Mistakes prove costly for Dirigo at regionals
Nov 16, 2012 12:00 am
Cougars lived on the edge
by Bob McPhee
It was familiar territory for Dirigo football team that have lived on the edge throughout the fall with memorable comebacks.
The nail-biting trend began right away for the cardiac kids who had trailed in each of its first three games, Lisbon, Winslow, Poland, before receiving wake-up calls in the fourth quarter.
In the playoffs, the Cougars had trailed against Old Orchard Beach and Oak Hill, but rallied back.
"We fought hard and had some chances, but the time ran out," said coach Dave Crutchfield, following Dirigo's 17-6 loss to Winslow in the regional championship game.
The objective is to play hard, execute with the ball and stay in control, which Dirigo needed when it beat Winslow 32-21 in the second game of the season. Dirigo quarterback Brett Whittemore passed for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Spencer Trenoweth rushed for 170 yards and two TDs.
After that game, Whittemore was quick to credit the blocking by the offensive line, including guards Jack Brown and Austin Bernard; tackles Cliff Boynton and Zach White and center Joey Hebert.
Football is a team game and Dirigo certainly epitomized it because every player was ready to contribute. Zach Demars and Zack White each recovered a fumble and linebacker Thomas Barrett was a force. The Cougars had big plays -- Trenoweth 80-yard TD run, Nick Young caught a 60-yard TD, Trenoweth and Nelson Pepin each received TD passes.
The win was redemption for the Cougars, who had been stung last year when Winslow scored on a forward fumble and then the extra point for a 28-27 overtime thriller in the first-ever contest between the two programs. So the regional final was the third time in 13 months that the two proud teams had tangled at Poulin Field. The Black Raiders had revenge factor because the Dirigo loss was the lone blemish on their record in 2012.
“I thought we played very hard and the team chemistry was there,” said Trenoweth, reflecting on the difference in the loss. "Mistakes just cost us."
Winslow will play in the state game Saturday at F1tzpatrick Stadium. Winslow will be seeking its first-ever Class C crown, after having won nine Class B state championships. Mountain Valley beat the Black Raiders in the '04 and '06 state games. Still, Dirigo had a solid campaign and competed admirably, winning six games during regular season, including four playoff teams. They avenged a 33-0 loss to Oak Hill.
"I'm going to miss this group, especially the (12) seniors,” said Crutchfield. "They knew how to have fun, but when it was time to work, they knew what needed to be done.”
Dirigo student-athletes certainly are no strangers to competing in the lime light. Tyler Frost and Kaine Hutchins were each in their third straight regional final, having won basketball and baseball state championships. Trenoweth, Brown and Young are members of the baseball team.
Dirigo football team
Photo:
Photo: DIRIGO FOOTBALL TEAM -- In no particular order are Nick Young, Heath Hersom, Brett Whittemore, Spencer Trenoweth, Joe Casey, Thomas Barnett, Riley Robinson, Michael Casey, Zach Demars, Justin Jasper, Spencer Vaughan, Gabe Neverette, Clay Swett, Tyler Frost, Barry Campbell, Joey Hebert, Gavin Sanders, Jack Brown, Austin Bernard, Cliff Boynton, Ron Haley, Lucas MacDonald, Justin Baldinelli, Austin Drouin, Jesse Hutchinson, Garey Tibbetts, Bennett Dorion, Matt Irish, Issac White, Zack White, Nelson Pepin, Reilley Baldinelli, Nick Milligan, Kaine Hutchins and Shawn Policastro. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)
WINSLOW -- This time, when Dirigo buckled up it, they encountered a different type of opponent and some mistakes proved costly last Saturday afternoon in the Class C Regional Championship football game.
Thomas Barnett spearheaded the Cougars defense that took care of business. However, Justin Martin intercepted two passes as Winslow pulled away for a 17-6 win at sunny Poulin Field.
No. 3 Dirigo trailed 17-0 following Martin's 75-yard return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, before the Dirigo offense was able to score on a Brett Whittemore one-yard TD pass to Barnett. The Cougars had received a spark following a long kickoff return by Nick Young. A pair of runs by Spencer Trenoweth (128 yards, 15 carries) put the ball on the one-yard line. After Whittemore was stopped on a sneak, the signal caller rolled right on a boot leg and found Barnett near the corner of the end zone. The point after attempt by Nelson Pepin sailed wide left.
"Winslow was a different team today," said Barnett, referring to the Cougars' ability to stay in control in rallying for a 32-21 win against Winslow in September. "They were big and hit hard, but in the end our own mistakes cost us."
Dirigo attempted an onside kick with 6:55 remaining, but Winslow recovered. The Cougars defense forced a punt, however, Dirigo's passes fell incomplete.
“We had to gamble today,” said Dirigo coach Dave Crutchfield, whose team committed four turnovers. "Our passes and receivers weren't able to connect and they was able to capitalize. But our defense didn't actually allow any points. Winslow scored off a field goal and those two long returns on interceptions.”
The Dirigo 44 defense included tackles Cliff Boynton and Zach White, ends Kaine Hutchins and Pepin, and linebackers Barnett, Tyler Frost, Austin Bernard and Trenoweth.
Winslow, who will play in the state championship game this Saturday, had led on a Dylan Hapworth 26-yard field goal with 2:34 remaining in the first half.
"We keep telling the kids we are in the game and we were," said Crutchfield, referring to the 3-0 deficit at halftime. "We convinced kids we were still in it, even after a mistake, but those two picks really took the wind out of this team."
In the fourth quarter, Dirigo started on its own 17 and received a break when Winslow was whistled for pass interference, but on the next play Dirigo drew a penalty. Whittemore threw a ball toward the sideline, but the receiver cut in and the 6-foot-5 Martin leaped and returned it to the six. The Black Riders scored on the next play to lead 10-0.
On the ensuing possession, Dirigo picked up a first down behind guards Jack Brown and Bernard, tackles Boynton and White and center Joey Hebert. But the Cougars returned to airways and a high-arching pass allowed Martin to step in front of Young and down an open field.
Mistakes prove costly
Photo: Picasa
Photo: PicasaDirigo back Spencer Trenoweth carried the ball for 128 yards on 15 carries in a productive afternoon against Winslow. (Photo courtesy of Art Chamberlin)
Photo: PicasaNothing was called here against Winslow after Black Raider defenders tear the helmet off Dirigo's Tyler Frost during this play. (Photo courtesy of Art Chamberlin)