The Junior High Knights came away with a 78-13 road win in their first test of the season at Madawaska. Nick Botting started the game with a bang for Houlton, returning the opening kick 70 yards for the score, and then running in a 2-point conversion.
CONTROLS — Hodgdon’s Daden Palmer, No. 34, controls theball against an opponent in last Saturday’s Bill Weber Junior High Memorial Soccer Tournament.
Tyler Smith then took over for a bit, recovering a muffed kickoff deep in Madawsaka territory and scoring on a 17-yard run on the very next play. Ares Rattray then got into the action with a 34-yard punt return for a score, followed by a Smith 2-point conversion rush. He then intercepted a pass to set up Sam Geary’s 10-yard run, and rushed in the 2-point conversion. Tim Glatter returned a punt 35 yards for a TD on the next series, and Geary rushed in another 2-pt.conversion to make it 38-0 after one quarter.
The Knights unloaded their bench to start the second quarter and Madawaska scored twice on the ground during that time for its only points of the game. The Knights built the lead to 58-13 at halftime, and coasted to the 78-13 win in the second half.
Also scoring for Houlton were quarterback Jared Fox on a 47-yard run; Rattray on another kick return—this time of 65 yards and a 40-yard fumble/run combination with Geary; Geary scored on a 43-yard run, and Fox late in the 4th quarter closed the day out with a 1-yard plunge.
Jed Grant was solid defensively and kicking the ball. Linemen Nate Mooers, Mike Millet, Brendan Graham, Joe Dobbins and Zach Hagan all came up big in shutting down the run, assisted by strong linebacker play from Tyler Smith, Zach Hagan, Jacob Fox and Tim Glatter. Cornerbacks Sam Geary and Cody Condon also made notable contributions in the tackling department.
After the game Coach Alderson remarked how pleased he was at the way his team was able to execute nearly flawlessly (no off sides or encroachment penalties, and only 3 penalties altogether.) He was especially proud of the way the team showed excellent sportsmanship despite the lopsided nature of the contest.
The Junior Knights will be in action vs. Caribou Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sincock Field in Caribou. Their first home contest of the year will be versus Millinocket at 11 a.m. at the Airport Field on Saturday, Sept. 22.
DRIBBLES — Houlton’s Kolleen Bouchard dribbles the ball against a Hodgdon opponent in last Saturday’s Bill Weber Junior High Memorial Soccer Tournament.
