By Michael Hoffer
MaxPreps.com
The high school football game of the week lived up to its billing last Friday night in Gorham, where the host Rams and the visiting Deering Rams combined to score 81 points.
In the end, Deering got the last laugh, thanks to the individual brilliance of senior running back Jack Heary, who finished with 300 yards and five TDs (one of which came on a kickoff return) as it pulled away for the 49-32 victory.
“Whenever we play Gorham it's a battle,” Heary said. “They always come to play. We always come to play. It's just like an ultimate fight.”
The first half was relatively mild. Gorham took an 8-0 lead on a 43-yard TD run from Doug Woods and a two-point conversion, but Heary returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the house to make it 8-6. After the hosts took a 14-6 lead on another Woods TD, Deering pulled within 14-12 at the half on an 18-yard TD run from sophomore quarterback Jamie Ross.
The fun began in earnest in the third period.
Heary gave Deering its first lead on a 22-yard TD scamper, but Gorham's Ryan Luxton returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to paydirt to make it a 20-20 game. One play into their next offensive series, the visitors were back on top when Heary raced 80 yards for a score, putting Deering ahead for good. A Ross-to-Ernie Salamone TD pass made it 35-20 after three.
Gorham didn't quit in the fourth. A 2-yard Woods TD run made it 35-26, but the two-point conversion failed, keeping it a two-possession game. With 6:27 to go, Heary scored again, this time on a 65-yard dash, to make it 42-26. With 5:39 to go, Woods scored on a 6-yard run, but again the two-point conversion failed, keeping it a 42-32 contest. With time winding down, Heary scored once more, on a 13-yard run, to bring the curtain down on the 49-32 victory.
“We had more execution and intensity in the second half,” Heary said. “The offensive line came out and dominated the game. It's nice to score as quickly as possible. It's all about momentum in this game. I try to get it for my team whenever I can.”
The final statistics were jaw-dropping.
Deering had 376 yards of offense to 337 for Gorham. Heary alone rushed for 300 yards and four scores and added 112 return yards and another TD.
“I can't give enough credit to my offensive line,” Heary said. “Corey Delmonte, George Marshall, Matt Becker, Danny Pheng and Alex Lunt.”
Ross ran for 40 yards and a TD on four carries and went 4-of-7 for 35yards, a TD and an interception through the air.
Gorham's effort was led by junior Jonathan Day, who had 152 yards on 13 carries. Woods rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries.
Deering (now 3-0) hosts rival Portland Friday, but has its sights set on a showdown at undefeated, defending state champion Bonny Eagle Oct. 10.
“We'll let Bonny Eagle have the spotlight for now,” Salamone said. “We all know we play them. We'll definitely be ready for that game. There's always room to improve. We'll take care of it in practice.”
“We're not even close to being where we can be,” Heary added. “We have a lot of room to improve. If we do, there's no telling where we can go. I can't wait to play Bonny Eagle.”
The Scots improved to 3-0 with a hard-fought 26-14 win at South Portland, finally clinching the game with a TD pass late in the fourth quarter.
Massabesic and Thornton Academy are also 3-0 to date. Cheverus, Gorham, Marshwood and Scarborough have all surprised at 2-1.
Michael Hoffer is the sports editor of The Forecaster, a family of weekly newspapers based in Falmouth. Michael can be reached atmhoffer@theforecaster.net
