Boyer and Bjornson lead shorthanded Ponies to victory at Hermon

    HERMON — With quarterback Hunter Law and top receiving option Hunter Smith both unavailable due to injury, the Foxcroft Academy football team needed a huge effort on the ground if they hoped to exit Hermon High School with a victory in the 2013 season opener on Sept. 6 in the new look Class C East.

    Head Coach Danny White’s Ponies got just that, amassing 371 rushing yards on 41 carries en route to a punishing 50-13 victory that was achieved without a single completed pass. Junior Pete Boyer led the way with 215 yards on 17 carries, four rushing touchdowns, four two-point conversions and a 54-yard punt return score sprinkled in for good measure. Bruising senior fullback Corey Bjornson was nearly as explosive, racking up 153 rushing yards and two scores on just 13 carries. The devastating tandem helped the Ponies reach the end zone the first six times they touched the ball and amass a 42-6 lead heading into halftime.
    Boyer and Bjornson also anchored a defensive unit that held Hermon’s offense to 114 total yards on 39 plays from scrimmage. Bjornson terrorized ball carriers all night, notching 15 tackles and forcing three fumbles, and fellow inside linebacker Boyer piled up eight tackles and recovered a fumble. Senior Corbyn Bruce was outstanding as well, making nine big tackles from his spot at defensive tackle.
    Freshman Billy Brock (four tackles), junior Gaige Pleninger (two tackles and an interception), sophomore Chris Storer (three tackles), and junior Sean Cody (three tackles) also excelled for a unit that lost senior starter Ryan Wang to a leg injury in the first quarter in addition to missing Law, Smith and junior Clay Carrroll. The banged-up unit contained Hermon back David Shepardson, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards in 2012, to 117 total yards on 22 touches.
    Next up for the Ponies is the home opener vs. Old Town High School on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. Foxcroft last faced Old Town in 2010, when the Coyotes played down for several seasons in the Little Ten Conference (which at the time was comprised of Class C East programs).