One sport, golf, has held its postseason championship (see story). 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:

Football

The Falmouth/Greely co-op football team earned a critical, palpitating 38-32 victory last Friday night at Messalonskee to improve to 2-3 and snap a two-game skid. Lucas Dilworth hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Bush with 4.6 seconds remaining to provide the winning margin. The touchdown capped a 96-yard drive in 32 seconds and was Dilworth’s second scoring catch of the game. He also had an 8-yard TD reception in the second quarter.

“I had very little faith, to be honest,” Dilworth said. “I came up, I broke, the safety dropped and I knew Cooper would find me if I was open. Luckily he did and I caught it. It’s amazing.”

The touchdown throw finished Bush’s night at 20-for-31 passing for 286 yards and two scores.

“I have so much faith in my receivers,” Bush said. “I know that I don’t have to put the perfect ball on them every time, I can be a little off or give them a 50/50 ball and they’re going to come down with it. This is the first high-scoring close game I’ve been in. To end with a game-winning drive, it’s awesome.”

“What a fantastic high school game,” Falmouth/Greely coach John Fitzsimmons said. “It’s clear Messalonskee is a good team.”

Falmouth/Greely hopes to even its record Friday when it hosts 1-5 Brewer in what will likely be its regular season finale since its Oct. 22 foe, Brunswick, has dropped its program for the remainder of the season in the wake of a hazing scandal.

“We’ll build momentum on this,” Bush said. “We’re just going to continue to build and get better each week and we’ll be a force in the playoffs.”

Freeport returned to action last Friday after COVID and low numbers forced a cancellation the week before. The Falcons made the trip to Bucksport with a limited roster, but prevailed, 26-7, to improve to 4-1. Freeport broke open a scoreless game in the third quarter, getting three touchdown runs from Jordan Knighton (19 carries, 177 yards) in just over four minutes. After Knighton opened the scoring with a 29-yard run, an interception and a fumble set up two more quick TDs that gave the Falcons a 20-0 lead. Quarterback Aidan Heath scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“We weren’t missing really any starters,” said Freeport coach Paul St. Pierre. “I was a little worried about conditioning, but the guys stayed in football shape while they were out. When you get to this point of the season and the grind starts to set in, that type of victory is one that re-motivates a football team. It was a great boost for us mentally. Now we have more challenges ahead, which is exactly what we want.”

Freeport is at 4-0 Winthrop Friday.

Yarmouth lost its fourth game in a row, 30-0, to visiting Mt. Ararat, the reigning eight-man state champion, and fell to 1-5 on the season. The Clippers close the regular season at 4-2 Dirigo Friday.

Boys’ soccer

Yarmouth’s boys’ soccer team, the reigning Class B champion, made it four straight wins and improved to 10-0-1 with victories last week over visiting Cape Elizabeth (2-0) and at Fryeburg Academy (5-0). Owen Gillian and Steve Walsh had the goals against the Capers, while Cole Snyder saved eight shots. In the win over the Raiders, Steve Fulton had two goals, Truman Peters scored once and assisted on two other goals and Sutter Auger and Frazier Dougherty also got in on the scoring. The Clippers (ranked first in the Class B South Heal Points standings at press time) hosted York Tuesday, go to Greely Friday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), then close the regular season next Tuesday at home versus two-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete.

Greely improved to 8-2-1 and third in Class B South after wins at Fryeburg Academy (2-1) and Cape Elizabeth (3-1) last week. Isaac Dusch and Caleb Knox had the goals against the Raiders. In the victory over the Capers, Knox, Tate Nadeau and Ethan Njitoh all scored once. The Rangers hosted Freeport Tuesday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), welcome Yarmouth Friday, then close at York Tuesday of next week.

Freeport was fifth in Class B South with a 7-3-1 mark, following a 2-1 home loss to York and a 3-0 home victory over Wells last week. Alex Graver had the lone goal against the Wildcats. In the win, Graver, Keigan Shea and Blaine Cockburn (on a penalty kick) all scored. The Falcons visited Greely Tuesday, are at Poland Thursday and close at home versus Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Reigning Class A champion Falmouth was 9-1-1 and ranked fifth after downing visiting Thornton Academy (5-1) and host Westbrook (10-0) last week. Against the Golden Trojans, Charlie Adams and Mason Farr both scored twice, while Bennett Smith had the other goal. In the win over the Blue Blazes, Adams went off for six goals, while Mason Quiet scored twice and Jalen Angers and Andrew Christie each added a goal. The Navigators have a pivotal showdown at Scarborough Wednesday night (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), welcome South Portland Saturday and close at Portland Tuesday of next week.

Reigning Class D South champion North Yarmouth Academy was 5-4-2 and third in the region after a 5-0 home win over Richmond and a scoreless draw at Gray-New Gloucester last week. The Panthers visited Sacopee Valley Tuesday, host St. Dom’s Thursday and close at Traip Academy Monday.

Girls’ soccer

Yarmouth’s girls’ squad had a week to remember. After rallying from two goals down to shock two-time reigning Class B champion Cape Elizabeth, 3-2, in Cape Elizabeth no less, the Clippers had to rally again at home versus Freeport, tying the game with just over two minutes left before prevailing in overtime by the same 3-2 score to improve to 9-1-1 on the season, good for second in the Class B South Heal Points standings.

Against the Capers, Yarmouth gave up a goal with just seconds to go before halftime and another early in the second half, but Aine Powers scored to turn momentum, Katelyn D’Appolonia buried a free kick to tie it and with 6:31 left, Powers set up Grace Lestage for the winner and the Clippers snapped Cape Elizabeth’s 32-game win streak.

“It feels amazing to win here,” Lestage said. “It was a very intense match. We’re really fired up. It’s an exciting win for the whole team.”

“We believed we could come here and win,” D’Appolonia said. “Cape’s one of our biggest rivals. We wanted revenge for the (2019 regional final). We were hungry for that win and we didn’t get it at the beginning of the season, but it’s been eight games since then and we’ve grown a lot as a team and that paid off today.”

“The girls rallied and competed,” Yarmouth coach Andy Higgins added. “There’s no quit in these girls. It’s a team effort. We had to make a couple tweaks and we did it. They earned it tonight. That was a really fun high school soccer game. All the kids, both sides, can hold their heads high. The people who were here saw a show.”

The Clippers then took an early 1-0 lead over the Falcons, on a goal from Macy Gilroy, but Freeport got the next two and appeared primed for the upset when Gilroy served a corner kick to freshman Taylor Oranellos, who headed it home with 2:15 to go, forcing overtime. There, D’Appolonia sent a long free kick into the box where Ava Feely, who missed a pair of games with a knee injury, somehow one-timed the ball past the keeper and into the goal for the heart-stopping game-winner.

“Katelyn’s placement on kicks is just perfect,” Feeley said. “I looked at her and told her (to send it to me). I couldn’t even see behind me. I just put my foot on it and hoped for the best. I knew I hit it well. I knew with Katelyn’s placement, the ball would go in. It felt really good. It was definitely luck.”

“We always start slowly, but the last five, 10 minutes we pushed through,” Oranellas said. “It worked out. I felt confident going into overtime. I felt like our spirits were really high and we just worked that much harder to get the final goal. I just saw Ava come running and kick it in backwards. It was an amazing shot.”

“There’s no quit in these kids,” Higgins added. “You can’t coach that. They get that from somewhere. They keep fighting until the whistle blows and I’m still a little bit in shock.”

Yarmouth looked to extend its unbeaten streak to 11 Tuesday at York. After hosting Greely Friday, the Clippers wrap up the regular season Tuesday of next week at Wells.

Greely was 5-3-2 and sixth in Class B South after a 7-0 home win over Fryeburg Academy and a 4-0 home loss to Cape Elizabeth. In the victory, Kerry Roberts scored two goals, while Carly Asherman, Audrey Flynn, Chelsea Graiver, Elle Jowett and Allie Martin all had one apiece. The Rangers were at Freeport Tuesday, go to Yarmouth Friday and close at home versus York Tuesday of next week.

Freeport had a record of 5-6 and was 10th in the region following losses at York (3-0) and Yarmouth (3-2, in overtime last week). Against the Clippers, Emily Olsen and Meg Driscoll scored to put the Falcons on the brink of their biggest win of the year, but Yarmouth tied it late, then scored in OT.

“The girls played well,” said Freeport coach David Intraversato. “It’s a learning experience for us. We have a lot of young kids out there. I still believe we can play with anyone. It’s just the way the ball bounces sometimes.”

The Falcons were home with Greely Tuesday, go to Poland Friday and close at Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

“We’ll correct our mistakes,” Intraversato said. “We’ll rally back.”

In Class A, Falmouth ran its win streak to four games by downing host Thornton Academy (3-1) and visiting Westbrook (14-0) last week and beating previously undefeated visiting Scarborough Monday (3-1). Against the Golden Trojans, Elise Gearan scored twice and Abbie Ford had the other goal. Goalkeeper Jordan Wolf made seven saves. In the win over the Blue Blazes, Ford and Gearan both scored three times and Skye Bush and Sydney Shiben each added two goals as eight different players scored in all. Monday, the Navigators improved to 10-1-1 (and second in the Class A South Heals) after erasing an early deficit behind goals from Audrey Murray, Ford and Whitney Adams, and seven saves (and an assist) from Wolf.

“We’re very resilient,” Wolf said. “We work really hard. We went down four minutes in, but we didn’t give up. We needed that first goal and it really boosted our confidence.”

“I was really impressed how we reacted to (that first Scarborough goal),” Ford said. “In past years, sometimes we’d get down on ourselves, but we’re a lot different this year. I think we kept our intensity up and had to make it 0-0 again and keep playing our game.”

“I’d say it’s probably the biggest win we’ve had in my nine years here,” added Navigators coach Andrew Pelletier. “We’ve never really come close to solving Scarborough. We’ve probably had teams better equipped to beat them, but tonight, I thought we were on top for the most part and the girls deserved to win.”

Falmouth is at South Portland Thursday, then closes the regular season at home versus Portland Tuesday of next week.

“I think we’re a team that no one will want to see (in the playoffs),” Pelletier said. “We can’t just walk on the field and just beat anybody and we know that, but we’ve got stuff figured out defensively and we’re well organized. We’re excited.”

Two-time reigning Class D champion NYA continues to dominate, improving to 10-0-1 and first in the Class D South Heals after victories over host Richmond (7-1) and visiting Gray-New Gloucester (8-1). In the first win, Angel Huntsman and Michala Wallace both scored twice, while Anna Belleau, Ella Giguere and Emily Robbins added a goal apiece. Against the Patriots, Jazzy Huntsman had three goals; Angel Huntsman two; and Belleau, Maggie Holt and Hayden Wienckowski one each. The Panthers host Waynflete Wednesday, welcome Sacopee Valley Saturday and close at Traip Academy Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

The NYA/Waynflete co-op field hockey 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.

In Class A South, Falmouth was 7-4 and fifth following a 1-0 loss at Biddeford last week. The Navigators surrendered the only goal in the final minute of the game. Falmouth was home with Bonny Eagle Tuesday, hosts Sanford Thursday and closes at home versus South Portland in a makeup game Monday.

In Class B South, Yarmouth finished the regular season 8-4-2 after a scoreless tie at Lake Region, a 2-1 victory at Freeport and a 3-1 home loss to Fryeburg Academy. Cassie Walsh made eight saves in the tie. Against the Falcons, Colleen Lynch scored early and Juliet Meas had the game winner in the fourth quarter. The Clippers were ranked fifth in the region at press time and hope to host a playoff game.

Freeport was 5-7 and eighth in Class B South after a 2-1 win at Greely, a 2-1 home loss to Yarmouth last week and a 5-1 home win over Gray-New Gloucester Monday. In the win over the Rangers, Chloe White and Lily Welsher scored goals and Vicki Balla made 10 saves. Sophie Bradford had the goal against the Clippers. In the victory over the Patriots, Kyla Havey had a hat trick and Ava Gervais and Sasha Nevins also rattled the cage. The Falcons host Fryeburg Academy Wednesday and finish at Lake Region Saturday.

Greely was 3-8 and ninth in the region after a 2-1 home loss to Freeport and a 1-0 victory at Poland. In the loss, Meredith Brubaker scored. Marisa Crowley had the goal against the Knights. After playing at York Wednesday, the Rangers welcome Cape Elizabeth Saturday, then close at Wells Monday.

Volleyball

Yarmouth’s two-time reigning Class B champion volleyball team remains undefeated at 12-0 and atop the Heal Points standings after a pair of 3-0 wins over York and a thrilling 3-1 (25-13, 25-22, 28-30, 25-9) home victory over Cape Elizabeth last week. Against the Capers, stellar senior setter Sophie Dickson had 29 assists; Elena Miller had 13 kills, plus a long service run in the fourth game to close it; out and Annie Vinnakota added a dozen kills.

“That third set was intense and coming off of it, our mindset was to be aggressive because the aggressive team was the one winning the point,” Miller said. “We couldn’t play it safe. You want to play it safe against a good team like Cape, but being aggressive wins.”

“We were all surprised (to have that lead), but we got momentum and we kept it going,” Dickson said. “Elena got all her serves in and that was key to that run. We usually have momentum in the first two sets. We didn’t have it in the bag in the third set and we had to just keep momentum going.”

“I’m proud of my kids,” added Clippers coach Jim Senecal. “This was a tough one and we knew it would be. We played great. We did what Yarmouth does. This year, we just get to balls that no one else does.”

Yarmouth was at Windham Tuesday and closes with a match at two-time reigning Class A champion Falmouth Monday.

Greely was 7-5 and 10th in Class B following a 3-1 loss at Cape Elizabeth and a 3-0 home win over Windham last week. The Rangers were at Westbrook Tuesday and close at Wells Friday.

In Class A, Falmouth fell to 4-7 and eighth after last week’s straight-set (14-25, 16-25, 18-25) loss at Scarborough. The Navigators host Scarborough Thursday, welcome Thornton Academy Friday, then finish the regular season at home against Yarmouth Monday.

In Class C, NYA was 3-9 and eighth following a 3-0 home loss to Wells and setbacks at Bucksport (3-1) and Jonesport-Beals (3-0) last week. The Panthers hosted Lake Region Tuesday and close at home versus Westbrook Thursday.

Cross country

Yarmouth joined St. Dom’s and Waynflete for a cross country meet at Cape Elizabeth last week. The Clippers girls were second to the Capers, as Hillary Connor had the second-best individual time (21 minutes, 41 seconds). In the boys’ race, Yarmouth was also second to Cape Elizabeth. Cameron Pernal was sixth individually (18:33).

Falmouth ran with Gorham and Windham at Scarborough. The Navigators were second to the Red Storm in the boys’ race, as Logan Ross had the second-best individual time (17:03.06). The girls were runner-up to Gorham. Lila Findlay was fifth individually in 21:07.69.

Freeport and Greely joined Wells at York. The Falcons won the boys’ meet, as Henry Horne was first in 16:42, while the Rangers finished third and were paced by Mitch Parent (fourth, 16:49). In the girls’ race, won by Greely, Annie Reynolds was second individually (19:47). Freeport came in third. Jillian Wight was sixth in 20:52.

NYA ran with Old Orchard Beach and Traip Academy. The Panthers boys were first, as James Tourigny placed second individually in 18:37. NYA didn’t score in the girls’ race, but Liv Urbanek had the best time (24:34).

Kennebec Journal staff writer Drew Bonifant and 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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