The two top teams in Class D North clashed yet again on Saturday, as John Bapst and Winslow battled for the regional title at Bangor’s Cameron Stadium.
After falling to John Bapst earlier in the season, the visiting Black Raiders of Winslow won this round with a resounding second half performance.
Winslow left Bangor with a 42-14 win after taking a 21-14 lead into halftime and pouring on 21 more unanswered points in the second half.
Senior back Hassan Hobbi had two touchdowns for Winslow, as did fellow senior Broddik Bimpson.
John Bapst quickly started the scoring on the first possession of the game, converting on a fourth down from the Winslow 40 with a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Aidan Oullette to junior fullback Thomas Curtis.
Junior Patrick Loubier responded for the Black Raiders on a 67-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 8-6 after a failed two-point conversion.
John Bapst scored again on a short pitch to senior running back Malcolm Butler, but Winslow responded with another long touchdown to tie the game at 14.
Bimpson’s first touchdown gave the Black Raiders their first lead at 21-14 with just over a minute left in the first half, and it was a lead they would never relinquish.
John Bapst almost forced two different fumbles on the same drive early in the third quarter, but Winslow recovered them both. Those recoveries, though not as flashy as the long touchdowns, may have been the game-defining plays amid a host of notable moments.
Hobbi finished that drive off with a touchdown run to go up 28-14. Winslow senior Ibrahim Al Subaihawi then added a stellar defensive play by stealing a Bapst pitch out of the air and gave his team the ball back at the Crusaders’ 9-yard line.
Then Hobbi scored again to put Winslow up 35-14.
Bimpson’s second touchdown pushed the lead to 42-14 for the final score of the day.
It was the first loss for John Bapst after a remarkable season buoyed by strong senior leadership. The Crusaders finish the year 9-1.
Winslow will now play in the state final next Saturday in Lewiston after avenging their only loss so far this season, which came against John Bapst in late September.
The Black Raiders will face South champion Winthrop in the Class D title game.
