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Eagles Claw Back But Fall Short Against The Rams 28-20
WHS Football
September 9, 2011
By David Field

Jordin Allen stretches to catch a TD O’Brien pass in the end zone. David Field Photo

Windham, ME: On a perfect evening for almost any event, the Windham Eagles suffered their second straight loss falling to the Deering Rams 28-20.

Windham won the toss and deferred to Deering. After the kick off, Deering started at their own 22. Deering struggled and was forced to punt. Windham ran into its own problems moving the ball as well. They attained a first down, but were called for a penalty and then were forced to punt. Deering’s kick returner ran the ball 48 yards to give Deering possession at the Eagle 26 yard line. A quick pass put Deering on the board and with the kick gave them the early 7-0 lead.

#11 Todd Allen struggles to evade the tackle early in the game. David Field Photo

The Eagles got the ball and started at their own 36. Windham put together a series of plays that saw them move down the field. At the Deering 11 yard line, they got called for a holding penalty. After a couple of plays, it was fourth down and 19 yards. TD O’Brien found Jeremy Peavey open, but the defense stopped the advance inside the ten yard line. Deering advanced a few yards and on third down and seven to go, Ram quarterback Mike Marzilli took matters into his own hands, avoided the sack and ran far enough for the first down and more. The Rams advanced the ball. From the Windham 35, Marzilli hit #10 Renaldo Lowry to get six points on the board. The PAT was good.

The Windham skyline at sunset over the football stadium. David Field Photo

Windham took possession after the kick off at their own 26. TD O’Brien looked downfield and the Deering defense picked his pass off at the fifty yard line. The Rams took control at the Windham 32 yard line. Deering put together another string of plays and #11, Marzilli scampered into the end zone from six yards out. With the PAT, the Rams took a 21-0 lead into the half.

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To start the third quarter, Windham took the kick off and started play at their own 26 yard line. Windham adjusted the offensive look and quarterback TD O’Brien kept the ball on several plays and gained significant yardage. On one play, O’Brien hit Damien Shepard and he advanced deep into Ram territory. Shepard was tackled out of bounds and a flag flew. The Rams objected and another flag flew. So, Shepard went out at the 22 and when the penalties were assessed, Windham began the next phase of their drive at the Deering five yard line. TD O’Brien squeezed through the Deering defense to get the Eagles on the board. Freshman Josh Dugas kicked the extra point. The Rams were called for roughing the ball holder on the play, so the Eagles had better advantage on the kick off.

After the kick off, Deering started moving again. Marzilli went to the air long and Damien Shepard picked the pass at the Eagle ten yard line and moved the ball up past mid-field. Another roughing call against Deering gave Windham good field position. O’Brien hit Kyle Deschenes on a pass play and then ran the ball several times to advance the Eagles. O’Brien scored on a 17 yard running play and Josh Dugas added the PAT to get Windham within one touchdown. With a lot of time left in the game, neither team was blinking.

Damien Shepard is swarmed by Deering defenders after a punt. David Field Photo

Deering put together another strong drive but Eagle defensive back Matt McLean recovered a fumble at their own 15 to stop the Ram drive. Windham was forced to punt when it couldn’t convert the first down. Deering then answered again by driving the ball down deep into Windham territory. On a very controversial call, including a facemask penalty against Windham, the Rams scored. The penalty was assessed against Windham on the kick off. The Rams added the PAT to make the score 28-14 with four minutes to go. Damien Shepard ran the ball 30 yards to give Windham a good start at the 35. Windham quickly moved the ball up field and Damien Shepard pulled in a three yard pass from TD O’Brien to put the Eagles on the board. Josh Dugas’ kick was blocked. With the score 28-20 with 2:09 left in the game, it was crunch time.

Dugas tipped the onside kick, but Deering grabbed the ball and hung on. All it took was a few plays and the Rams started kneeing the ball to signal the defeat to the Eagles.

	1	2	3	4	Final
Deering	7	14	0	7	28
Windham	0	0	7	13	20

Nolan Allen winces in pain after being loaded on a cart and taken off the field. Allen sustained a knee injury. His return is undetermined. David Field Photo

TD O’Brien attempts to work his way to open field. David Field Photo

After catching a pass, Damien Shepard gets direction from Coach Ledbetter on the sidelines. David Field Photo

TD O’Brien looks intimidating as he looks up field. O’Brien lost 4 yards on this carry. David Field Photo

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