The cooperative football team from Millinocket and East Millinocket avenged last year’s state title loss and brought home the 8-man small school championship on Saturday in Auburn.
The Minutemen from Stearns and Schenck high schools got the win against defending champion Old Orchard Beach, dealing the Seagulls their first loss of the season with a dramatic 20-18 victory.
Stearns took a 20-12 lead late in the game on a touchdown run from Cohen Raymond.
After Old Orchard senior captain and running back Wesley Gallant responded with a touchdown for the Seagulls, the Minutemen defense rallied for a team tackle to deny Old Orchard the two-point conversion and preserve a two-point lead.
An interception on the next Stearns drive had things looking like the defending champions might eke out a win in the final two minutes. But with their backs against the wall deep in their own territory, the Stearns defense held firm. A couple of penalties on Old Orchard moved the Seagulls back, and then the Minutemen forced and recovered a fumble to seal their state championship win.
