Southern Maine avoided the worst of Hurricane Lee last weekend and as a result, it was a pretty smooth week for local teams to get their games in.

It may seem hard to believe, but some squads are already nearing the midway point of the 2023 regular season and the action is just heating up.

Here’s a look back at the week that was and a glimpse at what’s to come:

Football

For the first time in at least two decades, all three city football teams are off to 3-0 starts.

Deering continues to steal headlines, starting with three straight victories for the first time since 2011. The Rams hosted Biddeford Friday in what was for much of the night, an evening of frustration, before an unexpected player stepped to the fore and played the surprise hero.

Deering, which scored 52 points in its first two games, couldn’t solve the Tigers in the first half, when it shot itself in the foot with multiple penalties, missed a field goal, then lost quarterback Tavian Lauture to an injury. The Rams’ defense was up to the challenge, however, giving up passing yardage to Biddeford quarterback Gina Mariello, but coming up huge when it had to with a pair of interceptions.

For most of the third period, nothing changed before Deering got a break thanks to its special teams, when a partially blocked punt Santino Cavallaro set the Rams up at the 46 and by quarter’s end, they had driven all the way to the 1. An eventful final stanza began when Jordan DiBiase, the backup quarterback, scored on a sneak.

“It was tough coming off the bench,” DiBiase said. “I’m ready for the challenge. I have to be. My mind got racing, but I had to find a way to come through. It was 0-0 and we had to put something up. I saw a hole to the right and took it in with everything I had.”

The extra point failed, so Deering clung to a 6-0 lead the rest of the way.

The Tigers looked to immediately answer, driving to the Rams’ 3 before senior Archie Rubin’s interception ended the threat. After two more defensive stops, Deering had a chance to ice the victory, but faced fourth-and-1 from its 39. While everyone in the stadium expected sophomore workhorse running back Joey Foley to get the call with the game hanging in the balance, DiBiase kept the ball instead and not only picked up the first down, but broke away for a clinching 46-yard run.

We just saw an opportunity to get a yard to ice the game, but I took it for (more),” DiBiase said. “It felt great.”

The Rams ran out the clock from there and were able to celebrate an exhilarating 6-0 victory.

Deering won at home for the first time since Oct. 19, 2018 and in the process, dropped Biddeford to 0-3.

“We just stayed disciplined the whole game,” said Foley, who finished with 145 yards on 27 carries. “We played our hearts out and we didn’t give up. I knew it would come eventually. We just stayed prepared.”

“This feels amazing,” said DiBiase. “There’s not much more to say.”

“It was great to see some people here and great to give them a tough, hard-fought win,” added first-year Rams coach Brendan Scully. “I’m sure a lot of folks were on the edge of their seats right until the end. I’m glad we didn’t disappoint them.

“I’m pleasantly surprised and I’m really excited for the kids. The school is excited about this. The kids are excited. They believe in themselves. That’s been hard to come by around here. It’s great for us to have some success. The kids know when things get tough they can still be successful. We can hang our hat on our defense and plug away. Sooner or later, one of our skilled offensive players will make a play. We had a setback when our quarterback went down. In retrospect, Jordan hadn’t gotten enough reps in practice. That’s something for me to work on. He came through, the kids rallied around him and our defense has given up 13 points in three games. They did a great job. The philosophy of our defense is to bend but not break and make a team drive 80 yards and it’s been working out so far. ”

Deering hopes to keep the good times rolling Friday when it gets its biggest test yet, going to Kennebunk (3-0).

“We’re having a great time,” DiBiase said. “Winning is a lot more fun than losing.”

“We have to keep our heads up,” Foley said. “We’re battling injuries, but we have replacements who are good.”

“We’ll find out where we’re at next week,” Scully added. “This has all been fun, but in terms of best teams in the league, you’d probably have to say Kennebunk is that. We’ll have our hands full. It’s going to be a big week for us.”

Portland, meanwhile, had little drama in its third game, rolling at Lewiston, 47-6. The Bulldogs went ahead to stay when quarterback Louis Thurston capped off an eight-play drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Reegan Buck. Justin Bouchard made the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 5:34 left in the first quarter.

“Louis Thurston is everything you’d ever want in a quarterback,” Portland coach Sean Green said. “He’s got a talented arm, he can run the football, but most importantly, he’s got all the intangibles. He’s a great leader, he knows how to turn the page and there’s nobody else I would rather have quarterbacking this team.”

Buck then scored on a 35-yard rush and Aidan McGowan broke away for a 70-yard scoring run to make it 20-0.

“We definitely have some guys that can makes plays, especially when the O-line blocks the way they do,” Green said.

The first two plays of the second quarter were big ones. Portland’s Brayden Wales picked off a pass on the first play, then Thurston and Cordell Jones connected for a 38-yard touchdown pass on the second play. After the Blue Devils got on the board, the Bulldogs made it 34-6 at halftime on a 64-yard touchdown run from Hunter Temple. Portland added two touchdown runs in the third quarter to increase their lead to 47-6. Thurston snuck in from 1 yard out and McGowan capped off the scoring with a 13-yard run. Portland finished with over 500 yards of offense.

The Bulldogs go to 0-3 Falmouth Friday. The teams have never met in a countable game.

Cheverus, which won its first two games at home, blanked host Cape Elizabeth, 28-0, Friday night to stay perfect. Joe Osei scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter, then made it 14-0 at halftime with a 9-yard scoring run. After Stags quarterback Gio St. Onge scored on a 1-yard run in the third period, Osei put it away with a 5-yard TD rush. The Stags will be tested at 2-1 Wells Friday.

Boys’ soccer

Portland and Deering’s boys’ soccer teams were undefeated at the start of the week.

The Bulldogs improved to 4-0-1 after blanking host Falmouth (2-0) and visiting Sanford (4-0). Against the Navigators, Goalie Calvin Hale made six saves for the shutout, Martin Kalala-Wasukundi made a penalty kick just before halftime and Max Kierstead added a goal late to account for the final score.

“I was very happy because I could score because it had been three games that I hadn’t scored, so it was very important to me,” said Kalala-Wasukundi.

“That one. It felt good,” Kierstead said.

“I just like these young men and I like what they’re doing,” added longtime Portland coach Rocco Frenzilli. “They put forth great effort in practice. Maybe some of that fancy Dan stuff we could do without but the way they cover the field, their balance, their poise. You’re right. They’re special. You have to say it. As their coach, yes, but also as an observer of the game of soccer.”

In the win over the Spartans, Kalala-Wasukundi scored two goals, while Kierstead and Oliveira Nzolakio added one goal apiece. The Bulldogs hosted Thornton Academy Tuesday, welcome Westbrook Thursday and go to reigning Class A South champion Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Deering was also 4-0-1 after wins over visiting Marshwood (3-0) and host Thornton Academy (4-0). Against the Hawks, Nick Simon, Alvaro Pulido-Ladero and Chandrel Mangele Laza all had one goal. In the win over the Golden Trojans, Motasim Abdalla finished twice and Mangele Laza and Simon added a goal apiece. The Rams welcomed Bonny Eagle Tuesday, go to South Portland Thursday and host Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 2-3 following a 5-1 loss at Bonny Eagle and a 5-4 overtime home win over Massabesic in a makeup game. Anton Behuniak had the lone goal against the Scots, then he scored in OT in the victory. The Stags were scheduled to host Falmouth Monday, travel to undefeated Windham Thursday, welcome Westbrook Saturday and play host to Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete’s four-time reigning Class C champion fell to 1-2 after a 3-0 loss at Greely, then evened its record with a 2-0 home win over York. Abie Waisman and Jacob Woodman had the goals and goalkeeper Nico Kirby made seven saves in the victory. The Flyers hosted three-time Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday, then play host to Sacopee Valley Saturday and St. Dom’s Monday.

Girls’ soccer 

On the girls’ side, Waynflete, a Class C South finalist in 2022, suffered its first loss last Tuesday, 4-1, to visiting Greely. The Flyers got a goal early in the second half from Lucy Hart but couldn’t erase an early 2-0 deficit.

“Kudos to Greely,” said Carrie Earls, who co-coaches Waynflete with George Sherry. “They put away some great goals and made us pay. This is why we took a harder schedule this year. We hadn’t played for over a week and that plays into it a bit, but we knew what we were up against. It gives us a lot to work on.”

Last Thursday, the Flyers bounced back with a dramatic 2-1 overtime win at York to improve to 3-1. Hart scored in regulation and Fallon Culley won it in OT. Waynflete returned home Monday to host Old Orchard Beach. The Flyers go to defending Class B champion Yarmouth Thursday (see our website for game story), travel to Freeport Saturday and visit St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week.

“We have high hopes,” Earls said. “Our toughest schedule is in the first half of the season. We have to learn and I think that’s what we did today.”

The big story in Class A South was a landmark win for longtime Cheverus coach Craig Roberts (see story). The Stags began this week 3-1-1 after a 2-1 victory at Thornton Academy and a 4-0 win over Portland. Against the Golden Trojans, Rachel LaSalle and Annie Vigue scored the goals, while keeper Evelyn Rush made seven saves. In the win over the Bulldogs, Vigue scored 32 seconds in to set the tone, Chloe Durkin scored her first varsity goal just before halftime and in the second half, Sophia Monfa and Finley Brown added goals. Cheverus visits reigning Class A champion Scarborough Wednesday (see our website for game story). The Stags host Sanford Friday.

Deering took a 1-2-1 mark into Monday’s home game versus Westbrook after settling for a 2-2 tie against visiting Noble last week. Anika Gin and Shay Rosenthal scored the Rams’ goals, with Rosenthal scoring late to force OT. Sophia Hill made four saves. Deering hosts Sanford Wednesday and welcomes Portland Friday.

Portland got in the win column last week with a 4-0 home victory over Massabesic, then fell to 1-4 with a 4-0 loss at Cheverus. In the victory, Anenliese Collin scored three goals and Joz Fitzjurl had the other. Against the Stags, goalie Lucy Tidd made nine saves. The Bulldogs visit Deering Friday and play host to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ powerhouse field hockey team has now won 35 straight regular season games after a 4-0 victory at Gorham Friday. Junior standout Lucy Johnson scored three goals and Zoey Radford tallied the other as the Stags improved to 3-0 on the young season. Cheverus hosted Marshwood Tuesday, welcomes Massabesic Thursday, then plays host to Thornton Academy in a makeup game Friday.

Portland/Deering fell to 1-4 after losses to visiting Gorham (12-0) and at Marshwood (1-0). Portland/Deering is back in action Wednesday at home versus Massabesic.

Waynflete (0-1) was at Sacopee Valley Monday, goes to Wells Wednesday and visits Traip Academy Friday.

Volleyball

City volleyball teams have enjoyed promising results in the early going.

Portland, which went 4-10 in 2022, has started 4-0 this fall after 3-1 victories last week over visiting Westbrook and at Massabesic. The Bulldogs hope to stay undefeated Tuesday when Sanford pays a visit. After hosting Kennebunk Thursday, Portland goes to Lake Region Saturday and welcomes Lewiston Tuesday of next week.

Deering blanked visiting Noble last Tuesday (25-17, 25-14, 25-12), then fell to 3-2 after a five-set loss at Kennebunk. In the victory, Lara Gin led the way with a dozen kills and Shea Fenton added 19 assists. The Rams hosted Cheverus Tuesday, go to Thornton Academy Tuesday and visit Edward Little Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus extended its win streak to four and improved to 4-1 last Thursday with a 3-0 home win over Massabesic. The Stags were at Deering Tuesday, welcome Noble Thursday, then go to Marshwood Tuesday of next week.

Golf

Cheverus’ golf team improved to 3-2 last week with a 12.5-0.5 win over Deering. Mick Madden shot a low round of 38. The Stags battle powerhouses Scarborough and Falmouth this week.

Deering fell to 1-5 with losses last week to Cheverus (12.5-0.5) and South Portland (12.5-0.5).

Portland fell to 1-4 with a 13-0 loss to Scarborough.

Press Herald staff writer Steve Craig and Sun Journal staff writer Wil Kramlich contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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