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Another impressive triumph for Scarborough football; Cape earns first win

Sports

Another impressive triumph for Scarborough football; Cape earns first win

Michael Hoffer
Friday, September 21, 2012

Scarborough's football team made another impressive statement last Friday night, downing visiting Windham, 27-12, in a battle of unbeatens to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Red Storm, coming off wins over Kennebunk and Bonny Eagle, came out sizzling, taking a 15-0 lead on two long touchdown passes from quarterback Dillon Russo to Greg Viola.

Windham, which had beaten South Portland and Noble to start the year, pulled within 15-6 at halftime, but with the game still in the balance in the fourth quarter, Charlie Raybine returned an intercepted pass for a TD for some breathing room. After the Eagles got back within 21-12, a touchdown run from Dan LeClair sealed it.

"I am really proud of how our team played against and very talented and well coached Windham team," said Scarborough coach Lance Johnson. "The defense was sound and did not give Windham's explosive offense any big plays. Offensively we were able to move the ball and make some explosive plays with Dillon and Greg. We hurt ourselves repeatedly with penalties and must improve on that."
 
Russo finished 9-of-19 for 198 yards with two scores through the air and rushed 11 times for 132 yards. Viola caught two balls, both for TDs, good for 95 yards. LeClair rushed 11 times for 47 yards and a score. He also caught three passes for 53 yards. Defensively, Raybine had two interceptions and seven tackles, Russo seven tackles and an interception and Nik Pelletier made 13 tackles.
 
Scarborough hopes to improve to 4-0 Friday night when it plays at 0-3 Deering, a proud program desperate for a win. Last fall, the Red Storm lost at home to the Rams, 14-7. Scarborough has never defeated Deering in three previous meetings.
 
"This week we face what will be a hungry Deering team looking for its first win" said Johnson. "They are talented on offense at tight end, wide receiver and running back. We must be ready to match their intensity. They are sound on defense and should be a big challenge for us."

Elsewhere in Western A, South Portland fell to 0-3 with a 42-0 home loss to two-time defending state champion Cheverus. It was the Stags' 27th successive victory, four shy of the state record set by the Red Riots in the 1990s, when John Wolfgram coached the program (he's now the coach of Cheverus).

South Portland did keep the game close for a half. After a scoreless first quarter, the Stags got a couple touchdowns in the second for a 14-0 lead at the break. The visitors then broke it open in the third quarter with 20 points and went on to a fourth straight win over the Red Riots.

South Portland hopes for its first win Friday when it visits 1-2 Kennebunk. The Red Riots defeated the visiting Rams a year ago, 35-7.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth got in the win column for the first time, 28-0, over Lake Region. The 1-2 Capers play at 0-3 Falmouth Friday night as they look to balance their record. Last year, Cape Elizabeth handled the visiting Yachtsmen, 28-6.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.