During a high school football season that has produced nearly as many 60- and 70-point offensive explosions as it has shutouts, the Foxcroft Academy Ponies have one of the most impressive statistics of all en route to a 4-0 start.
Coach Danny White’s club has an 18-to-3 turnover ratio, its defense generating 13 fumble recoveries and five pass interceptions while its offense has given the ball away on average less than once per contest.
“We want to make sure we’re sure tacklers, but at the same time we want to jump on any opportunities that come up when the ball might be up for grabs,” said White.
“A lot of it is a matter of guys being in the right places and having the presence of mind to make plays, and our guys take a lot of pride in putting themselves in position to make those plays.”
Senior Josiah Richard has a three interceptions and classmate Chase Hutchinson two in helping the Ponies use turnovers to create short fields for their offense.
During a season-opening 28-7 win at Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, for example, Foxcroft turned Lynx turnovers directly into touchdown drives of 35, 52 and 12 yards.
“Any time you force more turnovers than you give up you’re giving yourself more possessions and generally you’re going to give yourself good field position,” White said.
“And any time you’re not in a situation where you have to drive 80 or 90 yards to score, it takes some of the pressure off your offense.”
Foxcroft also has scored five touchdowns already this season directly from its defense and special teams.
Two came in the opening moments of last Friday’s 70-6 win at Orono, as Hutchinson returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Ian Champeon followed with a 30-yard interception return for a score to give the Ponies a quick 13-0 lead.
“Any time you can score on special teams or defense it can be demoralizing to your opponent,” White said.
Defensive play buoys Rams
Bangor’s 13-12 Class A football victory at Messalonskee of Oakland last Friday night was marked by several big defensive plays.
They included pass interceptions by Joe Seccareccia and Lonnie Hackett, as well as a 7-yard sack of Messalonskee quarterback Dylan Foster by Seccareccia on fourth-and-goal after the Eagles had driven to the Bangor 1-yard line.
But it was a somewhat less pivotal play that may linger as the most memorable defensive play of the night to the Rams— a surge through the line of scrimmage in the third quarter by Bangor senior safety Nate Lewis that stopped Messalonskee’s double-wing rushing attack for a 5-yard loss.
“As long as we’ve played them, we’ve never been able to overload or stunt against that double wing and actually get a play for a loss,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “It’s always been, three yards, good play, four yards, good play. But we overloaded on that play, Nate hit a seam and he made a play in the backfield and they lost [five] yards.
“Emotionally for us to be able to stop them for a negative-yard play when they weren’t trying to pass and it wasn’t a sack was just huge for us. Everyone on our side said ‘there, we finally got something,’ and I think it took [Messalonskee] down a little bit. It’s a game of emotion, and I thought it changed the game a little bit.”
Bangor’s run defense against Messalonskee improved as the game continued. The Rams yielded 67 rushing yards to the Eagles during the first quarter, but just 61 more yards on the ground the rest of the way in surviving this midseason battle of the unbeatens.
“I thought it would take us a series or two, and it always does,” said Hackett, whose 4-0 Rams are now one of just two unbeaten teams left in the Pine Tree Conference Class A ranks, along with Lawrence of Fairfield.
Bangor plays a second straight road game this Friday at 1-3 Mt. Blue of Farmington.
Football grants available
USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, announced it will award $1 million in equipment grants to youth and high school football programs across America this fall based on merit and need.
USA Football’s grant program has assisted the youth and high school football community since 2006 and will have distributed more than $2 million through 2009. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association.
Youth leagues and high schools may apply for grants on usafootball.com through Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5 p.m. ET.
Each youth league is eligible for a $1,000 package that includes equipment and apparel from Riddell and Under Armour. High schools will earn similar packages valued at $1,500. Eligible youth football leagues must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
“This program helps youth football leagues and high school programs continue to make a positive impact in their communities through America’s favorite sport,” said USA Football executive director Scott Hallenback in a press release.
“Even with multiple fundraisers and registration fees, some organizations struggle to properly equip their teams. We’re proud to foster great football experiences and we’re happy that our national partners — Riddell and Under Armour — share our vision.”
USA Football’s equipment grant program is made possible through the NFL Youth Football Fund, a non-profit foundation created by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 1998.
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