Redzone defense helps Madison/Carrabec spoil Ponies’ home opener
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Three interceptions in the redzone, along with another pick made in its own territory, enabled the Madison Area Memorial High School/Carrabec High School squad’s defense to limit the scoring opportunities for Foxcroft Academy during the Ponies’ 2016 home opener on Sept. 9.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SCRAMBLE LEGS — Junior quarterback Nick Clawson runs around blocks by junior Reggie Johnston (66) and senior Billy Brock (31) early in Friday night’s game. Clawson lead his team with 87 yards on the ground, including a 3-yard score to close the opening half.
The visiting Bulldogs (2-0) finished the game 1-for-5 in points given up on Foxcroft (0-2) redzone possessions in winning 32-7.
After scoring a touchdown on the first series of the game, the Bulldogs — a cooperative team between the two Somerset County high schools — made a stop on fourth-and-12 at the team’s own 14-yard line. During the Ponies’ next trip deep into Bulldog territory junior linebacker Kobe Tibbetts made the interception at the 2-yard line. The turnover led to a touchdown, on a 75-yard screen pass, to put the Bulldogs ahead 13-0 early in the second quarter.
A 45-yard punt return to the endzone put Madison/Carrabec ahead 20-0 nearly halfway through quarter No. 2. The team’s defense came up with its second redzone interception of the second quarter as junior Evan Bess grabbed a hold of the ball near the goalline.
With a little more than two minutes remaining before the half, Foxcroft forced a punt before using its third and final timeout to stop the clock. When the offense took to the field the ball was at the Pony-46 with 1:38 on the clock.
Junior quarterback Nick Clawson would scramble for 13 yards on a third-and-3 to move the Ponies to the Madison/Carrabec-34. A few plays later Foxcroft faced a fourth-and-6.
On fourth down Clawson threw down the middle of the field after spying senior David Salley inside the opposition’s 5-yard line. Salley made the catch in double coverage as he was brought down at the Bulldog-3.
The clock briefly stopped so the officials could move the chains for the new set of downs. This gave the Ponies the chance to quickly set up in formation, with senior center Cody Labbe snapping the ball to Clawson with about six seconds to go. Clawson spiked the pigskin to stop the clock with 3.2 seconds on the clock and give his team a chance for a play before the walk to the locker room.
With senior Billy Brock to his right in the backfield, Clawson took the shotgun snap and ran a quick step in Brock’s direction. Clawson opted to tuck the football in his grasp as he plunged through a hole opened up in the line. The officials signaled that he landed in the endzone for the touchdown as time expired.
Junior Levi Steadman, on a hold by sophomore Jeremy Richard, kicked the PAT to make the game 20-7 after 24 minutes of play.
Foxcroft received the football to start the second half and the team drove to the opposition’s 18 for a third-and-14. On third down Madison/Carrabec senior Nick Morales came up with an interception by the goalline. The turnover resulted in a drive leading to an 11-yard touchdown run by Morales, who finished with a game-high 94 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
Bess finished his team’s night with a 15-yard scoring quarterback draw early in the fourth quarter.
Next up for Foxcroft is a trip to Waterville Senior High School (0-2) on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
YARDS AFTER THE CATCH — Foxcroft Academy sophomore Jeremy Richard looks to get around Madison/Carrabec junior Evan Bess after making a reception in the second quarter of the Sept. 9 contest. The visiting Bulldogs won the Ponies’ home opener, 32-7.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BREAKING A TACKLE — Pony senior Billy Brock slips the grasp of Madison/Carrabec junior Max Shibley.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
NOWHERE TO GO — Sophomore Michaelb Niles brings down Madison/Carrabec senior Nick Morales with Pony senior David Salley and Bulldog junior Sean Whalen nearby.
FOOTBALL
Madison/Carrabec 32,
Foxcroft 7
MAD 7 13 6 6 | 32
FA 0 7 0 0 | 7
First qtr: MAD — Morales
1 yd (Jarvais kick)
Second qtr: MAD — Jarvais
75 yds from Bess (kick wide)
MAD — Ouellette 45-yd
punt return (kick wide)
FA — Clawson 3 yds
(Steadman kick)
Third qtr: MAD — Morales
11 yds (kick wide)
Fourth qtr: MAD — Bess
15 yds (kick wide)
Passing: FA— Clawson
7-of-21 77 yds 4 Int;
Spooner 0-for-0.
MAD — Bess 4-of-5
113 yds TD; Jarvais
0-for-1.
Receiving: FA — Smith 2,
30 yds; Richard 2, 6 yds;
Salley 1, 26 yds; Dyer 1,
8 yds; Marsh 1, 7 yds.
MAD — Jarvais 2, 104
yds TD; Morales 2,
9 yds.
Rushing: FA — Clawson
18, 87 yds TD; Brock 14,
29 yds; Chadbourne 4,
17 yds.
MAD — Morales 17,
94 yds 2 TD; Bess 10,
83 yds TD; Whalen 7,
26 yds.
Records: FA 0-2,
MAD 2-0.