Football team wins 3 more, now 5-0

The Aroostook Football Junior Huskies made it five consecutive victories to begin the season after beating Houlton in their first 11-man game of the season Saturday at the Paul Soucie Memorial Athletic Complex.
The team has played the eight vs. eight version in its other four games — all victories.    On Saturday, the Huskies defeated Houlton, 52-24, as Apollo Grondin of Caribou rushed for 204 yards on 17 carries to pass the 1,000-yard mark on the season. He scored four touchdowns on the day. Greyson Sonntag of Mapleton (148 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns) and Dylan Paddleford of Caribou (82 yards on nine carries and one score) also had strong days on the ground.
Defensively, Tristan Mancos of Caribou recovered a fumble and returned in 25 yards to set up a Huskies’ touchdown, while Sonntag had his second interception of the season, with his 25-yard return setting up another score. He also had three tackles for big losses. Grondin forced the fumble Mancos picked up and he also recorded a sack.
“The win was a tremendous team effort,” said coach Jon Frederick. “We had three starters out with injuries and we don’t typically play 11-man football, but everyone stepped in to play positions they had not been in all season.
“I am extremely proud of how well we played, both as football players and as gentleman,” he added.
The Huskies bested Millinocket, 68-32, Oct. 5 in Millinocket.
Grondin continued his spectacular season by rushing for 241 yards on six carries, while scoring touchdowns on five of his runs. Sonntag, the quarterback, was 6 for 9 in the air for 95 yards and a touchdown pass to Josh Baldwin of Presque Isle, who gained 85 yards on five receptions. Sonntag had four two-point conversions and Baldwin added a pair.
Evan Michaud of Caribou had 67 yards on six carries and scored two TDs. Defensively, Matt O’Connell of Presque Isle forced a fumble and recorded a sack, while Paddleford of Caribou had a sack and Izaiah Thayer of Caribou, Noah Rosado of Caribou and Grondin all had fumble recoveries.
The team also trounced the Valley Mustangs, 76-14, at the Paul Soucie Memorial Athletic Complex Sept. 28.
Grondin led the ground attack by gaining 108 yards on five carries and scoring five touchdowns. Jovanni Taveras of Washburn had 81 yards and scored on both of his carries, while Sonntag had 94 yards on three rushes and made it into the end zone once.
Baldwin caught three two-point conversions to aid the offensive attack.
Defensively, Sonntag intercepted a pass and ran the ball back 52 yards for a TD. Paddleford had a fumble recovery, Grondin recorded 1-1/2 sacks and Rosado had half a sack.
Coach Jon Frederick praised all three of his quarterbacks (Sonntag, Paddleford and Andre Daigle of Presque Isle) for their strong play, as well as the efforts of both the offensive and defensive lines.