Knights air it out — sink Milo 66-6

Football playoffs begin Saturday
    From the sidelines Head Coach Brian Reynolds proudly watched as a long season of hard work, drills and practices paid extra dividends. An efficient and potent attack by the Houlton Knights football team (7-1, 6-0 League) ran the league table, maintained top spot in the AFL, while besting a beleaguered Milo Panthers squad (0-6) 66-6 before a large crowd at Bob Ruth Field.
    “Senior Day” was special for quarterback Quinn Harris along with teammates Aaron Eastman, Josh Carmichael, Josh Bragan and Dan Toby. The years successfully playing the game passed too quickly for them. The theme song was Green Day’s “Time of Your Life.”
     Prior to the game the emotional opening ceremonies at midfield with parents and fans sharing the moment gave no hint of what would be Harris’ career  “game of his life.”
    Harris and company were inspired. His performance will probably take on mythical proportions in the annals of Houlton football.
Houlton Pioneer Times file photograph/Gloria Austin
LOOKING FOR ROOM — Joel Redman of the Houlton Knights looks for room to run . The Knights opening game of the playoffs is Saturday at 7  p.m. with the Peewee Knights in action at 5 p.m.
    On the opening kickoff, Caleb McGary ran the ball back 70 yards for a touchdown. It was negated by a penalty. Completing only one of three passes on the drive, Harris ran the ball in for the game’s first touchdown.
    After forcing a Milo punt, the Knights roared back with an electric 62-yard scoring pass from Harris to Bill Livezey. Harris and Livezey would make scoring connections five times in this game. Harris found Hunter Hanning from 29 yards out to cap an extraordinary display of air power. Harris was 17 of 27 with six touchdowns and 183 yards of passing.
    “That’s an incredible 185-plus quarterback rating by college standards,” said coach Andy Hay.
    The ground attack wasn’t utilized much in this game, but Joel Redman and Ryan Baptista got the call and scored on their opportunities. It was only a reminder that the Knights’ ground game can be just as punishing.
    Special teams got into the act. Remember McGary? He was vindicated when he returned his second kickoff 66 yards for a remarkable touchdown. This time the score stood.
    Coach John Smith remarked, “McGary is not usually known for his special team’s talent. This kid constantly amazes me.”
    The Knights mounted a swarming defense. Houlton recorded five sacks backing up Milo 43 yards. Rookies Jordan Russell and JJ Jones had two apiece; Sam St. John had the other. The Milo Ground attack was held to 36 yards on 27 plays. The Knight secondary feasted on errant passes, intercepting four times. McGary had three and Livezey had one. John Tuttle recovered a Milo fumble.
    “My team defense was aggressive,” said coach Bill Alderson.
    Reynolds said after the game that he was pleased with the performance. “There is not much you can say after a game like this. It was fun to watch. The team did perform well today,” he added.
    The Knights prepare for the semifinals against the same Milo team in a gridiron doubleheader. The game is “under the lights” on Saturday at Bob Ruth Field at 7 p.m.
    The Peewee Knights are the under card for this event. Their game begins at 5 p.m.
    The public is welcome, admission is free. Entertainment and concessions will be available.