The Houlton football team picked up their second win in the LTC last Thursday over host Mt. View, 28-14.
“It was good to see some chemistry develop and the team come together,” said Houlton coach Brian Reynolds. “We are discovering who we are as a team and it’s great to see the kids working together.”
The Mustangs opened the scoring on their first possession of the game on a short run coupled by an extra-point conversion, 7-0. With 5:55 left in the first quarter, Jake Drew of Houlton ran the ball in on a 54-yard touchdown carry.
On the next Houlton drive, Garrett Ring intercepted a Mt. View pass and returned it to the 10-yard line. Drew punched it in from three yards and the two-point conversion by Josh Upton gave Houlton its first lead, 14-7.
After alternating possessions, Mt. View scored on a short pass in the second quarter and the point attempt was good to knot the game at 14-all. It looked as if the half would end in a tie, but with 20.1 seconds left in the period, Drew drove 15 yards for a touchdown to give the Shires a 20-14 advantage.
Off the second-half kickoff return, the Shires’ Drew banged in a 26-yard touchdown run. Ring completed the two-point conversion, as he snatched the ball out of mid-air on an exceptional reception in the back of the end zone, explained Reynolds, as the Shires went ahead 28-14.
“The teams would drive the ball back and forth across the middle of the field with both threatening to score,” Reynolds said, “but, Garrett Ring would stop Mt. View with another amazing catch.”
This time, Ring had a fourth-quarter interception. With the Shiretowners trying to run out the clock, the Mustangs burned their three timeouts trying to regain possession.
At that time, Drew stepped up with what would appear to be a third-down 91-yard touchdown for his fifth of the game. But, a questionable block in the back, according to Reynolds, called the play back. Instead, Drew’s run was enough for a first down and the Shires would take a knee and run the clock out for their first varsity road win and their second victory in their inaugural season.
“All the hard work we have been putting in this year is starting to pay off,” Reynolds said. “We have competed in all of our games this year, but the results haven’t been there so far. It was nice to see the kids feeling a sense of accomplishment out there.”
Drew carried the ball 15 times for 223 yards, four touchdowns and a two-point conversion pass. Upton rushed seven times for 38 yards and a two-point conversion in limited action due to an ankle injury. Nick Botting carried nine times for 51 yards, while fullback Gary Tucker ran four times for 11 yards.
The offensive line consisting of Tony Bonilla, Nick Hagan, Damon Reynolds, Sabastian Walton and Nate Mooers controlled the line of scrimmage and allowed the Shires to move the ball on the ground.
“We got the yards we needed to keep drives alive and Jake really brings something special to the table allowing us to strike from anywhere on the field,” Reynolds said. “The defense stepped up to make key stops throughout the game and Ring’s interceptions couldn’t have come at better times for us.”
Drew was named Class D Player of the Week for Maine high school football websites and nominated for the LTC Player of the Week. The award for LTC Player of the Week had not been awarded at presstime.
Defensively the Shires were led by Tucker with 12 tackles, Botting and Austin Brown, each with 11 tackles, Walton with eight tackles and Ring with three tackles and two interceptions.
“The offensive line had its best game yet,” Reynolds noted. “They picked a good time to get it rolling. Hopefully it will continue into our matchup this week.”
The Shiretowners will be playing MCI at home Friday night during Senior Night, starting at 7 p.m.
“MCI is very good along the front and this game will be won and lost in the trenches,” said Reynolds. “I think the team is ready to accept the challenge.
“When we are healthy, we can move the ball well,” Reynolds added. “I hope Friday night, we can have a full compliment of weapons against the league-leading and undefeated Huskies.”
