MCI builds early lead, topples Foxcroft
PITTSFIELD — Maine Central Institute used dominant play along the line of scrimmage and a three-pronged rushing attack to build an early lead and defeat Foxcroft Academy 34-20 in a crossover football matchup at Alumni Field on Friday night, Oct. 13.
Senior Adam Bertrand paced the Huskies’ ground game, gaining 176 yards on 36 carries and scoring a touchdown as MCI secured its second straight victory and ended Foxcroft’s five-game winning streak.
MCI (4-3) hosts Winslow in its regular-season finale. The Black Raiders are 5-1 and ranked second in Class C North heading into a key home contest Saturday afternoon against 4-2 Oceanside of Rockland.
Foxcroft (5-2) closes out its regular season next Friday at Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln. The Lynx were 4-2 and ranked third in Class D North entering Friday night’s game at Stearns/Schenck of Millinocket.
This stood to be an interesting matchup between teams that switched classes this year, with MCI moving up to Class C North by enrollment after winning the Class D state title last fall and Foxcroft switching from Class C to Class D this year.
MCI took control early, churning out 266 yards — 235 on the ground — while building a 28-7 halftime lead.
A major factor in that success was the work of the offensive line. Harrison Sites, Matthew Rumery, P.J. Plummer, Sam Tilton and Daniel Pratts helped MCI find rushing success almost instantly.
Pedro Matos, who had rushed for 54 yards this season entering the game, raced for a 51-yard gain on the game’s first play from scrimmage. That set up his own 3-yard touchdown run two plays later to give the Huskies a 7-0 lead only 70 seconds into the contest.
MCI’s Will Russell recovered a fumble by Foxcroft quarterback Nick Clawson on the second play after the kickoff, and the Huskies then marched 55 yards in 11 plays to build a 14-0 lead on Bertrand’s 3-yard run with 6:13 left in the opening period.
Foxcroft broke through on its next possession, driving 59 yards to draw within 14-7 on a 5-yard keeper by Clawson with 2:46 left in the first quarter.
Matos scored his second touchdown of the game with 2.7 seconds to go in the first quarter, this time on a 13-yard pass to the right flat from freshman quarterback Ryan Friend to make it 21-7.
The drive totaled 60 yards, the first 47 on the ground as Bertrand rushed four times for 32 yards and Seth Bussell added two rushes for 15 yards.
MCI padded its lead just before intermission, with Bussell scoring from 4 yards out with 10 seconds left in the half to cap off a 70-yard march.
Bertrand had 103 rushing yards at the break while Matos had 78 and Bussell chipped in 58 yards.
Foxcroft’s defense found more success against the MCI offense after intermission, but two third-quarter turnovers prevented the Ponies from quickly cutting into the deficit.
Finally Clawson scored on a 34-yard run with 9:23 left in the game to draw the Ponies within 28-14.
MCI eventually answered with Friend’s second touchdown pass of the night, a 21-yard strike along the right sideline to David Young, to restore a 34-14 cushion with 2:59 left.
Clawson closed out the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Hyatt Smith.
Bangor Daily News photo/Terry Farren
INTERCLASS CLASH — Foxcroft Academy’s Nick Clawson looks for a way around MCI’s Will Russell during first quarter action in Pittsfield on Oct. 13. The visiting Ponies lost 34-20 at Class C MCI. Foxcroft will close out the regular season on Friday, Oct. 20 with a game at Lincoln against fellow Class D North program Mattanawcook Academy.