Senior quarterback Isaiah Ervin had a memorable game for Houlton/Hodgdon/Southern Aroostook/Greater Houlton Christian Academy; the Bangor High School Rams earned a playoff spot and Oceanside of Rockland and Stearns/Schenck picked up playoff victories in high school football this past weekend.
Houlton/Hodgdon/SA/GHCA 56, Orono 50
Ervin rushed for 487 yards and seven touchdowns as the Shires advanced to the Eight-Man Small Schools North championship game against Stearns/Schenck.
It was the Shires’ eighth straight home win dating back to last season.
Ervin has now rushed for 2,150 yards and 35 touchdowns this season.
The Shires, now 7-2, avenged last year’s 43-14 semifinal loss to Orono, who went on to win the state title.
Houlton/Hodgdon/SA/GHCA beat the Red Riots 54-36 in their regular season matchup three weeks ago.
“We played pretty well but we just couldn’t tackle him. We tried everything,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair. “He had our number this year.”
For Orono, Jack Brewer completed 20 of 35 passes for 314 yards, four touchdowns and four two-point conversions. Saladin Wise had nine catches for 114 yards and a TD, Kason Bagley had eight receptions for 113 yards and a two-point conversion. Will Francis had two catches for 58 yards and both were for TDs. He also had a two-point conversion catch.
Logan Williams carried the ball 20 times for 159 yards and a pair of TDs.
The injury-riddled Red Riots wound up 5-4.
The Shires will now face Stearns/Schenck in the title game.
Bangor 20, Oxford Hills/Buckfield 6
The Rams completed their dramatic march to the playoffs with their third straight win and, in doing so, knocked Oxford Hills/Buckfield out of the playoffs.
Junior quarterback Kyle Johnson carried the ball 18 times for 133 yards and they also received 171 more rushing yards from Ian Blackwell (11 carries-66 yards), Eli Marsh (7-57) and Zac Cota (9-48).
Johnson, Marsh and Cota scored the touchdowns.
The Rams defense has now allowed only six points in its last two games and had a goal-line stand on Oxford Hills’ first drive and received an important interception by Trey Tennett late in the game to sew up the win.
The third-seeded Rams, 4-5, will now take on No. 2 Lewiston, 5-3, on Friday at 6 p.m. in Lewiston in a Class A North semifinal.
Lewiston beat Bangor 10-7 earlier this fall on Michael Caron’s 37-yard field goal with 4.7 seconds left.
Oceanside 40, Hampden 30
The Mariners were without quarterback and rushing leader Zeb Foster (broken hand) in their 31-18 regular season loss to Hampden Academy and second-leading rusher Robbie Blair sustained an ankle injury early in that game.
They have gotten significantly healthier.
Foster carried the ball 30 times for 230 yards and five touchdowns and Blair had 20 carries for 208 more yards.
Blair also had an interception and fumble recovery on defense.
“We are starting to get healthy and finally hitting our stride,” said Oceanside coach Sam Weiss. “It also looks like we’ve gotten through the sickness that has been hitting us hard the last month.”
Oceanside, 5-4, will now take on 6-2 Hermon in a Class C North semifinal.
Hermon won the regular season match-up 31-6.
Stearns/Schenck 52, Ellsworth/Sumner 0
Stearns/Schenck earned a second win over the Eagles in as many weeks after beating them 60-6 in the regular season finale.
Quarterback Cam Atkinson carried the ball 13 times for 181 yards and four TDs and completed five of nine passes for 132 yards and another touchdown.
Cohen Raymond carried the ball 10 times for 67 yards and Lucas Pelkey had 15 carries for 51 yards. Each scored a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, David McGreevy had 10 tackles with two for lost yards and a sack and Brady Booker had nine tackles with two for lost yards and 1.5 sacks.
Stearns/Schenck will take an 8-1 record into its championship game against Houlton/Hodgdon/SA/GHCA.
Ellsworth/Sumner wound up 6-3.
