Foxcroft shuts out Washington Academy 41-0 on Senior Night

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Three drives in the first quarter that each required just a single play helped Foxcroft Academy build a 20-0 lead against Washington Academy of East Machias during the Ponies’ Senior Night on Oct. 12. Foxcroft is set to play at Oakes Field again this season, most likely after a bye in the opening round of the Class D North playoffs, as the team earned a 41-0 victory to improve to 7-0 on the season with the Ponies’ first shutout of 2018.

Following a three-and-out by the Foxcroft defense on the opening series of the game, Washington (3-4) opted to punt the football out of bounds as the pigskin rolled off the field at the Pony 27-yard line. On first down senior Jeremy Richard came across in motion from right to left as he took the handoff. Richard weaved his way through the defense and broke some tackles along the way to a 73-yard touchdown for the 6-0 advantage.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FURTH DOWN — Washington Academy junior quarterback Finn Furth is tackled by Foxcroft sophomore Sam Clawson (55) and senior Jeremy Richard in front of Pony seniors Michaleb Niles (22) and Caleb Ladd (67) during an Oct. 12 contest. On Senior Night Foxcroft earned a 41-0 victory to improve to 7-0.

A stop on fourth down enabled the Pony offense to take over at the team’s 45. On the first play from scrimmage senior quarterback Matthew Spooner hit sophomore Logan Martin with a short pass on the left side of the field. Martin cut right and he was not stopped until he slowed in the endzone after having scored Foxcroft’s second touchdown in as many plays on the 55-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore Luke Stedman’s PAT made the score 13-0.

In the final minute of the opening quarter a short Washington punt rolled out at the team’s own 23. On first-and-10 Spooner looked to pass and he found senior Hyatt Smith open in the left of the endzone for the touchdown pass, the third trip across the goalline coming on a single play drive.

Spooner finished the evening 8-of-13 for 196 yards with three touchdown passes — he and Martin connected again on a 31-yard play in the fourth quarter — and an interception. Martin led all players with four receptions for 87 yards with Smith right behind at three catches for 83 yards.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
DIRECTING TRAFFIC — Foxcroft senior Jeremy Richards helps set up a wall of blockers on his way to a 55-yard punt return touchdown on Friday evening against Washington Academy of East Machias. Richard also scored on a 73-yard run on the first offense play of the game as the Ponies found the endzone six times while posting the team’s first shutout of the season.

Richard would find the endzone a second time on a 55-yard punt return in the third quarter. Richard made the catch at the Foxcroft-45 and he ran left with fellow returner Smith running to his right. Richard faked the handoff and the deception fooled the Raider punt team as Richard raced down the left sideline for the score.

Senior Michaleb Niles scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter, as he led the team with 12 carries for 112 yards.

Foxcroft concludes the regular season with a short trip down Route 7 to Dexter to face the Dexter Regional High School/Piscataquis Community High School cooperative squad (5-2) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Before kickoff against Washington, the 13 Foxcroft seniors were recognized. The members of the Class of 2019 are Jared Atkinson, Eli Bickford, Noah Contreras, Brayden Kleicamp, Caleb Ladd, Mason McLeish, Michaleb Niles, Jeremy Richard, Hyatt Smith, Matthew Spooner, Albert Sudsbury, Ryan Vienneau, and Sekton Wandikbo. While many of the seniors are regular starters, Foxcroft pregame introductions of the offense featured an all-senior lineup.

FOOTBALL
Foxcroft 41,
Washington 0
WA 0 0 0 0 | 0
FA 20 0 14 7 | 41
First: F — Richard 73 yds
(kick short)
F — Martin 55 yds
from Spooner
(Stedman kick)
F — Smith 23 yds
from Spooner
(Stedman kick)
Third: F — Niles 4 yds
(Stedman kick)
F — Richard 55-yd punt return
(Stedman kick)
Fourth: F — Martin 31 yds
from Spooner
(Stedman kick)
Passing: F — Spooner
8-of-13 196 yds 3 TD Int
Martin 0-of-0
W — Furth 1-of-6 5 yds
2 Int
Receiving: F — Martin 4,
87 yds 2 TD; Smith 3,
83 yds TD; Richard 1, 26 yds
W — Talbot 1, 5 yds
Rushing: F — Niles 12,
112 yds TD; Richard 2,
84 yds TD; Martin 3, 45 yds;
Spooner 2, 20 yds;
Wandikbo 1, 7 yds
Records: F 7-0,
W 3-4

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
QUARTERBACK HURRY — Senior Ryan Vienneau hits Washington junior quarterback Finn Furth as he throws during the first quarter. The ball ended up hanging in the air down the field, where Pony senior Hyatt Smith made the interception.