Thornton Academy 42

Westbrook 14

The Westbrook High School football team has certainly seen its share of struggles this season.

After opening on a high note with a dominating 34-6 win on the road over Portland, the Blue Blazes have been on a four-game losing streak, the latest loss coming at home Friday night as Thornton Academy beat the Blazes 42-14.

But a 28-0 halftime deficit that would have made some teams throw in the towel, the Blazes fought hard for the full 48 minutes, and put points on the board in the second half to try and gain momentum for their next game on the road against 2-3 South Portland this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Westbrook head coach Daryle Weiss said he liked the effort his team put forth against Thornton. “The kids played hard,” Weiss said. “We played a good second half, I’m proud of their effort.”

The Blazes found themselves down early in the game. After forcing Westbrook into a three-and-out on their first possession, the Trojans took just five plays to find the end zone. The bulk of the work on the drive was handled by senior back Zac Murray, who had a run of 23 yards before pounding the ball into the end zone from seven yards out with 8:11 left in the first. Senior Chris Gennaro split the uprights for the extra point, and the Trojans had a 7-0 lead.

The Trojans forced the Blazes into another three-and-out on the next possession, and with good field position at the Westbrook 37, took just two plays to score again.

On second-and-12 from the Blazes’ 39, Trojans quarterback John Trull lofted a pass to Jeremy Dumas for a long touchdown strike with 5:33 left in the first quarter. Gennaro added the extra point, and the score stood 14-0 in favor of the Trojans.

Westbrook began to mount an extended drive on the next possession, but the drive ended when Westbrook quarterback Brian Doyle’s pass was picked off by Jeff Winnie. Winnie streaked down the sideline and appeared to be headed for a score, but he was brought down by a hustling Chris Grovo at the Westbrook 10.

Just two plays later, Mark Reaser broke through the line for a two-yard score with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter. Gennaro kicked the extra point, and the Trojans led 21-0.

The two teams were scoreless for most of the second quarter, with Westbrook’s best chance cut short when a Doyle pass was picked off by Matt Leach, giving the Trojans the ball on the Blazes’ 42 with just over two minutes left in the half.

Thornton took advantage of the opportunity, and with just 38 seconds left before the break, Trull found the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown run. Gennaro added the PAT, and the teams went into the break with Thornton leading 28-0.

Westbrook came out of the break refusing to concede the game and began to mount some offense on the ground. After holding the Trojans to a three-and-out, the Blazes moved the ball consistently for the first time all game.

Taking the ball at their own 45, the Blazes, behind the running of Patrick Webber, Joel Chadbourne and Doyle, steadily ground out yardage against the Trojans’ defense. Doyle finally got the Blazes on the board when he hit Ian Levinsky for a 30-yard touchdown with 6:25 left in the quarter. Webber added the two-point conversion, and Westbrook cut the Trojans’ lead to 28-8.

After a huge defensive play by Chadbourne, who threw Thornton’s Robbie Trask for a loss, forcing the Trojans into a second-and-long situation, the third quarter came to a close with the Trojans knocking on the door again. On the last play of the quarter, Trull hit Peter Remmes for a 40-yard gain to the Blazes’ 10.

As the fourth quarter began, Trull kept the ball himself for a 10-yard touchdown run which made the score 35-8 after Gennaro added the extra point with 11:52 left in the game.

Thornton closed out their scoring about two minutes later, when, following another Leach interception deep in Westbrook territory, Reaser scored a four-yard touchdown with just over 10 minutes left. Gennaro’s extra point made the score 42-8.

Westbrook refused to give up, and began to pound the ball down the field once again. Doyle had several big gains on the ground during the drive, and sophomore back Ollie Steele electrified the crowd with several runs.

With just over two minutes to go, Steele brought the crowd to life as he grabbed a Thornton punt at the 50, cut across the middle of the field and sprinted down the sideline for an apparent touchdown. Unfortunately, a holding call on the Blazes nullified the score and brought the ball back to the Trojans’ 41.

Despite the setback, it took the Blazes only a few plays to get their second score of the game. Doyle kept the ball for a long gain and on the next play, he handed the ball to Webber, who smashed through the line to make the score 42-14.

After the game, Weiss said he saw several things that encouraged him about his team’s performance. “From the first to the second half, I think the offensive and defensive line got markedly better,” he said. “Ollie Steele stepped in and played great, he’s definitely got to continue to contribute. I thought Pat Webber ran the ball well, and I think the whole senior class just played tough. Brian (Doyle), Ian (Levinsky), Joel (Chadbourne), Nick Marchant, and I don’t want to leave any of those guys out, all of them played great.”

Weiss said the Blazes would quickly put this game behind them and get ready for South Portland. “We get the kids ready every week,” he said. “South Portland’s a good football team and we’ve got to go out and execute and play well.”