FARMINGTON – In the end, the Skowhegan Indians proved too much for the Mt. Blue Cougars by a score of 26-21 at Saturday night’s last conference game of the regular season. The game was postponed from Friday after a week’s worth of soggy weather.
Mt. Blue and Skowhegan both ended Eastern Class B regular season play with a 4-4 record. In playoffs next week, Mt. Blue will face Messalonskee in the first round of the Pine Tree Conference. Skowhegan went into the game knowing they were out of playoff contention after Brewer beat Hampden.
All game long, the Indians were led by quarterback Garrett McSweeney, a 6’1 sophomore, who teamed up with leading receiver Kaleb Brown to carry the ball 22 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Mt. Blue was plagued by injuries. After just one play, JT Williams, a leader in points scored and yards per game, limped off the field. In the third quarter, Alex Gilbert and William Gunther, both keys to early successes, went off and late in the fourth quarter, Levi Meader was out.
The Cougars scored first with just a little more than 2 minutes left in the first quarter on a pass by quarterback Ryan Pratt intended for Caleb Hall. The ball bounced off a Skowhegan player’s foot and was snagged by Hall. An official first called it as an incomplete pass but was overruled by the majority of officials as not having touched the ground.
Anthony Franchetti’s kick was good to add one for a 7-0 start.
The Indians answered back quickly in the first half, but failed to add a 2-point conversion after Adam Mealey knocked down McSweeney’s pass. At game restart Mt. Blue led with 7-6.
Just 3 minutes later Skowhegan would take the lead, 12-7, after Spencer Salley made a one-handed catch down the line. The Indians would lead the Cougars for the remainder of the game by adding two more touchdowns in the third and fourth quarter.
Mt. Blue worked to keep up with a 65-yard touchdown by Nate Pratt-Holt to bring the Cougars within 4 points in the third quarter. With just 2 minutes to go in the game, Christian Whitney broke a tackle after a pass by quarterback Pratt for a touchdown. The final score Skowhegan 26, Mt. Blue 21.
Nice coverage of the football team. Mt Blue had three other victorious teams Saturday winning playoff games!
Iagree with Curtis!!
Very true Curtis. I believe the field hockey team had quite an exciting victory….
I heard the cross country team did well also.