OLD TOWN — Trailing by six points in the Class C North championship game Friday night, the Winslow High School football team’s coaches reminded the Black Raiders of the last time they trailed at the half, which came last season at Foxcroft Academy.
“They said ‘Remember last year at Foxcroft Academy, now let’s finish what we started,'” Winslow halfback Nate St. Amand said.
The Black Raiders scored 26 straight points in the second half, shutting down an Old Town offense that in the first half looked unstoppable, taking a 40-27 win at Victory Field.
Winslow, now 10-0, will play in the Class C state championship game for the fourth straight season. The Black Raiders’ opponent will be determined Saturday when Wells visits Yarmouth. Old Town ends its best season in 18 years at 9-1.
St. Amand ran for 331 yards on 26 carries for Winslow and scored three touchdowns, including 256 yards in the pivotal second half, when blockers like guard Alec Clark and tackle Nat Beckwith wore out the Coyotes.
“We really planned to let our line win us the game,” Winslow head coach Mike Siviski said.
With 8:55 left in the third quarter, fullback Kenny Rickard scored on a 1-yard run to pull Winslow within a point of Old Town, 21-20. With 3:52 left in the third, Rickard scored on another on a 1-yard run to give Winslow the lead for good, 26-21.
The key drive of the game came early in the fourth quarter, when an Old Town punt pinned Winslow at its own one yard line. On second and nine, St. Amand broke up the right sideline for 73 yards. Five plays later, he scored on a three yard run, and Winslow had a 34-21 lead.
Patrick Hopkins’ 41-yard touchdown run with 4:15 left pushed the Black Raiders’ lead to 40-21.
As impressive as Winslow’s offense was in the second half, its defense was even better. After giving up 209 yards passing in the first half, Winslow held the Coyotes to 66 yards in the air in the second half. Beckwith and Dimitrios Bailis each had a sack in the second half for the Black Raiders.
Old Town star receiver Andre Miller caught nine passes for 189 yards, and his second touchdown of the game gave the Coyotes a 21-7 lead with 10:16 left in the first half. In the second half, Winslow rolled safety Jake Trask to Miller’s side of the field to help with coverage. After catching six balls for 141 yards in the first half, Miller was held in check in the second.
“No. 6 (Miller) was just as advertised,” Siviski said. “He’s the real deal.”
Old Town scored a late touchdown on a 1-yard run by quarterback Jake Jarvis with 2:42 to play, but Winslow recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Rickard gained 52 yards rushing for Winslow, while Hopkins added 58.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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