The Cheverus football team continued to stake its claim as not only the best squad in its region, but perhaps the state, with another decisive victory Friday.
The Stags, who previously downed Portland (35-25), Lewiston (67-8) and Oxford Hills (54-0) traveled to Windham to face an Eagles’ squad yet to lose.
Cheverus stunned Windham with two quick touchdowns, a Joe Fitzpatrick run and an interception return from Cody O’Brien. After the Stags’ first-team defense gave up their first score since Opening Night, Fitzpatrick ran for two more TDs. Windham drew back within 28-14 at halftime, but touchdown runs from Fitzpatrick and Will Hilton made it 42-14 after three periods. O’Brien and Justin Johnston scored in the final stanza and Cheverus slammed the door on a most-impressive 57-22 triumph.
Fitzpatrick wound up with a whopping 249 yards and four TDs on 25 carries. O’Brien had 81 yards and a score on seven rushes, in addition to his interception return for a touchdown. Hilton gained 46 yards and had a TD on five attempts.
Next up for Cheverus is a home game against Edward Little (1-3). That game Saturday will kick at 3 p.m., a later start due to SAT testing. The teams have no recent history.
Portland is the team hottest on the Stags’ heels, winning its third in a row Saturday. The Bulldogs made the trip to Bangor to face the Rams for the first time since the 2001 Class A state final. Portland improved to 65-45-15 all-time against Bangor, but it wasn’t easy.
Justin Zukowski (who entered the game as Eastern Class A’s leading rusher and gained over 100 yards) had a pair of early TD runs to put the Bulldogs ahead, 12-0, but the Rams would rally. After a Bangor score made it 12-7 and Jayvon Pitts-Young pushed the lead back to 12 with a scoring run, the hosts scored 13 straight to go ahead, 20-19. Zukowski finally gave Portland the lead for good with his third touchdown run and Matt Talbot clinched it with a fumble recovery and return for a TD giving the Bulldogs a 33-20 triumph.
Portland is going to Oxford Hills (0-4) Saturday afternoon. The teams have never met.
Deering, meanwhile, dropped an agonizing decision Friday evening on the road and remains stuck on zero victories.
The Rams held a 12-0 lead at Massabesic in the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs scored twice to go ahead, 13-12, and held on to win by that score.
Deering (0-4) will try again Friday night, when it hosts 0-4 Lewiston. The teams have no recent history.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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Portland senior Jayvon Pitts-Young shakes a Bangor tackler during the Bulldogs’ 33-20 win Saturday.
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