HOULTON — Sometimes a team needs a spark plug to get things going. For the Houlton football team Friday evening, that sparkplug turned out to be senior wide receiver Garrett Ring, who scored a touchdown, added a pair of two-point conversions and secured a key interception to help lift Houlton to a 22-12 victory over Camden Hills.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Shiretowners got things going offensively in the second period using a steady mix of runs to the edges, short passes and plunges up the middle for small gains. But the team’s fortunes changed when Ring broke the scoring ice by hauling in a 30-yard pass from quarterback Jared Fox.
Ring leapt high into the air alongside Camden Hills defender Daulton Oakes. Both had their hands on the ball, but Ring was able to rip the ball away, spin away and scamper into the end zone for the game’s first score with 9:42 to play in the first half.
Windjammer freshman Seth Sweet answered with a 3:59 remaining in the half, on a 6-yard dash to the corner, knotting the game at 6-6. That score held until the halftime break.
In the third quarter, Ring and Fox hooked up for a 50-yard pass play that saw Ring race all the way to the four-yard line. After Houlton lost a couple of yards on the first two plays, Fox called his own number and ran for a six-yard plunge to the right corner, giving Houlton a 12-6 lead with 2:18 to play in the third quarter. Ring successfully scored on a two-point conversion, making it 14-6 in favor of the Shires.
Houlton added an insurance touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when Shire senior Josh Upton blasted his way through the Camden Hills’ defensive front and raced for an 80-yard touchdown. Ring made a nifty leaping grab of for the 2-point conversion giving the Shires a 22-6 lead.
Camden Hills’ Taylor Crosby scored with 20.4 seconds remaining to cut the Shire lead to 22-12, giving the Windjammers a slight glimmer of hope. But the ensuing two-point conversion and onside kick attempt were unsuccessful resulting in the 22-12 final score.
The Windjammers deployed a single-wing formation, with lots of motion, which caused the Shires fits for much of the contest.
Camden 0 6 0 6 — 12
Houlton 0 6 8 8 — 22