Bangor falls valiantly to reigning state champs on Senior Evening
Bangor misplaced a hard-fought battle with reigning Class A state champs Oxford Hills on Monday night time, finally falling 39-14. It was their first loss at dwelling all yr, and on their Senior Evening.
Bangor began out robust, with the Ram protection sticking it to Oxford Hills for a lot of the first half. Led by sophomores Kyle Johnson and Zac Coda, Bangor courageously compelled two Viking fumbles and two punts. However a last-second, 46-yard hail mary by the Vikings broke the Rams’ hearts proper earlier than the break — with Oxford Hills taking a 20-14 lead into halftime that proved to be sufficient for the win.
Within the first quarter, the Rams had rapidly constructed a 14-6 lead lower than six minutes into play, keyed by two rousing touchdowns from Johnson and senior co-captain Xavier Pike.
On the opening kickoff, Pike obtained the group going by returning the ball 80 yards all the way in which to the endzone. Pike discovered a seam on the appropriate aspect, racing with the ball previous the state champs and up the Bangor sideline. It was his first varsity landing.
“Opening up with that — particularly on Senior Evening — I virtually cried,” Pike stated. “Seeing [quarterback Jack] Schuck’s response as he jumped as much as me; that’s what it’s all about.”
On the Rams’ subsequent drive, Johnson bookended his first of two compelled fumbles and recoveries with an athletic 25-yard speeding landing, chopping again on the Oxford Hills five-yard line to overpower two Viking defenders.
“Hustle, exhausting work and dedication — we confirmed that every one night time tonight.” Johnson stated. “From everyone on the sphere, it didn’t matter who it was. That’s what contributed to these huge turnovers that we had.”
Johnson poked the ball unfastened from skilled senior working backs Hunter Tardiff and Jacob Carson as soon as apiece, serving to disrupt the Vikings’ offensive rhythm within the first half. By the ultimate buzzer, the Rams’ defensive position had tallied a number of tackles for losses plus a quarterback sack. Linebacker and crew co-captain Coda added some key go breakups up the center as nicely.
“The seniors have made us into leaders,” Coda stated. “That effort was there. We hung with a state championship crew the entire sport.”
Within the second half, the Oxford Hills protection took its flip holding stout, regardless of two profitable exhausting counts by Schuck, and a 35-yard faux punt go by sophomore utility man Ted Stephenson. Robust play from the Vikings’ defensive position — mixed with the moist climate — annoyed the Rams’ passing sport all night time, and helped Oxford Hills keep possession in crunch time.
The Vikings lastly constructed an insurmountable lead within the fourth quarter, with two lengthy landing passes into single protection. Sophomore Braden Murch and junior Brady Delamater caught and ran for scores of 65 and 49 yards, respectively.
With the loss, the fourth place Rams fell to 4-5, and will probably be eradicated from playoff rivalry ought to Lewiston beat winless Edward Little on Wednesday. Lots of the Rams had been very emotional after the sport, contemplating it may very well be the final time this unit ever performs collectively as a crew.
“We go on the market and play for one another, and put our hearts on the road,” senior quarterback and co-captain Jack Schuck stated. “That’s what Bangor stands for — household, and simply, love. I’m so happy with everyone on this crew. I’m by no means going to let this crew go.”
