3 min read
Winslow quarterback Liem Fortin gets tackled by Maranacook’s Chance Leblanc earlier this month. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)

Some Maine high school football rivalries are classic, showdowns between tradition-rich programs that go back decades or even more than a century. Others are brand-new — exactly the kind that will occur in Winslow this weekend.

Although the Winslow football team has played countless games over its storied history, none have come against Freeport, a program founded in 2009. That all changes Saturday when the Black Raiders take on the Falcons in a battle of 2-0 squads at Poulin Field.

Winslow has put up gaudy numbers on the ground, rushing for a combined 904 yards in wins over Maranacook (54-0) and Belfast (63-22). The line of Ibrahim al-Subaihawi, Zane Erickson, Lucas Spencer, Brody Davidson, Ben Thomas, Nick McCann and Noah Harding has been impenetrable, and the backfield trio of Liem Fortin, Michael Loubier and Hassan Hobbi has excelled running behind the line and through the holes it creates.

Yet Freeport, which boasts solid wins over Mountain Valley (31-14) and Medomak Valley (21-14), is a different beast. The physicality the Falcons have on both lines outmatches anything Winslow has seen, and dual-threat quarterback Andrew Thomas, running back Sam Willard and receiver Liam Emmons provide Freeport with playmaking threats.

Keys to a Freeport victory

• Win the battle up front. Falcons coach Paul St. Pierre said this will be the deciding factor. Freeport’s defensive line must be able to set the edge, and offensively, Thomas must be given time to maneuver in the pocket.

• Get out in front early. Winslow has not trailed this season, scoring seven unanswered touchdowns against Maranacook and going up 24-0 early on Belfast. Making the ground-and-pound Black Raiders play from behind would be beneficial to the Falcons.

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Keys to a Winslow victory

• Special teams. Freeport has two top-notch kickers in Liam Emmons and Bryson Jack, so solid returns or even a blocked kick could make all the difference. For Winslow, field goals or extra points by Hobbi — another elite kicker — could also prove clutch in a tight game.

• Stopping counter plays. Freeport’s ability to run the counter, Fortin said, was one of the first things that stood out on film. The Black Raiders will need to be gap-sound to stop those counters and take away one of Freeport’s strengths.

Freeport impact players

• Junior QB/DB Andrew Thomas (26 carries, 200 yards, touchdown; 18 of 26, 312 passing yards, two touchdowns)

• Freshman WR/K Bryson Jack (nine receptions, 134 yards, touchdown; 7 of 7 PATs, one field goal)

• Senior WR/K Liam Emmons (returning from injury)

• Junior OL/DL Ethan Binekey

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• Senior OL/DL Caleb Antl

Winslow impact players

• Senior QB/LB Liem Fortin (16 carries, 222 yards, four touchdowns)

• Senior RB/K Hassan Hobbi (missed Week 1; last week: 11 carries, 169 yards, three touchdowns)

• Freshman RB/LB Michael Loubier (17 carries, 339 yards, two touchdowns; interception)

• Senior OL/DL Nick McCann

• Junior OL/DL Ben Thomas

What they’re saying

“That’s a very good Winslow running game. That offensive line does a great job pulling around, getting kickout blocks, getting lead blocks, and really creating seams for their running backs and their backfield. There isn’t a single weak link in that group. They’re good at what they do.” — Paul St. Pierre

“We’ve played a couple teams from the South (in the preseason), Oak Hill and Mountain Valley, and this is another team from the South we haven’t seen before. They look really good and you can tell that they’re skilled. We’re looking forward to the challenge.” — Winslow coach Wes Littlefield

“We’re really going to be tested, and we really need to show everybody what we’re worth. Everybody thinks down on us — they think they’re going to come here and beat us — but we want to show them that it’s not going to be easy.” — Nick McCann

Mike Mandell came to the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel in April 2022 after spending five and a half years with The Ellsworth American in Hancock County, Maine. He came to Maine out of college after...

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