WINTHROP — The Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale football team opened a new era on its new turf in gritty style Friday night.

Sparked by a defense that registered eight sacks and forced two turnovers — including a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Gabe Robinson that sealed the game in the second half — the Ramblers cruised to a 21-0 victory over rival Lisbon in a Class D South clash at Charlie’s Field at the Maxwell Athletic Complex.

It’s the third straight victory for the Ramblers (4-3).

Senior Avry Jones led the Ramblers with three sacks, while Hunter Reynolds had two. Barrett Perkins and Chummy Williams each had 1 1/2 sacks. Williams also had a fumble recovery.

“We put in a lot of work on that pass rush during practice this week,” said Perkins, a senior defensive lineman and captain. “It felt great to actually feel success.”

“To give up just two touchdowns in the last three weeks, over three quality teams, that says a lot,” Ramblers head coach Dave St. Hilaire added.

Offensively, Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale was led by junior running back Carter Rivers, who rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries. Fellow running back Cody Cobb rushed for 33 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.

“My (offensive line) does it all for me,” said Rivers, who gained a large portion of his yards on stretch runs to the outside. “All I have to do is run fast, hit the outside, and I know the O-Line has the (downfield blocking) for me. I trust them with everything.”

Both teams struggled to gain ground in the first half, and the Ramblers entered halftime with a 7-0 lead, thanks to a 2-yard scoring run from Cobb in the first quarter. The defense, however, made life miserable for Lisbon quarterback Keeghan Morrissette, as it sacked the sophomore four times in the first half.

“We had a really good game plan; we knew we had to put the pressure on them,” St. Hilaire said. “(Morrissette) can run it, and he’s got some good weapons to throw to. Giving up the (long pass) was our weakness and our Achilles heel earlier in the year. We’ve certainly made that much better for us recently.”

The Winthrop Ramblers do their warm ups under the new lights and a dramatic sunset Friday at Charlie’s Field at Maxwell Complex in Winthrop. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The Ramblers extended their lead to 14-0 when Cobb scored on a 3-yard run to cap their first possession of the second half. Cobb’s score was set up by a 36-yard run from quarterback Braden Branagan.

Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale put the game away in the fourth quarter, when Robinson stepped in front of a Morrissette pass and scampered 35 yards for a touchdown to make it a 21-0 game.

Lisbon (2-5) fought throughout, and showed some glimpses offensively, mostly from running back Jayden Camp, who had 75 yards on 19 carries.

“I thought we did some things well at times,” Lisbon head coach Chris Kates said. “Obviously, there were a couple of times where we needed a play and just couldn’t convert… The reality is, we’re playing a lot of young kids, we played five different freshmen tonight. I’m proud of the way we battled. It doesn’t make losing any easier, but I’m impressed with how we improved from last week and hopefully we stay on that same path.”

It was the first night game on the new turf at Charlie’s Field, with an opening ceremony an hour before kickoff. Charlie’s Family of Dealerships President Charles Shuman, the field’s namesake, cut the honorary ribbon during the ceremony.

“It’s a great thing, it’s a great atmosphere,” St. Hilaire said. “It’s the best place to watch a game. When you’ve got some great kids (to coach), it makes it fun.”

“There’s no feeling like walking down the stairs (to the field) and seeing those fans up on the hill,” Perkins added. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

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