Two Forecaster Country football teams are one away from the state final as the season dwindles into its final days.
A third fell just a point short and was eliminated last weekend.
No rest, no problem
Cape Elizabeth, the reigning state champion, had to delay its Class C South quarterfinal round game due to illness that decimated the team. As a result, the Capers took on Fryeburg Academy last Monday, nearly 72 hours later than scheduled, and while they rolled to a 46-8 victory, that left nearly no time to recover prior to Friday’s semifinal round test at longtime rival Wells.
Third-ranked Cape Elizabeth, which had hoped to have the game moved back a day only to be rebuffed, took it to the second-seeded Warriors early, as Nick Laughlin caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Mike Foley, then added a 79-yard TD run for a 14-0 advantage after one quarter. After Wells got on the board, Foley and Laughlin connected again, this time from 13-yards out, but the Warriors added another score to make it 20-14 Capers at halftime.
And that’s how it would end, as Cape Elizabeth had to come up big on defense multiple times in the second half, but it managed to do so and improved to 8-2, setting up a Class C South showdown at top-ranked Leavitt (9-0) Saturday at 6 p.m., at Lewiston High School’s turf field.
Ceroi Mello intercepted a late pass after Wells had moved to the Capers’ 3 and that finally clinched it.
“We knew going into this week it was going to be defense that wins us this game against Wells and that’s what it was,” Laughlin said.
“We talked about how adversity brings opportunity and for a team to come out here and win two playoff games in five days against two great programs, I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Sean Green. “We preached that with adversity comes opportunity. Our players showed extreme resiliency in the face of adversity and found a way to win at the end of the game.”
The Capers dropped a 21-20 decision at the Hornets back on Oct. 7 as a late Laughlin touchdown was negated by a penalty. Leavitt has taken three of four prior playoff meetings, but the most recent went to Cape Elizabeth, in unforgettable fashion, as it won, 25-23, on the last play of the game in the Class C South Final a year ago.
“We are very excited to be back in the regional final against Leavitt,” said Green. “.We feel that we are the two best teams and understand that it will be a battle. Leavitt is extremely well-coached and very talented. They execute well in all three phases of the game. We will have a great week of practice and will be prepared for the game on Saturday night.”
If the Capers spring the upset again, they’ll face either Medomak Valley (8-2) or Hermon (7-2) in the state final Saturday, Nov. 19 in Bangor.
First time in a long time
South Portland’s Jaelen Jackson tries to elude a Portland tackler during the teams’ 2021 meeting. The Red Riots and Bulldogs square off in the Class B South Final Friday night. File photo
In Class B South, South Portland, the No. 3 seed, has awakened the echoes from the John Wolfgram Era. The Red Riots, who defeated No. 6 Marshwood, the reigning state champion, 29-8, in the quarterfinals, went to No. 2 Massabesic last Friday and avenged a regular season loss with a 22-6 victory to improve to 7-3 and reach the regional final for the first time since 2000.
Standout senior quarterback Jaelen Jackson opened the scoring with a 10-yard run and a two-point conversion rush for an 8-0 lead after one quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Jackson then connected with Nolan Hobbs for another score and South Portland took a 15-0 advantage to halftime. The Mustangs got on the board early in the third quarter and after the Red Riots survived a couple miscues, they put it away in the fourth, as Jackson scored on a 2-yard run. Jackson finished with 180 yards and two TDs rushing and another touchdown pass.
Friday at 6 p.m., at Fitzpatrick Stadium, South Portland meets top-seed and rival Portland (7-3) in the Class B South Final. The Red Riots lost at home to the Bulldogs, 20-13, in the “Battle of the Bridge” Oct. 21. The teams have played five previous times in the postseason, with South Portland holding a 4-1 advantage, but Portland prevailed in the most recent meeting, a 21-0 victory in the 2002 Western A quarterfinals. The teams have played just once before in a regional final, a 28-24 Red Riots’ win in 1995.
“It’s definitely cool because obviously we played them earlier this year for the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ and we get another shot to come at them again and try to come out on top this time,” Jackson said.
“There are other great players on the field for both teams and other aspects of football that factor in – field position, turnovers, penalties, injuries, but I think you definitely have to start with how do you slow down (Portland quarterback) Kennedy (Charles) and how do you slow down Jaelen?” said South Portland coach Aaron Filieo.
If South Portland advances to its first state game since winning Class A in 1999, it will meet either Skowhegan (8-2) or Falmouth (7-3) Saturday, Nov. 19 at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
A painful finish
Scarborough, ranked fourth in Class A, hosted No. 5 Bonny Eagle last Friday in a state quarterfinal and the game came down to the wire.
Tim Crockett’s 18-yard touchdown run put the Red Storm ahead, 7-0, after one quarter and that score held into the second half, but the Scots responded with a pair of third period TDs to take a 14-7 lead. Quarterback De’Angelo Alston then scored on a 6-yard rush with 4:22 to play, but the extra point was blocked. Scarborough recovered the ensuing onside kick, but couldn’t convert it into points and Bonny Eagle held on for a 14-13 victory.
The Red Storm finished the year 5-5.
Press Herald staff writer Steve Craig contributed to this story.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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