Touchdown in final seconds gives Waterville semifinal win over Ponies
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
WATERVILLE — For most of the second half of a Nov. 8 Class C East semifinal third-seeded Foxcroft Academy and No. 2 Waterville Senior High School were tied 7-7, guaranteeing a thrilling win for the victor and a heartbreaking loss to end the season for the opposition. The Purple Panthers ended up with the play to break the deadlock as senior Cam Thomas ran the ball in from four yards out with about 8.5 seconds on the clock, giving Waterville a 13-7 victory and berth in the regional final.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
UNABLE TO GO FORTH FOR THE SCORE — Foxcroft Academy juniors Abe Simpson (11) and Hunter Smith break up a pass intended for Waterville senior Daniel Jolin in the end zone during the team’s Class C East semifinal contest on Nov. 8 at Waterville. With the play on fourth-and-12 in the fourth quarter Foxcroft was able to take over on downs at the team’s own 16-yard line. Waterville ended up running the ball in from four yards out in the game’s final seconds to earn a 13-7 victory.
Early in the fourth quarter Thomas brought back a Foxcroft punt for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to a hold on the Purple Panthers. Waterville then drove from the Pony 45-yard line down to the Foxcroft-16 in 11 plays, including a pair of fourth down conversions after the Foxcroft defense came up with the stop on the three previous fourth downs.
Once gain, Waterville looked to go for it on fourth down with a fourth-and-12 at the Pony-16 (the team finished 3-of-7 on fourth down plays). Senior quarterback AJ Godin spied classmate Daniel Jolin down the left side of the field as he threw to the receiver in the end zone.
Jolin was being covered by Foxcroft juniors Hunter Smith and Abe Simpson and the three all leapt for the football. Jolin got a hand on the pigskin but he could not haul it in as Smith and Simpson forced the fourth-down incompletion with the football falling harmlessly to the turf.
The Ponies now had an opportunity to go ahead in the 7-7 contest, with the football at the team’s 16 and 7:17 to go in the fourth quarter. Smith, the quarterback led his team with 44 rushing yards on 17 carries, then gained a pair of first downs out of the gun to get to the 39-yard line.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CATCH OF THE DAY — Sophomore Billy Brock hauls in a 7-yard reception, while Waterville junior Devin Begin tries to knock the ball loose, for a first down to start the second quarter. Foxcroft’s season began and ended at Waterville with the team falling 13-7 on Saturday and 36-14 in the 2014 opener on Sept. 4.
On first-and-10 Smith found senior Clay Carroll for a completion that, after a measurement, was inches short of another Foxcroft first down. With the offense lined up, Smith called a timeout at the 4:59-mark.
Once play resumed Smith took the snap and found a hole up the middle. He was able to cross midfield and then some, but the Purple Panthers ended up forcing a fumble at the end of Smith’s run. The Waterville defense allowed only three Pony drives to get into its territory and held Foxcroft to under 100 yards on offense
Purple Panther senior defensive lineman Ben Cox fell on the loose ball at his team’s 41, to set the home team offense up with 4:51 to go. In the game both teams forced a pair of fumbles by the opposition’s offense.
Keeping the ball on the ground, running off clock to limit or possibly prevent any more chances for the Foxcroft offense, Waterville ran for yardage until the team was faced with a fourth-and-1 at the Pony-36. A timeout then stopped the clock from ticking with 1:20 to go.
On the fourth-and-short Waterville got much more than the needed one yard as Thomas was not brought down until getting to the Foxcroft-27 for a fresh set of downs. Thomas ended up gaining a game-high 178 yards on 27 carries.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TOUGH RUNNING — Senior Peter Boyer gets ahead a pile of players on a rushing attempt.
Waterville then gained two yards and six yards, before senior Daniel Pooler was knocked out along the left sideline at the Foxcroft-7 with just under 30 seconds remaining.
Following a Pony timeout to ready the defense for a goal-line stand, Thomas ran through a hole in the right side of the line for a 3-yard gain. This time the Purple Panthers called a timeout to stop the clock at 12.5 seconds.
On second-and-goal the ball was once gain put in Thomas’ hands as he ran off right tackle. The back churned his legs and was able to get into the end zone for the go-ahead score with 8.4 seconds remaining. The ensuing PAT was wide to keep the contest at 13-7.
Pooler’s following kickoff was sent toward the left sideline, and the football ended up bouncing out of play at the Foxcroft-33. The Ponies opted to accept the official’s flag, forcing Waterville to kick again from five yards back.
On his second kickoff, Pooler sent the ball down the middle of the field where senior Peter Boyer scooped it up at the Foxcroft-29. Boyer picked up 10 yards on the return before he was tackled with 5.5 seconds to play.
The Ponies lined up in a likely passing formation as Waterville used its final timeout prior to the snap. When the action resumed Smith took the snap as rolled out to his right. The game’s final seconds expired, meaning Foxcroft was on its last play barring a defensive penalty.
A short pass attempt was thrown, but it fell incomplete as the Purple Panthers held on for the victory.
Foxcroft and Waterville each had a second-quarter touchdown. From the team’s own 43, Waterville punted on a fourth-and-4 with the kick going down the middle of the field.
Boyer made the catch and began to run as Smith ran from right to left toward his teammate. Boyer handed the ball off on the reverse at the Pony-30 and the trickery worked as Smith had daylight along the left sideline.
A wall of blockers paved the way for Smith down the left side of the field as he brought the punt back 70 yards for the score. Smith then held as junior Nate Church kicked the PAT for a 7-0 Pony advantage at the 6:05 mark.
With two-plus minutes to go before the half, Thomas scored on a 61-yard run and a Pooler PAT tied the game at seven points.
Foxcroft — playing the team’s first semifinal since 2012 when the team had a nearly completely different schedule under the old 3-class system — ends the season with a record of 7-3, while the Purple Panthers moved to 8-1. On Saturday afternoon Waterville will make the short trip to neighboring Winslow High School (9-0) with the Class C East championship on the line.
On Oct. 18 the No. 1 Black Raiders won at home vs. Waterville, 34-7. The two rivals also played in last season’s Eastern Maine championship, with the 2013 edition of Winslow defeating Waterville, 49-18.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PUNT RETURN SCORE — The Pony punt return team brought a Waterville kick back for a touchdown as senior Peter Boyer handed off to junior Hunter Smith on a reverse and Smith, pictured after reaching the end zone, ran up the left sideline 70 yards for the score.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BATTLE OF THE NO. 44’S — Senior Clay Carroll extends to haul in a pass ahead of Waterville sophomore linebacker Drew Nelson.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
KICKING OFF AT WATERVILLE — Senior Kaleb Faloon sends the opening kickoff down the field with senior Gaige Pleninger to his right. After falling in the 2013 quarterfinals, the Ponies returned to the Class C East semifinals — the team’s first such berth under the four-class system.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
JET SWEEP LEFT — Running around a block by senior Peter Boyer is Foxcroft junior Chris Storer.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BACKFIELD DUO — Getting ready to pass protect for junior quarterback Hunter Smith is senior Peter Boyer. For much of the season Smith operated out of the shotgun with Boyer as the single back.
Foxcroft football
2014 results
Regular season
Sept. 4 L 36-14 at Waterville
Sept. 12 W 46-16 vs. Camden Hills
Sept. 19 W 34-26 at Belfast
Sept. 26 W 55-33 at Old Town
Oct. 3 W 66-13 vs. Hermon
Oct. 10 L 26-25 vs. Winslow
Oct. 17 W 33-14 vs. Nokomis
Oct. 24 W 43-6 at MDI
Class C East
quarterfinal
Nov. 1 W 35-20 vs. (6) MDI
Class C East semifinal
Nov. 8 L 13-7 at (2) Waterville
FOOTBALL
Class C East
semifinal
No. 2 Waterville 13,
No. 3 Foxcroft 7
F 0 7 0 0 — 7
W 0 7 0 6 — 13
Second qtr: F — Smith 70-yd punt return (Church kick); W — Thomas 61 yds (Pooler kick).
Fourth qtr: W — Thomas 4 yds (kick wide).
Passing: F — Smith 4-of-6 18 yds.
W — Godin 3-of-9 28 yds.
Receiving: F — Carroll 2, 11 yds; Brock 1, 7 yds; Boyer 1, 0 yds.
W — Pooler 2, 9 yds; Jolin 1, 19 yds.
Rushing: F — Smith 17, 44 yds; Boyer 9, 15 yds; Storer 2, 15 yds.
W — Thomas 27, 178 yds 2 TD; Pooler 20, 80 yds; Gray 1, 20 yds; Spear 5, 10 yds; Godin 3, 6 yds; Begin 1, 0 yds.
Records: F 7-3, W 8-1.