CARIBOU, Maine — The Aroostook Huskies picked up their first victory in four years this past season and the future looks bright for the team that competes in the Maine Independent Football League.
The local high school team beat the Valley Mustangs on Oct. 21 by a score of 25-21 for its only win against seven losses. The season came to a close on Nov. 4 with a 35-7 loss to the Damariscotta Eagles.
The Huskies placed last in the five team league with a 1-7 record, but with 10 of the 19 players on the roster either freshmen or sophomores, the future is promising, according to Head Coach Taylor DeFelice.
“We were more competitive than we have been the last four years and every coach we went against made sure to tell us after our games,” DeFelice said. “With only four seniors, we have hopes for building for a better season next year.”
Senior captain Apollo Grondin of Caribou and classmates Caleb Libby of Caribou and Garrett Halley of Presque Isle were the team leaders. Grondin played running back and defensive end, Libby was a wide receiver and outside linebacker and Halley was an offensive and defensive lineman. Cody Anderson of Caribou was the team’s only other senior.
Other players on the roster were Eric Argraves, Lucien Belanger, Carlton Mitchell and Connor Rideout, all of Presque Isle; Kaden DeMerchant, Damien Douglas, Jacob Estabrook, Aaron Gamble, Tharen Hand, Darian Hartley, Brendan Johndro, Angel Riopelle and Tyler Wright, all of Caribou; Braydon Martin of Limestone; and Zaylan Johnston of Mars Hill.
The Berlin Gladiators won the regular season with a perfect 8-0 mark and went on to beat Damariscotta (5-3) in a close championship match played Nov. 18. The Central Maine Eagles (4-4) and the Mustangs (2-6) joined the Huskies in rounding out the league.
