Friday’s high school football: Biddeford bounces back against Cheverus
Maine High‑School Football: Playoff Highlights From Friday’s Quarterfinals to Saturday’s Semifinals
By Maine News Now
Friday night brought a flurry of high‑school football action across Maine as teams from the state’s Class B South, Class B North, Small South, and Class A ranks battled for playoff advancement. From a dramatic revenge win by Biddeford to a dominant showcase by the Yarmouth Clippers, the games were filled with record‑breaking plays, standout individual performances, and a clear set of next‑step matchups that have set the stage for the state’s championship showdown.
Biddeford Tigers 35, Cheverus Knights 20 – Class B South Quarterfinal
In a rematch of last week’s regular‑season finale, third‑seeded Biddeford snapped a 44‑8 loss to sixth‑seeded Cheverus and secured a spot in the Class B South semifinals. Stanley Richerson, the Tigers’ running back, exploded for three rushing touchdowns, including a 79‑yard run that opened the scoring and a 24‑yard plunge in the second quarter. Estevao Lembissa added a 12‑yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21‑0 before Cheverus’s kickoff returner, Colton Jewett, answered with an 80‑yard return for a score. Cheverus managed two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter—by Nick Deschambault and Igor Bitencourt— but could not overcome the early deficit. Biddeford will meet second‑seeded Kennebunk next weekend.
Fryeburg Academy Raiders 48, Messalonskee Eagles 7 – Class B North Quarterfinal
Fourth‑seeded Fryeburg rolled to a decisive win over fifth‑seeded Messalonskee, thanks to the all‑around performance of Lars Bruhn, who rushed for three touchdowns and caught a 35‑yard pass from quarterback Marcus Sutton. Bruhn’s runs of six and five yards early in the second quarter, along with his 35‑yard reception in the third, were complemented by Sutton’s own 1‑yard touchdown run and a 2‑yard pass to brother Darryl. Fryeburg’s offense continued its momentum with Connor Hollis’s 80‑yard run in the fourth quarter, while the Raiders’ defense held Messalonskee to a lone 1‑yard rushing touchdown by Fin Minkel. Fryeburg now advances to face first‑seeded Lawrence in the Class B North semifinal.
Old Orchard Beach Seagulls 42, Maranacook Black Bears 0 – Small South Quarterfinal
The top‑seeded Seagulls continued their unbeaten streak with a convincing 42‑point victory over Maranacook. Brayden Koelker dominated the backfield, scoring the game’s first two touchdowns, then catching a 23‑yard pass from quarterback Matthew Charron early in the second quarter. Charron’s passing prowess also included a 25‑yard scoring catch by Jackson Stanton in the third quarter and a 27‑yard touchdown to Scout Schilling on the final play of the half, giving the Seagulls a 26‑0 lead. The Seagulls added a late‑game touchdown via Cooper Gallant’s 1‑yard run, cementing a 42‑0 rout. With the win, Old Orchard Beach secures a spot in the Small South final.
Windham Eagles 19, Deering Rams 0 – Class A Regular‑Season Finale
Windham capped an undefeated 6‑3 season with a dominant 19‑point win over Deering. Aiden Rinaldi returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter, sparking an 86‑yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Davenport to Landon Wyman later in the same period. A 42‑yard pass to Dre O’Neil set up the Eagles’ final score, a 7‑yard run by M.J. Imran in the fourth quarter. Deering’s Ryan Stultz recorded an interception and 10 tackles, but the Eagles’ offense proved too powerful. Windham now prepares for the Class A championship against the defending champion, Thornton Academy.
Thornton Academy Trojans 35, Massabesic Mustangs 0 – Class A Championship
The defending champions, No. 1 Thornton Academy, finished their perfect season with a 35‑point shutout of sixth‑seeded Massabesic. Josiah Blain opened the scoring with a 2‑yard run, and Logan LeBlanc returned a punt 49 yards for a score, giving the Trojans a 14‑0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Brennan Tabor scored on both a 3‑yard run and an 85‑yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 28‑0. Chase Paquette added a 1‑yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, cementing a 35‑0 win and a flawless 9‑0 record. The Trojans’ defense stifled the Mustangs throughout, and the team will now await the winner of the Large South semifinal to complete the state title bracket.
Yarmouth Clippers 52, Gray‑New Gloucester Patriots 6 – Large South Semifinal
The top‑ranked Clippers continued their dominant run with a 52‑point win over Gray‑New Gloucester. Stephen Connolly rushed for four touchdowns—2, 69, 48, and 44 yards—while also converting four 2‑point conversions to power the offensive line. Iggy McGrath threw two long touchdown passes to Jack Flanagan (65 and 56 yards) and a 26‑yard pass to Jackson Jabar. Gray‑New Gloucester’s Cole Prescott had an 81‑yard kick return for a touchdown, but the Clippers’ offense was too prolific. Yarmouth now moves on to face Spruce Mountain in the regional final.
Morse Shipbuilders 42, Mountain Valley Falcons 6 – Class D South Semifinal
In Bath, the third‑seeded Shipbuilders swept the sixth‑seeded Falcons 42‑6. Dylan Root led the way with two rushing touchdowns and another via a pass. The Falcons’ offense was limited to a lone 2‑yard run by Logan True. Root’s performance helped the Shipbuilders secure a berth in the Class D South final, where they will await defending state champion Winthrop.
What’s Next?
- Biddeford Tigers vs. Kennebunk Bears (second‑seeded) in the Class B South semifinal.
- Fryeburg Academy Raiders vs. Lawrence Lions (first‑seeded) in the Class B North semifinal.
- Old Orchard Beach Seagulls vs. the winner of the Small South final (Maranacook will not advance).
- Windham Eagles vs. Thornton Academy Trojans in the Class A championship.
- Yarmouth Clippers vs. Spruce Mountain in the Large South final.
- Morse Shipbuilders vs. Winthrop in the Class D South final.
These matchups set the stage for the upcoming weeks of Maine high‑school football, as teams aim to cap their seasons with state‑wide titles. The playoffs have already showcased stellar individual performances and thrilling play‑by‑play moments that underline the passion and dedication of Maine’s youth athletes.
