Southern Aroostook-Woodstock Youth Football teams play prelims
Staff Writer
It was a notable day during last Saturday’s Aroostook Football League game between the Valley Mustangs and the visiting Cleary Law Knights of Houlton.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
FUMBLE – The Valley Mustangs of Madawaska fumbled the ball during a carry, but the Cleary Law Knights’ players couldn’t recover the miscue. The Mustangs defeated the Knights, 26-20 in overtime.
It was the first football game ever held in the St. John Valley; it was the first time the Knights had lost since the inception of their team; and the Mustangs remain undefeated at 2-0, as they defeated the Central Aroostook Huskies, 19-12, after last season when they were winless.
The Knights’ first loss of the season came on Saturday in Madawaska when the Valley Mustangs overtook them in overtime, 26-20.
The Knights had been undefeated at 10-0, but the team is on a learning curve this year.
“The Mustangs are much improved from last year,” said Knight coach Richard Cleary. “In some respects that is a good thing after a tough season they had last year. We just need to have better line play, both defense and offense, and better tackling.”
Last year, the Knights were senior-laden with quarterback Austin Woods and running backs Cliff Redman and Cam Sutherland. This year, inexperience plays a major role in tight games, as the Knights are being led by an eighth-grade quarterback, Quinn Harris, along with many freshmen playing key roles.
“We are a really young squad,” Cleary said. “Quinn shows a lot of promise, and with so many freshmen, it has taken some time for them to develop into a cohesive team. Our upperclassmen such as [David] Flint and [Brandon] McGuire have really stepped up and been good role models for the younger players.”
In Saturday’s game, the Mustangs drew first blood and punched the ball over the end line for the opening score and converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing play, the Knights’ McGuire fielded the kickoff and sprinted for a 65-yard carry into the end zone to tie the game.
The scoring went back-and-forth with the Knights’ Flint pushing through the defense for the team’s second touchdown, and with the Knights trailing, 20-14, it was McGuire and Flint who demonstrated their onfield leadership. With two seconds left before intermission, the Knights called a halfback option. Flint received the ball from Harris, set and fired to McGuire who rumbled to the end zone to tie the game at halftime, 20-all.
Each team’s defense stymied any scoring chances in the second half, but the Mustangs did have a perfect chance to score when they hit an open receiver downfield, but the Knights’ John Smith hauled him down at the two-yard line, setting up an overtime bid. In overtime, each team had the chance to score from the 10-yard line.
Madawaska took the ball first and punched it through for a score, however, the Knights’ defense spoiled the extra point attempt. The Knights used all of their downs, but were stopped short on the two-yard line on their fourth down, as Valley won.
The Knights will host the First Citizens Huskies of Caribou on Friday night under the lights at 7 p.m. at the Bob Ruth Field in Community Park. The Southern Aroostook-Woodstock Youth Football League will play two preliminary games before the high school game, starting at 3 p.m.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
GIVES CHASE – John Sanders, left, of the Cleary Law Knights chases down Valley’s Steven King during last Saturday’s game in Madawaska. The Cleary Law Knights took on the Valley Mustangs in the first football game ever played in the St. John Valley, and the Knights came away with their first loss, 26-20.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
ROOM TO RUN – Dave Flint, No. 25, of the Cleary Law Knights looks for running room behind teammate Phil Brown. The Valley Mustangs defeated the Knights, 26-20 in overtime.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
TEAM SUPPORT – Brandon McGuire of the Cleary Law Knights gets encouragement from the sidelines as he returns a kickoff for a 65-yard touch down to tie the game against the Valley Mustangs on the Knights’ first drive. However, the Knights lost in overtime, 26-20.
