County Renegades fall in first home game

11 years ago

    The County Renegades (1-2) of the Greater New England Youth Football League were in first place of the northern division for a week, but that all came crashing down last Saturday at the McIntyre Field in Hodgdon at the hands of an angry defending league champion team from Madawaska, 41-6.

    The visiting Mustangs came in 0-2 after two close defeats to Central Maine and Medomak Valley and for awhile it looked like they were going to suffer their third, before the tide turned in the middle of the second quarter.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
sp-renegades-dc2-pt-39BUSTING THROUGH — Jed Grant, a student at Greater Houlton Christian Academy, playing for the County Renegades busted through Madawaska’s defense on Saturday.
    The Renegades’ Devon Targonski (Hodgdon) completed a 40-yard pass on the first play of the game to wide receiver Gavin Russell (Katahdin.) From there, running back Jed Grant (GHCA) found the end zone on a sweep around the left side for 20 yards and the early 6-0 lead. Hopes ran high as the Renegades totally stifled the visitors on their first offensive series, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Russell at midfield. Then the penalties and injuries began to take the wind out of the sails of the home team and once the Mustangs (1-2) scored early in the second quarter, it was all down hill after that.
    “We just couldn’t sustain those exciting 15 minutes or so at the beginning of the game,” said head coach Steve Martin. “We are still a very new team and with that comes a certain amount of natural uncertainty about what we are and how good we can be.”
sp-renegades-dc1-pt-39RUSHING — Shiloh Bond, a student in Hodgdon, playing for the County Renegades rushes toward the sideline in  last Saturday’s game at the McIntyre Field in Hodgdon.
    In all, the Renegades were flagged seven times for 45 yards and were intercepted twice, including a long pick six by the Mustangs’ senior running back Gabriel St. Germain, who also scored twice on the ground and threw a touchdown pass as well.
    “Those guys have seen it all before,” said assistant offensive coach Chris Bond. “I think we came in with a good game plan and it worked for quite awhile there, but we still need more consistency and a lot more mental toughness.”
    Line coach Randy Challoux added, “It seems like whenever we suffer an injury or get tired, we’re in trouble. We suited 18 today, but we had two who were there but not medically cleared, and one of our key guys up front out with a knee [injury]. It’s tough to maintain when you only have 15 healthy bodies for most of the game.”
    Left guard Derek Atkinson (Katahdin) went out with an apparent knee injury just before the Mustangs onslaught began and did not return.
    “Our center Brandon Suitter has been the only guy who hasn’t missed a snap all year,” continued Challoux. “The others have played well, but we can’t ask them all to play both ways for a full game and sustain their effort level that long.”
    In the early part of the game, it was apparent that the big Renegades line, led by senior left tackle Colby Seely (Woodstock) and the aforementioned Suitter were very capable of solid play when fresh. Without Atkinson and two others unavailable for substitution, the tide quickly turned against them.
    “I looked out there a couple times and saw a 130-pound cornerback playing guard and later a 135-pound freshman linebacker at right tackle and said to myself, ‘just give me my full roster for one game and watch what we do’,” said coach Martin. “Not to take anything away from Madawaska. They are a tough veteran group with some great athletes and when they smell blood in the water, it’s lights out. But at least the boys know what the story is and what they are capable of now.”
    Offensive leaders for the Mustangs included St. Germain and his four touchdowns and junior Emanuel Charest (one rushing touchdown). Defensively, the visitors were led by junior Aaron Leary (13 tackles.)
    The homestanding Renegades (who play on Saturday at 2 p.m. the next two weeks) were led on offense by Grant (14 carries, 80 yards and one touchdown); reserve back Cody Brownlee of Katahdin (7-36-0) and quarterback Dakota Reinhardt, also of Katahdin, who rushed nine times for 59 yards. The Renegades totaled 194 yards on the ground — by far their best output of the season and 168 yards through the air, led by Targonski (8 of 13 for 123 yards.)
    Defensively, Sam Geary (GHCA) led the way for the second straight week (13 tackles) followed by nose tackle Seely (7), monsterback Reinhardt (7), corner back Shiloh Bond of Hodgdon (6) and linebacker Grant (6).
    The Renedgades take on the undefeated (3-0) southern division leaders, Central Maine of China at 2 p.m. at McIntyre Field on Saturday. Admission is free and rest room facilities are available.