Recurring theme in Saturday’s home game

Knights extend streak: Hammer BCH 62-6; two games left
The painted white field lines and field markers signified objectives that most could understand throughout the country — a hometown high school football game. Gridiron fans from all areas of the County, some even from “away,” trundling to the stands and sidelines of Bob Ruth Field each had at least one eye on the familiar pageantry and action on the field.
This was community spirit in its highest form.     Knights’ head coach Brian Reynolds claims to be only mildly superstitious as he goes through his game day routine. Little did he know that his varsity Knights football team would make a number six significant. The Knights won their sixth straight game, 62-6 over BCH/Kenduskeag at Bob Ruth Field on Saturday afternoon, virtually wrapping up the AFL championship with only two games left in the schedule. None of this was lost on the team as they ran rough shod in front of a large hometown crowd. The game was played in perfect football weather, sandwiched between downpours by design before and only after the contest.
Pre-game, the Knights honored breast cancer survivors and showed their support for the weekend awareness campaign by conspicuously wearing bright pink clothing under their uniforms. The pink ribbon decal marking this awareness was displayed on the front of each Knight helmet. The coaches also wore a ribbon.
The physically intimidating BCH (1-3) team hoped to establish its presence in the newly aligned AFL ,arrived in Houlton for the Saturday match up. But games are not built on hopes. They were out-muscled.
Reynolds told his charges before kick off to “do what they do best.” The Knights scored on 10 of 14 possessions. The Houlton team led 30-0 in the third quarter before BCH got on the board.
In the first half, Caleb Black returned the initial kick off 30 yards. On the second play of the series, quarterback Quinn Harris bootlegged 21 yards for a score. Eddie Flint brought the crowd out of their seats with a 44-yard ramble to the one yard line. Fittingly, Flint plowed over for the next score. With a change of possessions, it was all Black in two plays as he went five and then 27 yards to pay dirt. Harris then hit Mike Ring in his “new” lucky helmet out of the backfield for a two-point conversion — ironically, the only Knight conversion of the day.
In the second quarter, Aaron Eastman rocketed into the end zone from 53 yards on the first play after a BCH punt. At halftime, the score stood 26-0.
Now, if you set your TIVO for the final minutes of this game or wait to hear about it on ESPN to get the score, then you missed what the “Knights do best.” In the second half on eight consecutive passions, the end zone was Knight real estate. They owned it.
Harris passed to Ring for a 12-yard touchdown. Harris called his own number again and went untouched for a score. Eastman put on the jets for a 24-yard tally.
Harris intercepted a BCH pass and it was all Flint on three carries covering 38 yards and a touchdown to begin the final chapter of the fourth quarter. At the “six minute mark” of the final stanza, coach Reynolds turned over the offensive reins to coach Andy Hay and told him to “tone it down” with his “high octane” group. Rookie tailback Billy Livezey wasn’t buying it, as he recorded a nifty 44-yard run from scrimmage for six, much to the enjoyment of the fans and his veteran teammates.
On the eighth and final Knight possession, Joey Gould ran for nine yards. Hunter Hanning found Caleb McGary open and passed for a “16” yard gain. Several plays later, Hanning bulled in from the one-yard line for six more. Hay could only shrug.
The game ended. The Knights won 62-6.
The big Knights ball carriers for the day were Flint, who ended up with 120 yards, Black with 89 yards, Eastman with 82 yards and Livezey with 60 yards in rushing.
The defense stood tall against the biggest team they had seen to date, surrendering only one touchdown — only the fourth of the season against this smart, tenacious and tough defense. Brian Tuttle earned a steak dinner from line coach John Smith for Tuttle’s three sacks, caused fumble and eight tackles. “This could be expensive, but it’s worth it,” said Smith. Eastman had nine tackles. Sophomore Corey Morehead had six, Josh Bragan and Flint recorded five. Colby Seeley-Jones and Ring recovered fumbles.
Coach Richard Cleary praised the “tremendous” performance of the team. Maine Principal’s Association certified game officials for the contest stated that the Knights are “well coached and very competitive” by statewide high school football standards.
After the game, the usually non-plussed Reynolds said with a rare game day smile, “They did what they do best.”
The final game statistics showed a mind boggling 466 yards of total offense on 43 plays and 10 “6’s” for their sixth consecutive win for the Knights, much to the delight of the jubilant and noisy fans.
If you are a numerology fan, the recurrent number “6” won’t be lost on you. Reynolds might dismiss it, but the hometown crowd of Houlton supporters of football certainly wouldn’t.
The team takes a break next weekend.
They play at Milo on Oct. 30. The Knights come home for the season finale to take on the Mustangs of Madawaska on Saturday, Nov. 6.