The Hampden Academy football team improved to 2-0 Thursday night, dispatching John Bapst 24-14 at Harold Alfond Stadium in Orono.
The Broncos never trailed in Thursday’s game, forcing a turnover on downs on Bapst’s first offensive possession and marching 85 yards the other way to score on a Gavin Monyok keeper from nine yards out.
Monyok, Hampden’s junior signal-caller, compiled an impressive 295 yards in the air (16-for-23 passing) and 70 on the ground, throwing four passes of 30-plus yards and finding senior slot back Andrew Cote for a 12-yard passing touchdown midway through the third quarter.
The Broncos previously defeated Skowhegan 32-21 in a thrilling home opener, with the help of three Cote kickoff return touchdowns. Hampden is now two games over .500 for the first time since 2013. Bapst moved to 0-2 on the season, having lost to Nokomis 22-14 last week.
“Gavin’s a really good quarterback for us. He played phenomenally. He throws the ball well, he reads the [defense] well, he runs well — he’s just a gamer,” second-year Hampden head coach Robenson Saintard said. “The more we win, the more success we have, the expectations rise. We knew this year would be a big year for us. We just gotta keep doing better than we did the year before.”
Monyok was aided by the contributions of senior ball carriers Kaysen Wildman, Evan Preston and James Rice, who combined for 88 yards rushing on the night. Wildman scored from three yards out in Hampden’s second offensive possession, with 2:46 remaining in the first half, and also reeled in 45 receiving yards.
Senior Andy Henaghen led all Hampden receivers with 73 yards on four catches, and also kicked a 27-yard field goal and three extra points. On defense, the Broncos’ junior linebacker Josh Dewitt and senior defensive back Marcello Mousally had key pass breakups on fourth down.
“This team has grown, it’s been great. We’ve just kept grinding,” Wildman said. “Our offensive line really killed it today, and our foot was on the gas all day. I’m excited to show people we can compete with everyone.”
Bapst scored its first touchdown in the second quarter on a 33-yard run for sophomore fullback Thomas Curtis (109 yards; fumble recovery on defense) to tie it 7-7.
Hampden appeared to have solved the Crusaders’ triple option by the start of the second half, but sophomore Zac Babcock surprised everyone with a 68-yard touchdown down the home sideline with 4:16 remaining in the fourth.
“That’s what you look for as a coach — even when the chips are down, even when we face adversity, will you rise up and will somebody make a play,” John Bapst head coach Dan O’Connell said. “Zac was distraught that he dropped a touchdown pass earlier in the game, and he found a way to pick us up. We’re a young team with only five seniors, and the future is bright for us. We gotta keep working hard and keep putting the pieces together.”
Quarterbacking for the Crusaders was junior Aiden Ouellette, who ran for 62 yards and threw for 17. Junior running back Malcolm Butler tallied 68 all-purpose yards, and senior Tyler Wilkinson added on 37.
Next up, Hampden will host Hermon (1-0) at 7 p.m. on Sept. 20, and John Bapst will take on Maine Central Institute away at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19.