Ponies find the end zone eight times in exhibition win over Orono
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy looked to already be in midseason form when the team hosted Class D Orono High School on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 30 at Oakes Field. The Ponies scored eight touchdowns, with seven coming on the ground and five different players crossing the goal line, forced four turnovers and allowed only eight points to be picked up by the Red Riot offense in a 53-10 victory against the program’s former rival when both were members of the Little Ten Conference.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BY THE SEAT OF HIS PANTS — Foxcroft senior Kaleb Faloon brings down Orono senior Tom Lucy, with Pony sophomores Billy Brock and Matt Storer (62) looking on, during an exhibition game on Aug. 30 in Dover-Foxcroft. The Ponies put 53 points on the scoreboard while allowing only 10 to the opposition.
The scoring started early for Foxcroft as, after the defense forced a three-and-out on the opening series, the team used four plays to go from the Pony 44-yard line to the Orono 5. On first-and-goal a holding penalty pushed the line of scrimmage back 10 yards.
Junior quarterback Chris Storer took the shotgun snap from sophomore Matt Storer and the signal caller handed the football off to senior Peter Boyer. He found a hole in the middle of the line and went up the field all the way to the end zone. A PAT by junior Nate Church made the score 7-0 in favor of Foxcroft.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FIRST OF THREE TRIPS TO THE END ZONE — Senior Peter Boyer gets ready to celebrate after crossing the goal line on a 15-yard run in the first quarter. Boyer would end up with three touchdowns on the ground and he surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark.
Several minutes later a bad snap deep in Foxcroft’s own territory resulted in a safety — Boyer fell on the loose pigskin in the end zone as the Ponies gave up two points rather than a possible touchdown — to put Orono on the scoreboard. Foxcroft got the points back and then some following a drive set up by an interception on the Red Riots’ first offensive play after the safety.
A 26-yard touchdown pass was called back due to offensive pass interference, and two plays later on third-and-9 from the Orono-25 the Red Riot defense was primed to defend the pass. Storer took advantage by tucking the ball and running, not stopping until he had gone right up the middle of the field for the score.
The Ponies would surpass the first quarter output by picking up three touchdowns and 20 points in the second quarter. Sophomore Billy Brock ran off right tackle 31 yards for the first score of the second 12-minute session and later Boyer ran the ball in from 20 yards out. He used both his speed and size and to outrun much of the defense down the left sideline, and broke several would- be tackles along the way.
Two plays from the line of scrimmage later, Orono lost the football and Foxcroft recovered at the opposition’s 26-yard line. Junior Hunter Smith slid in from his receiver spot to take the shotgun snap, and he then secured the ball and ran up field. Smith found a hole and ran down the right side for the touchdown, Foxcroft’s third of the second quarter, fifth of the opening half and adding to an advantage that had grown to 34-2.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
| ON POINT — Junior Nate Church gets ready to kick a PAT with classmate Hunter Smith holding, as the Foxcroft sideline and home spectators look on.
Boyer and Smith would both cross the goal line one more time before play concluded. On the first drive of the second half, Boyer ran the ball in from 11 yards out. This final carry for him put his total for the game at 10, but Boyer made the most of the opportunities by picking up a game-high 112 yards and three touchdowns.
On the ensuing series, the Orono offense stayed on the field with a fourth-and-10 at the team’s own 38. Red Riot sophomore Jackson Curts threw down the field but Smith was in position to catch the ball at the Pony-34 for the third Pony interception.
An interception on fourth down may produce a similar result to a punt down the field, but like the special teams play the possibility of a return exists on the turnover. Smith caught pass with several teammates around him and they quickly switched from coverage to blocking as the junior turned to return the ball the other way.
Smith weaved his wave through the Red Riot players and found a seam along the left sideline, completing the 66-yard interception return for a touchdown. He would end up all over the statistical sheet with a score on special teams and another on offense, as well as picking up a reception and completing both of his pass attempts.
After the lone Orono touchdown late in the third quarter, Foxcroft Head Coach Danny White put in some of his offensive reserves with the ball at Pony-32 and just under a minute to go in the quarter.
This group of Foxcroft 11, plus a few substitutes in and out, kept the ball on the ground, gaining yards and eating up the clock. Nineteen plays moved the ball down to the Orono-10 on a fourth-and-goal. Freshman Nick Clawson then carried the ball up the middle for the 13th time of the drive.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
JUST OUT OF REACH — Extending his reach, the 6-foot-3-inch junior Hunter Smith just misses hauling in a pass. Despite the incompletion, Smith scored on a rushing touchdown and interception return and also completed both of his own pass attempts.
Clawson was hit near the goal line but he extended and was able to get the football across for the score and eighth and final Foxcroft touchdown. The younger Pony was a workhorse in the game’s final 13 minutes, rushing for 57 yards on the baker’s dozen carry total that culminated in the score. This offensive unit ended up maintaining possession for 12 minutes and 12 seconds of game time, from the end of the third quarter until the final minute of the contest.
Foxcroft will open the Class C East regular season with a game at Waterville High School on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. The Ponies’ home opener will be Friday, Sept. 12 vs. Camden Hills Regional High School at 7 p.m.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
YOUNG GUNS — A unit of offensive reserves controlled the ball for over 12 minutes across the third and fourth quarters, concluding in a touchdown by freshman Nick Clawson. Pictured is Clawson running the ball along with, from left, freshman Ryan Laffin, sophomore Jacob Redmond and senior Talon Strout while Orono sophomore Kaleb Newell has Clawson run out of his grasp.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
KICKING OFF 2014 — Pony senior Berk Taner puts cleat to pigskin to kick off the preseason game against Orono.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
DOGCATCHER — Bryce Salisbury of Dexter (26) catches up to Madison Bulldog tailback Derek LeBlanc (2) in Saturday’s exhibition contest. LeBlanc scored Madison’s first touchdown en route to a 20-0 victory.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
SHORT GAIN — Dexter running back Daytona Gould (6) grinds out a short gain before being stopped by a pair of Madison defenders. Fullback Conner Larson (10) also gets in the play.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
JUST OUT OF REACH — Dexter tailback McKenzie Weeks (8) gets by a Madison defender for a first down in Saturday’s preseason contest. Madison won, 20-0.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
ESCAPE ROUTE – Madison quarterback Matt Curtis manages to elude Dexter safety Chandler Perkins (21) in last weekend’s exhibition game at Dexter.