FARMINGTON — Bradley Jackson knocked down a pass on the potential go-ahead two-point conversion with 3 minutes, 41 seconds left, preserving Mt. Blue’s 14-13 win over Mt. Desert Island in a Pine Tree Conference Class B quarterfinal game at Kemp Field on Friday.

The No. 8 Trojans trailed 14-0 after three quarters, the rallied on the top-ranked Cougars, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

“MDI played a perfect game,” Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin said. “They kept possession of the ball and kept it away from us.”

Mt. Blue (9-0) will host No. 4 Gardiner (5-3) at Kemp Field in the conference semifinals Friday night. No. 4 Gardiner defeated No. 5 Brewer 26-14 to advance. MDI ends at 4-5.

MDI got within seven when Jon Phelps scored from 13 yards out early in the fourth quarter and Trevor Alley kicked the point after. The Trojans got within a point before Sandy Henggeler scored from 3 yards out with 3:41 left. The touchdown was set up by a key 16-yard completion from Phelps to Trevor Alley. Phelps finished 5 for 7 for 86 yards.

MDI went for the two-point conversion to take the lead. Phelps rolled to his right and was looking for Keiran Rush, who was open when Phelps threw the ball. Jackson read the play and dove to knock down the ball at the last season.

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“They had run that play a couple of times during the game and when I saw it I cheated a little to that side,” Jackson said. “I just managed to get to the ball.”

Mt. Blue was limited to just two possessions in the first half, but appeared to be in control when it scored two plays into the third quarter. Chad Luker scored on a 51-yard run to give the Cougars a 14-0 lead with 11:05 left in the third quarter.

MDI, however, stuck with its game plan, putting together a 14-play drive that didn’t end in the end zone but did keep the Mt. Blue offense off the field.

“MDI came out and played us hard,” Luker said. “They made us play a lot of defense tonight and didn’t give up the ball.”

Luker made a diving catch in the end zone with 1:25 left in the first half when quarterback Jordan Whitney tossed a 24 yard pass over the top of the Trojan defense.

“That was an awesome pass,” Luker said. “Jordan threw it perfectly behind the defense.”

Luker rushed eight times for 105 yards and had a rushing and receiving touchdown.

 


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