Windham Clinches Western Maine Title 7-6 Over Cheverus

High School Football

November 14, 2009

By David Field

 

Trophy Time. David Field photo.

 

Windham ME: Windham took the second half kick-off and drove to the end zone and Matt Coffee added the PAT kick to give the Windham Eagles the Western Maine Football title.

 

Jack Mallis takes the opening kick-off return almost 40 yards. David Field.

 

Cheverus won the toss and deferred to Windham.  Jack Mallis took the opening kick-off almost 40 yards to give the Eagles great field position at their own 49 to start the game.  The Stags defense held the Eagles and forced them to punt.  Cheverus started at their own 18.  The Eagle defense would allow one first down and then force the Stags to punt on fourth down. 

 

#22 TJ Robbins upends #20 Spencer Cooke of Cheverus. David Field photo.

 

The Stag defense was huge in the next series.  They held Windham to force fourth down and punt.  On the play, Cheverus blocked the punt and would get control of the ball deep in Windham’s territory.  Windham’s defense was stellar, forcing the Stags to fourth and goal on the two yard line.  Peter Gwilym would take the keeper in to put Cheverus on the board.  The Stag PAT kick was wide right, but Cheverus was happy to be on the board in the wet conditions.

 

Jack Mallis runs with the ball. Mallis scored Windham's only touchdown. David Field photo.

 

The teams battled in the sloppy and deteriorating conditions to the half.  During a Cheverus possession, TJ Robbins hit Peter Gwylim so hard it forced the ball at least 30 feet in the air and Matt Gledhill caught the slippery pigskin to give Windham the ball.  Two plays later, Windham turned the ball over on a run play that was stripped from the running back.

 

#54 freshman Joe Francoeur saw lots of action for the Eagles after starters suffered injuries. Here, he teams up with Jack Mallis to stop Cheverus quarterback Peter Gwilym. David Field photo.

 

Cheverus threatened before time ran out and the Eagle defense helped turn the tide at the half.  With seconds ticking and third and goal from the Windham three-yard line, Windham sacked Peter Gwilym in the backfield as time expired with the Stags in the red zone. 

 

With Tucker Miller out with an injury, Matt Coffee tried his best. Here #85 James Rutter tips his punt. David Field photo.

 

To start the second half, Cheverus elected to defend an end and ended up kicking to Windham.  Windham wasted little time and marched the ball down field.  Jack Mallis was the work horse in the drive, with Nick Burton adding some yards too.  Mallis would cross the plane to give Windham the tie.  Matt Coffee came on and successfully kicked the PAT to give Windham the lead and eventual win. 

 

Jack Mallis gets tackled after gaining first down in the third quarter. David Field photo.

 

As the rain intensified, so did the battle on the field.  Both teams, cold, wet and wanting a victory battled as the rain and wind came harder.  Late in the fourth, Windham intercepted with 1:30 left in the game.  They ran 4 plays and turned the ball over to Cheverus with 24 seconds left.  Anticipation and anxiety gripped the crowd.  Windham’s defense was stellar in defending and the game ended with a quarterback sack to seal Windham’s victory and the Western Maine Football title

 

Nick Burton turns up field to rack up more yards for the Eagles. David Field photo.

 

Catch Windham next Saturday as they take on the Bangor Rams for the State title.  Bangor defeated Brunswick 24-7 on Friday night to earn its place in the contest.