HOULTON, Maine — Although the season ended sooner than the team had hoped, the Houlton Shire football team had one of its most successful seasons in the program’s history.
Featuring players from Houlton, Hodgdon and Southern Aroostook, the Shires finished 3-1 in the eight-man small school north division, which earned the team the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The Shires were beaten in the semifinals by eventual state champion Dexter.
For the team’s efforts, the Shires were lauded by the Little Ten Conference with multiple players earning awards.
Kurtis Reynolds, a senior lineman/defensive tackle, was named Defensive Lineman of the Year for his efforts. It marks the first time that a Shire has received an individual accolade.
“It’s exciting for the team to see so many receive recognition,” coach Jon Solomon said. “It’s the first time we have had an individual award and also the first time that our sending schools have also received a player recognition.”
Reynolds missed the Shires’ final postseason game after suffering a serious knee injury during the final game of the regular season.
“I was running in a 2-point conversion against MA (Mattanawcook Academy) and I got stood up by two guys,” Reynolds said. “I went to plant my right foot to try to push and I got hit on the side of the knee.”
Reynolds tore his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, officially ending not only his football season, but hockey as well.
“I didn’t really know how bad it was at first,” he said. “I kinda jogged off the field, but then collapsed on the sideline when it gave out. Then I knew it was pretty bad. I am trying to not stress about it too much since there is nothing I can really do about it.”
Other Shires receiving LTC nods were as follows:
First-team offense — Chris Caswell (Southern Aroostook), running back; Troy Hipsley (Hodgdon), utility back; and Caleb Solomon, wide receiver.
Second-team offense — Isaiah Erivn, quarterback; Kurtis Reynolds, fullback; Collin Crouse, offensive line; and AJ Lewis (Southern Aroostook), center.
First-team defense — Reynolds, defensive tackle; and Solomon, defensive end.
Second-team defense — Crouse, defensive tackle; and Caswell, defensive back.
All Academic Team — Solomon, Reynolds, Caswell, and Landon DiRusso.
