By Michael Hoffer
MaxPreps.com
PORTLAND, Maine – There was no shortage of drama or frostbite during a long championship Saturday at frigid Fitzpatrick Stadium. Bonny Eagle, Mountain Valley and John Bapst all won state titles with varying degrees of difficulty as the curtain came down on the 2008 football season.
The day began with the Class B tilt, as Mountain Valley, seeking a third title in five seasons, did battle with red-hot Morse.
The Falcons were never tested during a 9-0 regular season and never trailed for a single moment. Mountain Valley had no trouble beating Falmouth in the semifinals, then fended off an upset bid from Cape Elizabeth in the regional final.
Morse, a regional semifinalist in 2007, lost its first two games this fall, then came alive and rode a tremendous defense and opportunistic offense to five straight wins to end the regular season. The Shipbuilders then beat Winslow, Leavitt and MDI on the road to capture the regional title and earn their first state final berth in 36 seasons.
The Falcons broke open a close game early, rode over 300 all-purpose yards from senior standout Justin Staires, an overwhelming edge in plays and time of possession and a bruising defensive effort to cruise to a 52-7 victory.
Mountain Valley scored first on a 16-yard Staires run, then, after Morse went up 7-6 on a 16-yard run by junior Arthur Cavanagh, responded emphatically when Staires returned the ensuing kickoff 85-yards to the house. On the final play of the first quarter, Staires ran 81 yards for a score and a 20-7 lead from which the Shipbuilders were never able to recover.
Mountain Valley scored another touchdown in the second period, added three more in the third and another for good measure in the fourth to end its season as the best team in its class.
“It's an amazing feeling,” said Staires, who scored in the state game for the third year in a row. “My sophomore year, I was able to raise a Gold Ball, but to be honest, it feels like it's been forever.”
“All year, I heard about how weak B West is and how strong B East is,” said Mountain Valley coach Jim Aylward. “It's such a slap in the face of the Falmouths, Yorks and Cape Elizabeths. I don't know what it is. We had an angry chip on our shoulder all week. We think we play a good schedule, as good as the east.”
Staires wound up rushing for 224 yards and three TD on 22 carries. He ended with 319 all-purpose yards.
“It's been an amazing ride to play for Mountain Valley,” Staires said. “I wouldn't ever want to play on a different team. We got to the Western Maine Final freshman year. From then on, we all came together. The best part is that I've played with the same guys all through middle school and up. It's awesome to win a Gold Ball and raise it up with those guys.”
Morse, which managed only 68 yards of offense and was done in by five turnovers, finished 8-3.
“I couldn't be any more proud of this team,” Shipbuilders' coach Jason Libby said. “They're feeling the pain right now, but they've done things for the city of Bath they don't realize they've done. They will in 20 years when they talk about this appearance. We'll get motivated for next year.”
Next came the Class C contest, which proved to be the most exciting. Heavily favored Wintrhop, representing the West, took an early 7-0 lead, but upstart John Bapst proved it was no fluke, tying the score with a second period TD. The teams traded third period scores before the Crusaders went up 21-14 on a fourth quarter TD run and their defense did the rest, slamming the door for a victory which gave John Bapst its first crown in 32 seasons.
Night brought even colder temperatures and the Class A Final, as defending champion Bonny Eagle battled Skowhegan in a matchup of No. 4 seeds. The Scots, the defending champions, went 6-2 in the regular year, then took care of business in the postseason. The Indians were 7-1 in the regular season, then upset Lawrence and Edward Little to reach their first state game in 19 seasons.
Skowhegan would make things interesting for a half, before Bonny Eagle's high-powered offense finally came to life.
The Indians took a 6-0 lead in the second period when senior Cody Vigue scored on a 2-yard run. Late in the first half, the Scots drew even when senior Josh Ruby scored on a 9-yard run.
The Indians had nearly a 2 to 1 edge in time of possession over the first 16 minutes and held Bonny Eagle senior standout Nate Doehler to a relatively quiet 93 combined rushing and passing yards, but Bonny Eagle would assert control in the second half.
Moments after Doehler had a timely interception, Ruby scored on a 2-yard run midway through the third quarter to put the Scots on top to stay. Late in the third, Bonny Eagle drove 49-yards on five plays and made it 20-6 when Doehler found junior Ryan Nason for an 18-yard scoring pass. With 1:49 to go, the Scots slammed the door when Doehler scored on a 10-yard run and the Bonny Eagle defense did the rest as the Scots went on to their fourth title in five seasons, 26-6.
“Dynasty, legacy, anything you want to call us,” said Bonny Eagle senior Dayton McPherson, who led a defensive charge which limited the Indians to just 163 yards, including a mere 39 in the second half. “I think we're the best football team in the state out of this whole entire decade. We're a great team and I love playing with these guys.”
“Everything clicked today,” Doehler added. “In the second half, we knew we had to keep the ball tight and go out and do what we can do. It's easier to win by a lot, but it's more fun to win a closer game.
“We came in every day for a good 14 weeks and prepared for this game right here. The seniors have all improved so much since freshman year. We've been dedicated. We don't really care if we're on the road or at home. As long as we could get here, that's all we wanted.”
Bonny Eagle coach Kevin Cooper gave praise to his leaders.
“We've got a great senior class,” he said. “It's going to be really hard to see these kids go. The kids aren't just great to coach, but they're great to relate to off the field. They're great young men. It validates what we're doing all the way down to our youth programs, through middle and high school. I'm very proud of what we've done the last five years.”
Doehler wrapped up his high school career with 139 yards and a TD on 19 carries. He threw for 109 yards and a score on 7-of-12 passing.
Michael Hoffer is the sports editor of The Forecaster, a family of weekly newspapers based in Falmouth, Maine. Michael can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
