Westbrook football shows it isn’t ready to cede throne
Westbrook Blue Blazes open season with 15‑9 win over Cheverus, bell rings a promise of a new chapter
WESTBROOK – In a high‑energy season opener at Olmstead Field, the Westbrook High School football squad, known as the Blue Blazes, edged Cheverus 15‑9 on Thursday night. The game, which saw a standing‑room‑full of 2,500 fans, set the tone for a team that last year stunned the state by winning the Class B title with a 40‑20 victory over Cony.
After the final whistle, coach Sam Johnson stood beside his players, eyes bright with the excitement of a fresh start. “There’s still a buzz in the community, right? We’re trying to turn the page,” he told reporters, noting that many players had been on the championship‑winning roster. “It’s a new team. We graduated a lot of really good players, but we’re not going to graduate our culture or our tradition. We’re not going to graduate the bell.”
The victory bell, a beloved Westbrook ritual that rings whenever the team wins a game, was struck in the end zone after the final touchdown. Alumni and students gathered around the new scoreboard, cheering as the bell’s chime echoed across the field. It is a moment that, according to Johnson, reminds everyone that the Blue Blazes’ legacy is built on hard work and community spirit.
A season that starts with a title
Westbrook’s 2024 season had been a tale of perseverance. With a 2‑6 record last year and an 8‑18 record over the preceding three seasons, the Blue Blazes had surprised everyone by clinching the state championship in 2025. “We had a lot of pomp and circumstance, but we also had to keep our foot on the gas,” Johnson reflected. He explained that many players juggle winter and spring sports, so the team’s offseason training was intense and purposeful. Coaches have been attending clinics, and the players are traveling together to practices and 7‑on‑7 drills, reinforcing the team’s chemistry.
Key moments on the field
Westbrook’s offense opened the scoring after a 92‑yard drive sparked by a critical turnover. Andre Hicks, the Blue Blazes’ cornerback, intercepted a pass early in the first quarter after a receiver, AJ Lauture of Cheverus, attempted a tip on the ball. Hicks later described the play as “a classic tip drill.” The interception set up the first touchdown of the night, a 15‑point surge that Westbrook never relinquished.
Later in the game, the team forced two more turnovers, a second interception and a fumble recovery, and capitalized on both. Cheverus scored nine points, but Westbrook’s defense held strong in the second half, allowing no further scores. “It’s just a classic tip drill,” Hicks added, “the ball was in the air, I saw it, and I got it.” Hicks also praised the team’s unity, noting that players carpooled to practices and that the chemistry was “through the roof.” “I’m so excited for the rest of the season,” he said.
Friends of the program
The game was watched by longtime friends and alumni. Eddie Warren, a friend of Johnson from the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl, arrived an hour before kickoff. Warren, who had his lower legs amputated as an infant, played football for Sacopee Valley and even represented his school in the 2010 Lobster Bowl. He said of Johnson, “He’s done a hell of a job. He loves football, he loves his players, and he certainly loves Westbrook.”
Gerry Logan and Dick Ashley, both 1966 Westbrook graduates, took lawn chairs to the bleachers and watched the action. The pair, who have known each other since fourth grade, expressed confidence in the team. “I wasn’t sure if they’d be as good as last year, but they’ve got some good players,” Logan told reporters. “Good linemen,” Ashley added.
A community united
The crowd’s enthusiasm was evident as the Blue Blazes forced four turnovers, with fans cheering loudly for each one. While the 2,500 attendees were less than the 2,500 who turned out for the regional title game last November, the energy was palpable. The victory bell’s ring is more than a sound; it is a promise that Westbrook will keep adding chapters to its football story.
Coach Johnson concluded that the tradition of ringing the bell will be a constant reminder of the effort required each week. “The Blue Blazes know it takes hard work to ring it again,” he said. The season has officially begun, and with a mix of seasoned veterans and fresh talent, Westbrook looks poised to build on its recent triumph while forging a new legacy for the town’s next generation of players.
