but it’s Heal Points-worthy. I told the guys to play today like it’s like a playoff game. It’s a great win.”

Waynflete (second to Mt. Abram in the Class C Heal Points standings at press time) goes to Traip Academy Wednesday, hosts Sacpoee Valley Saturday and closes the regular season at reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

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“We just want to keep rolling and build off of this,” Salway said. “To get to double-digit wins at some point would be a great accomplishment for this group. We’re happy with where we are. This group’s come a long way in a short time. They were pretty good players who just needed an opportunity. They’ve worked hard and improved every day.”

In Class A South, Deering was 7-3-1 and sixth in the standings following a 9-0 home win over Westbrook and a 4-0 loss at Windham. In the victory, Patricio Mowa and Peter Sargent both scored two goals, while Abdulla Al Taee, Chandrel Mangele Laza, Celda Mouckala, Jeannot Ndayishimiye and Haytham Ramadan also scored. The Rams have a pivotal game at South Portland Wednesday, welcome Thornton Academy Friday and finish the regular season Tuesday of next week at home versus Sanford.

Portland began the week 7-4 and eighth in Class A South following shutout wins at Massabesic (12-0) and at home over Noble (9-0) last week. Against the Mustangs, Francisco Samuel paced a balanced attack with a pair of goals. Eleven different players tickled the wins. In the win over the Knights, Cristo Vumpa had two goals, and Samuel, Kia Dilamini, Jack Fink, Ollie Hettenbach, Martin Kalala, Nick Paterniti and Emmanuel Sungubele all scored once. The Bulldogs are at Kennebunk Wednesday, go to Marshwood Saturday, then close with a pivotal contest at home versus reigning Class A champion Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 3-6-2 and 12th in Class A South after a 3-2 home loss to Windham and a 2-0 win at Biddeford last week. Aidan Fedrizzi and Brady Hoglund scored the goals in the setback. After hosting Thornton Academy Wednesday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), the Stags welcome Scarborough Tuesday of next week, then close at Westbrook two days later.

Girls’ soccer

Cheverus’ girls’ soccer team was 8-3 and fifth in the Class A South Heals at press time after a 2-1 double-overtime loss at Windham and a 7-1 home victory over Biddeford. In the setback, Caoilinn Durkin had the goal and Emily Bontatibus made 13 saves. In the win, Kadynne Smith scored twice and Olivia Bradford, Lilly Hoyt, Julia Kratzer, Olivia Smith and Annie Vigue all had one goal. The Stags were at Thornton Academy Tuesday, welcome Westbrook Friday and finish at Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 2-8-1 and 12th in the region following a 1-0 overtime loss at Bonny Eagle, a 9-0 victory at Westbrook and a 5-0 home loss to undefeated Windham. Courtney Jackson made eight saves against the Scots. In the win, Elsa Freeman scored four times, Zuzia Varney added three goals, and Ella McGowan and Shay Rosenthal both scored once. Against the Eagles, Jackson stopped 11 shots. The Rams hosted South Portland Tuesday, go to Thornton Academy Thursday and close the regular season Tuesday of next week at Sanford.

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Portland was 4-6 and 13th after a 7-1 home win over Massabesic and a 4-1 loss at Noble. In the victory, Anneliese Collin had three goals, while Elizabeth Littell, Kate Martell, Kendall Sniper and Eliza Stein (three assists) also scored. In the setback, Collin had the goal and keeper Vanessa Connolly made 13 saves. The Bulldogs hosted Kennebunk Tuesday, welcome Marshwood Friday and Sanford Saturday, then close at Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete extended its win streak to four games and improved to 6-4 and ninth in the Heals after downing visiting St. Dom’s (2-0) and Fryeburg Academy (5-0) last week. Lucy Hart had both goals against the Saints. In the win over the Raiders, Vivian Rallis and Iris Stutzman had two goals apiece and Hart had the other. After hosting Traip Academy Tuesday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), the Flyers are at two-time reigning Class D champion North Yarmouth Academy Wednesday, visit Sacopee Valley Friday and go to Old Orchard Beach for the finale Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Portland/Deering’s Taysia Blazejewski plays the ball during last week’s 5-0 home loss to Falmouth. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster

Cheverus’ field hockey team was atop the Class A South Heals with a 11-0 mark following wins last week over visiting Noble (5-1), host Gorham (2-0) and visiting South Portland (11-0). In the victory over the Knights, Taylor Tory scored three times, while Lucy Johnson and Mary-Kate Murphy each had one goal. Against the Rams, Taylor Krieger and Norah Slattery both scored once. In the win over the Red Riots, Murphy and Tory both had hat tricks, while Johnson had two goals and Krieger, Slattery and Zoey Radford each finished with one. The Stags were at Portland/Deering Monday, visit Westbrook for a makeup game Wednesday and close at Massabesic in a pivotal showdown Thursday.

The Portland/Deering co-op team fell to 1-11 and 15th in Class A South after losses last week to visiting Falmouth (5-0), at Marshwood (4-1) and at Gorham (10-0). In the loss to the Navigators, goalie Ella Burdin made 22 saves.

“We could have played better than we did,” said Portland/Deering coach Beth Romano-Arsenault. ‘We’re a little rusty since we hadn’t played since last week. Falmouth was quick and beat us to the ball and got us back on our heels. I feel like we were a little intimidated. I’m pretty happy with the fact we had a very ugly first quarter, then we held them to two goals the final three (quarters).”

Burdin stopped a dozen shots against the Rams. Portland/Deering hosted Cheverus Monday and finishes the regular season at Massabesic Saturday.

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“We look forward to a playoff game,” Romano-Arsenault said. “It gives us an extra week playing together. Field hockey’s a funny sport. You have a hot goalie and you never know.”

The NYA/Waynflete co-op team was 6-4 and third in Class C South following a 7-0 home victory over Traip Academy and a 3-1 home win over Wells last week. Against the Rangers, Emma Bowden and Emilia McKenney both had hat tricks, while Larkin Kern also scored. In the win over the Warriors, McKenney had two goals and assisted on Bowden’s goal. NYA/Waynflete was home with Sacopee Valley Tuesday, visits St. Dom’s Thursday, goes to Wells Friday and finishes Monday at Traip Academy.

Volleyball

Deering’s volleyball team was 7-5 and 10th in the Class A Heals after sandwiching losses at Marshwood (3-1) and at home to Gorham (3-0) around a 3-0 home win over Cheverus. The Rams were at Scarborough Tuesday and close at home against Massabesic Monday of next week.

Cheverus was 4-9 and 13th in Class A following 3-0 wins at Windham and at home over Westbrook and a 3-0 setback at Deering. The Stags closed Tuesday at Thornton Academy.

Portland was 2-10 and 17th in Class A after a 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-22) win at Lewiston and 3-0 losses at Gorham and South Portland last week. The Bulldogs were home with undefeated Biddeford Monday, then welcome Massabesic in the finale Thursday.

Cross country

Waynflete’s Blythe Thompson, left, and Skylar Harris run at last week’s cross country meet in Cape Elizabeth. Harris was ninth, while Thompson came in 11th. John Jensenius / For The Forecaster

Waynflete joined St. Dom’s and Yarmouth for a cross country meet at Cape Elizabeth last week. The Flyers girls were third, as Skylar Harris finished ninth in a time of 22 minutes, 55 seconds. Waynflete’s boys were third and were paced by Sawyer Linehan (15th, 19:42).

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Cheverus, Deering and Portland joined South Portland and Westbrook for a meet at Smiling Hill Farm last Thursday.

The Bulldogs were first in the boys’ race, with the Rams third and Stags fifth. Deering’s Alexey Seredin was the top individual, with a time of 17:19.8. Nathan Blades paced Portland with a third-place finish (17:45.0). Jesse Cadigan led Cheverus with a fourth-place showing (18:01.7).

In the girls’ meet, Cheverus was first, as Annabelle Brooks was the top individual (19:57.10), and Portland finished second (Samantha Moore was third, 21:14.0). Deering didn’t score as a team, but Megan Cunningham was the individual runner-up in 20:32.8.

Times Record staff writer Eli Canfield contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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