Foxcroft shuts out John Bapst 47-0 in quarterfinal victory
Ponies to host No. 4 Oak Hill Friday
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy broke open the game with three touchdowns in a span of three minutes, 15 seconds during the second quarter to jump out to a 28-0 lead vs, John Bapst Memorial High School of Bangor in a Class D quarterfinal on Nov. 5. The top-seeded Ponies advanced to the semifinal round by a final score of 47-0 — the team’s first shutout of the season — over the No. 8 Crusaders.
Foxcroft (9-0) is now set to host fourth-seeded Oak Hill High School of Wales on Friday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to the state championship. The other Class D semifinal will feature second seed Winthrop High School hosting third-seeded Freeport High School.
The Raiders got past No. 5 Lisbon High School 20-19 in its quarterfinal contest on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 6. During the regular season Foxcroft won 41-20 at Oak Hill on Sept. 11.
FIRST OF TWO — Foxcroft Academy sophomore Wyatt Rayfield throws a 6-yard touchdown to junior Caden Crocker with sophomore Gage Beaudry (4) and senior Anthony Smith (71) pass blocking during the third quarter of the Ponies’ 47-0 Class D quarterfinal victory vs. John Bapst on Nov, 5. Rayfield and Crocker would also connect on a 1-yard touchdown pass, one of three scoring receptions for Crocker.
Against John Bapst, Foxcroft led 7-0 at the 3:48-mark of the first quarter on a 5-yard pitch pass from senior quarterback Austin Seavey to junior Caden Crocker.
The Ponies threatened to score again in the second quarter but John Bapst made a stop on fourth-and-7 to take over the team’s own 5-yard-line.
Following a yard gain on first down, Crusader senior quarterback Jordan Kimball dropped back to pass. He threw a short pass over the middle but Foxcroft junior Cameron Chase made the interception at the 10-yard line. Chase returned the ball all the way for a pick six, which with a PAT from sophomore Kemsley Marsters put the Ponies on top 14-0 with 5:54 left to play in the opening half.
PICK FOUR — Pony sophomore Jadon Richard comes down with the football in pass coverage against John Bapst senior Nik Hachey during the team’s Class D quarterfinal in Dover-Foxcroft. Foxcroft had four interceptions in a 47-0 victory.
On the ensuing possession John Bapst threw on third-and-9 from the team’s 32. Senior Gideon Topolski picked off the pass over the middle and he returned the football to the John Bapst-17. The Foxcroft defense came up with four interceptions in the quarterfinal.
The Ponies made John Bapst pay for the turnover as new quarterback sophomore Wyatt Rayfield ran 17 yards to the endzone.
Marsters’ ensuing kickoff went over the heads of the Crusaders’ deep return men but instead of bouncing into the end zone for a touchback the pigskin came to a rest at the 1-yard line where the visiting team’s offense took over. The Foxcroft defense kept the pressure on by forcing a fourth-and-4.
With the team’s season on the line and already down 21-0, John Bapst tried a fake punt. Senior Nik Hachey tried to run for the first down after taking the long snap. He was tackled a yard shy of the sticks at the Foxcroft-10 to set the Ponies up with a first-and-goal.
NOWHERE TO RUN — Sophomore Hunter McSorley closes in on John Bapst senior Corey Butler. Top-seeded Foxcroft posted its first shutout of the season vs. the Crusaders to move on to the semifinal round where the team will host No. 4 Oak Hill.
One play was all that was needed as senior Jesse Drury took the handoff, broke a tackle up the middle and spun to his right to find a clear path for the touchdown. He finished with a game-high 96 rushing yards, coming on 10 carries with two of these resulting in trips to the end zone. Drury also had a 26-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Marsters followed with the PAT to put Foxcroft ahead 28-0 at the 2:39 mark of the second quarter, and the third touchdown in 3:15 of game time.
Crocker would have two additional touchdown receptions in the third quarter, as he and Rayfield connected from the John Bapst-6 and 1-yard line. Crocker led all players with seven receptions for 41 yards and three touchdowns.
Rayfield was 6-of-6 through the air for 38 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with his 17-yard touchdown run.
The victory earned Focroft a season sweep of John Bapst. The team ends the year at 1-7, which includes a 55-27 loss to the Ponies at Cameron Stadium on Oct. 9.
Under the new look Class D for 2021, Foxcroft and John Bapst got reacquainted in the playoffs. The two programs met in each postseason from 2006-09 — including two Class C East semifinal matchups and a pair of regional title games — and then again in the 2012 Class C East/Little Ten Conference championship. The Ponies had a 4-1 record in these five contests from 2006 to 2012. After 2012 the Foxcroft and John Bapst were different classes until the Crusades moved down to Class D this season.
FOOTBALL
Class D
QUARTERFINAL
No. 1 Foxcroft 47
No. 8 John Bapst 0
JB 0 0 0 0 | 0
FA 7 21 21 0 | 47
First: F — Seavey 5 yds to
Crocker (Marsters kick)
Second: F — Chase 10-yd
Int. return (Marsters kick)
F — Rayfield 17 yds
(Marsters kick)
F — Drury 10 yds
(Marsters kick)
Third: F — Drury 26 yds
(kick blocked)
F — Rayfield 6 yds to Crocker
(Marsters kick)
F — Rayfield 1 yd to Crocker
(kick blocked)
Passing: F — Rayfield 6-of-6
38 yds TD; Seavey 5-of-9
36 yds
J — Kimball 5-of-12
46 yds 4 Int.
Receiving: F — Crocker 7,
41 yds 3 TD; Richard 1,
16 yds; J. Smith 1, 15 yds;
G. Topolski 1, 1 yd
J — McMahon 2, 18 yds;
Butler 1, 11 yds; Hachey
1, 11 yds; Fiore 1, 6 yds
Rushing: F — Drury 10,
96 yds 2 TD; Seavey 3,
20 yds; Rayfield 1, 17 yds TD;
Beaudry 3, 11 yds; Gibbs 2,
7 yds; G. Topolski 1, 3 yds;
Johnson 2, 2 yds
J — Butler 7, 17 yds;
Kimball 4, 10 yds; McMahon
6, 9 yds; Fiore 3, 5 yds;
Hachey 1, 3 yds; Long 5,
1 yd; Schuck 1 1 yd
Records: F — 9-0
J 1-7