Falcons bury Patriots to even mark

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER -- The transformation of the Mountain Valley football team continued on the road in a Class B Campbell Conference tilt last Friday night.

The Falcons received a total team effort, with MV quarterback Ryan Nicols throwing a touchdown pass and Colin Merrill added a score, while spearheading the defense in a 35-7 win over Gray-New Gloucester.

Coach Jim Aylward said the game plan was to improve the areas the Falcons were poor at previous week. This included protecting the ball, swarm defensively, in addition to improving each week with quickness and assignments in the offensive line.

Mountain Valley was ready for the game and went right to work. Matt Hosie scored the initial TD on a 39-yard run. Merrill also scored on a one-yard dive in the first quarter.

"We played more as a family, more as a team," said coach Jim Aylward, as Mountain Valley evened its record to 2-2. "We came together and finally came to our senses. I think from here on out we're going to surprise some people."

MV led 14-0 when GNG drove into the red zone. Merrill (10 tackles) and Tyler Smith led a defensive charge and the Falcons forced a turnover.

The Falcons drove the ball, with big gains by Brett Beauchesne, Hosie and Jake Theriault. It concluded with Dominic Haines, a transfer from Telstar, on the end of a 22-yard scoring strike from Nicols. Haines and Smith also added rushing TDs.

GNG averted the shutout on a Josh Greenleaf TD run, with 1:23 left to play.

Notes: MV senior center Scotty Nicols may not return at all, after he suffered a concussion at Westbrook and doctors are concerned about the severity.

If and when Scotty returns, he will be closely monitored. It will be at least one more week if not longer as he already missed his third game.

Hosie, continues to have ankle issues. He was cleared by a specialist to play against GNG, but left after gaining 102 yards on three carries. More will be known this week.

In the previous two weeks, the Falcons used 12 players (different starters) for the seven positions on the offensive line, including the tight ends.

Freshman Alan Carrier has had two starts, sophomores Caleb Gauvin and Dalton Milledge have had two starts, and juniors Brandon Roberts, Tom Thibeault and Anthony Boucher each earned their first varsity starts. Only senior Ryan Stickney has any varsity experience from prior to this year.

Aylward, looking for silver lining, said in the big picture, "it helps us to develop younger kids. Hopefully the experience they get this year will help them next year."