While the fall sports season is still in its veritable infancy, it’s become clear that we have some very talented athletes and teams in our midst. With the first full week (and then some) of the campaign in the books, here’s a glimpse at where things stand:

Football

While Freeport was enjoying a victorious home debut last weekend, Falmouth, Greely and Yarmouth all played well and two of the three emerged triumphant.

Falmouth, coming off a 27-6 home loss to York, went to Fryeburg Saturday and rolled to a 22-0 victory behind a pair of scores by junior Caleb Bowden. The Yachtsmen’s defense pitched its first shutout of the season, after blanking the opposition on three occasions in 2008. Falmouth (1-1) visits Lake Region Friday.

Greely was blanked in a season-opening 21-0 home loss to Wells, but got in the end zone and in the win column Friday night. Hosting Poland, the Rangers got two TDs apiece from juniors Justin Moore and Alex Parenteau. Greely (1-1) looks to make it two straight when it goes to Gray-New Gloucester Friday.

Yarmouth, a 28-12 loser at Old Orchard Beach in its first game, hosted Oak Hill Friday night in a back-and-forth affair. The Clippers shot to a 14-0 lead behind a TD pass from senior Eric Estabrook to senior Brodie Woodson and a short Estabrook TD run, but the Raiders responded, pulling to within 14-13 before Yarmouth went up 20-13 on a short TD run from senior David Deitz. After Oak Hill tied the game in the fourth period, the Clippers went back up 23-20 on a field goal from Estabrook, but the Yarmouth defense couldn’t stop a late Raiders’ drive and the visitors got the winning TD pass in the final minute to escape with a 26-23 decision.

“It was a disappointing outcome, but we took some major positive steps,” said Yarmouth coach Jim Hartman. “The kids matured. They were ugly that they lost.

“We adjusted to stop (Oak Hill’s) run and it cost us in the passing game. We’ve played well all year on offense, we just need to hold on to the ball. We can’t keep turning it over. Deitz had a phenomenal game, 116 yards. Eric had a great game passing the ball. Brodie’s a man among boys right now.”

The Clippers play at Traip Academy at 3:30 p.m. Friday, as they seek their first win of the 2009 season.

“Traip’s playing very well,” Hartman said. “They have great running backs. We hope to get a couple wins and keep going.”

Boys’ soccer

Round one of an expected three-round heavyweight fight between Falmouth and defending Class B state champion Yarmouth’s boys’ soccer juggernauts occurs Thursday at 5:15 p.m., on the Clippers’ home turf.

Both rivals have gotten off to a hot start in 2009.

The Yachtsmen enjoyed a 4-2 victory at Greely last Tuesday, drubbed visiting Poland 12-0 Thursday, then improved to 4-0 Monday night with a hard-fought 3-1 home victory over Cape Elizabeth (please see Web site for full game story). After playing at Yarmouth, Falmouth (first in the Western Class B Heal Points standings as of Tuesday morning) is idle until Tuesday of next week when it goes to Wells.

The Clippers (fourth in the Heals) edged visiting Cape Elizabeth 2-1 last Tuesday night (on junior Campbell Belisle-Haley’s second half goal from senior Ebrahim Fazeli), downed visiting Freeport 1-0 Thursday (on junior Luke Pierce’s tally from Fazeli) and improved to 4-0 Monday night with a 1-0 home victory over Gray-New Gloucester (Pierce, from junior Kyle Groves had the game-winner). Next up is the showdown Thursday.

Yarmouth has never beaten Falmouth on its home turf field (installed 2001). The Clippers’ last home win over the Yachtsmen came back in the 20th Century (1999).

Freeport is 0-3-1 with just one goal scored this season. The Falcons tied host York 1-1 last Tuesday before losing 1-0 at Yarmouth and 1-0 at home to Traip Saturday. Freeport (11th in Western B) returns to action Thursday at Waynflete and hosts Sacopee Tuesday.

In Western A, Greely bounced back from its 4-2 home loss to Falmouth with a 14-0 home drubbing of Wells Thursday. Monday, the Rangers improved to 3-1 with a 5-0 victory at York. Greely (sixth in the Western A Heals) hosts Lake Region Thursday and goes to Poland Tuesday.

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy has won three straight after an 0-1-1 start. The Panthers have enjoyed victories over host Traip (3-1), visiting Sacopee (1-0) and host Poland (3-2). NYA (fourth in the Heals) plays host to Wells Thursday and welcomes rival Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

The girls’ soccer story is also promising.

In Western A, Greely followed its 1-1 tie at Falmouth last Tuesday with a 6-0 win at Wells Thursday. Displaying their great balance, the Rangers featured six different goal scorers. Monday, Greely improved to 3-0-1 with a 1-0 home victory over York (Taylor Hicks had the goal from Becca Otley). The Rangers (first in the Western A Heal Points standings as of Tuesday morning) are at Lake Region Friday and home against Poland Tuesday.

Defending Class B champion Falmouth is also impressing. After their tie against Greely, the Yachtsmen blanked host Poland 5-0 Thursday (senior Corey Morganstern had two goals to lead the way), then tied host Cape Elizabeth 2-2 Monday. Falmouth (2-0-2 and third in the Heals) has a showdown at Yarmouth Thursday and hosts Wells Tuesday.

The Clippers are 3-0-1. Yarmouth tied visiting Cape Elizabeth 0-0 last Tuesday, then won 6-0 at Freeport Thursday and 4-1 at Gray-New Gloucester Monday (behind two goals from junior Devin Simsarian). The Clippers (fifth in the standings) host Falmouth Thursday and Fryeburg next Tuesday.

Freeport is seeking its first win. The Falcons have lost 6-0 to Greely and Yarmouth, 7-1 to York and 1-0 at home to Old Orchard Beach Saturday to drop to 0-4. Tuesday, Freeport went to Traip. The Falcons (14th in Western B) host Waynflete Thursday and play at Sacopee Tuesday.

In Western C, NYA has been dominant for the most part. The Panthers opened their year with a 7-2 home win over Gray-New Gloucester last Tuesday, getting five goals from senior standout Courtney Dumont. Thursday against visiting Traip, NYA won 3-0 as junior Lilly Wellenbach scored in the first half and Dumont and Molly Strabley added second half tallies. Saturday, at Sacopee, the Panthers erupted for three second half goals to win 3-1. Moira LaChance’s goal in the 71st minute snapped a 1-1 tie. NYA settled for a scoreless home draw with Poland Monday and is 3-0-1 on the year. The Panthers (seventh in the Heals) play at Wells Thursday, then have a playoff rematch at Waynflete Tuesday of next week. The Flyers ended NYA’s five-year Class C title reign in last year’s regional final.

Field hockey

There hasn’t been any rebuilding of the Falmouth field hockey program this autumn. After the Yachtsmen got within penalty corners of a first-ever state final appearance a year ago, they lost some key players to graduation, but it turns out several stars of the future were waiting to take their place.

Falmouth first turned heads with a 5-1 home win over Lake Region in the opener. The Yachtsmen then got five goals from junior Courtney Proctor in a 6-1 victory at Yarmouth. Friday, Falmouth won 4-1 at Fryeburg to improve to 3-0. The Yachtsmen (third in the latest Western Class B Heal Points standings) had a key home showdown and a shot at revenge Tuesday (see Web site for game story) when they hosted York. Thursday, Falmouth goes to Wells. Monday, it is home with Greely.

Speaking of the Rangers, they opened with victories over visiting Fryeburg (5-1) and host Lake Region (5-3, behind five goals from sophomore standout CeCi Hodgkins). Greely then dropped to 2-1 Friday with a 3-1 loss at York. The Rangers (fourth in the Western B Heals) are home with Cape Elizabeth Thursday and go to Falmouth Monday.

Yarmouth hosted Fryeburg Tuesday seeking its first win. The Clippers lost 6-1 at home to Falmouth last Wednesday and 4-1 at Lake Region Friday to fall to 0-3. Yarmouth (15th in the standings) is at York Thursday and welcomes Wells Monday.

Defending Class C state champion NYA hasn’t missed a beat. The Panthers played their first two games without coach Julia Littlefield, who was away on her honeymoon, but still downed Poland and Freeport by a combined 19-0 margin. Sophomore Kylie Dalbec had three goals in a 5-0 victory over the Falcons. Monday, NYA improved to 3-0 after a 9-2 win at Sacopee. The Panthers (fourth in the Heals) welcomed Waynflete Tuesday, go to Old Orchard Beach Thursday and play host to Gray-New Gloucester Monday.

Freeport’s first game was its 5-0 home loss to NYA, but the Falcons bounced back and got in the win column Saturday with a 3-2 overtime triumph over visiting Gray-New Gloucester. Senior Lauren Parker scored a pair of goals in regulation. Sophomore Katie Turner had the game-winner in overtime. Senior goalie Hannah Schuchert stopped 14 shots. Freeport (ninth in the standings) was home with Old Orchard Beach Tuesday, goes to Sacopee Thursday and Waynflete Friday, then comes home to meet Traip Monday.

Cross country

Class B cross country favorites Falmouth and Greely met for the first time this regular season Friday in a meet at Twin Brook (which also included Lake Region). The Rangers won the boys’ meet in dramatic fashion, by a single point. Greely senior Logan Price was first individually (16 minutes, 53 seconds), while sophomore Tim Follo of the Yachtsmen placed second (17:25). In the girls’ race, Falmouth had 19 points to easily outdistance Greely (42) and Lake Region (79). Yachtsmen junior Maggie Parrish led from start to finish and won in 21:28. Senior Erin Morris was second (21:39). The teams square off again Friday in a meet at Gray-New Gloucester.

Yarmouth hosted Freeport, Merriconeag and Gray-New Gloucester last weekend. The Clippers won the boys’ race, while the Falcons came in first on the girls’ side. Yarmouth junior Ben Nickerson was the fastest male (18:54). Freeport senior Kiera Berkemeyer was tops on the girls’ side (22:58). Both Freeport and Yarmouth join Falmouth and Greely at Gray-New Gloucester Friday.

NYA (along with Poland and York) raced at powerhouse Cape Elizabeth last weekend. The Capers swept the meet. The Panthers were third in the boys’ race and fourth on the girls’ side. NYA is at Gray-New Gloucester Friday.

Golf

On the links, defending Class B champion Falmouth is 1-1 after a 5-2 loss to Greely and a 7-0 win over Gray-New Gloucester.

Greely has won its first four matches: 5-2 at Falmouth, 4-3 at Yarmouth. 4-3.5 over York and 6-1 against Cape Elizabeth.

Freeport fell to 1-3 Monday with a 6-1 loss to Old Orchard Beach. The Falcons lone win came last Wednesday, 6-1 at Fryeburg.

Yarmouth is 1-2. The Clippers downed Poland 7-0, then lost 4-3 to Greely and 5-2 to Cape Elizabeth.

In Class C, North Yarmouth Academy has won its first four matches under new coach Mike Dutton. The Panthers have defeated Old Orchard Beach (7-0), Poland (6-1), Fryeburg (7-0) and Wells (6-1).

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

Yarmouth senior Spencer Dorsett sacked the Oak Hill quarterback Friday night. The Clippers led most of the way, but ultimately suffered a painful 26-23 defeat at the hands of the Raiders.
The Falmouth girls, featuring (from left) senior Francesca D’Alfonso, sophomore Emily Rand and freshman Molly Rand, defeated Greely to win the team title Friday.

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Greely’s Sam Johnston approached the finish line during the Rangers’ one-point team victory over rival Falmouth last Friday. Johnston finished third individually with a time of 17 minutes, 42 seconds.