PORTLAND ”“ Heading into the season, Game No. Four on the Sanford schedule wasn’t one that the Redskins would have marked down as a “W”.
That doesn’t make them feel any better about Saturday’s 41-8 thumping by Cheverus at Boulos Field.
Cheverus, of course, is the reigning Class A state champion, and halfway through the 2011 season, showed signs of being even more invincible than last year.
If such a thing was possible.
The Stags, who have now won 16 games in a row, were as good as advertised against Sanford (2-2), who trailed from the first series of the game on.
“It’s very difficult to find flaws in that Cheverus team,” said Sanford coach Mike Fallon. “And most high school teams are flawed in some form or another.”
The Stags (4-0) were nearly perfect early on, scoring touchdowns on three of their first four possessions on their way to an overwhelming 35-0 halftime advantage.
Spencer Cooke ran for two scores (17 and 2 yards) and also snagged a 24 yard TD toss from quarterback Cam Olson.
“I thought we were very efficient,” said John Wolfgram, the Stags’ veteran head coach. “And showed some good versatility. Our kids played well. Plus I thought our emotional level was high.”
Sanford’s best hopes may have been pinned on playing with a devil-may-care attitude.
Instead, said Fallon, the Redskins took the field too tight for their own good.
“I was a little concerned about that,” he said. “They were a little quiet before the game. It’s hard for young kids not to get a little overwhelmed. We’ve got a lot of kids who don’t have a lot of varsity experience. Then you have to line up against the defending state champs. That can be a daunting task for a 15 or 16 year old.”
More daunting still after one of Sanford’s few veterans, senior running back/defensive back Jon Schroeder, suffered a leg injury late in the first half.
Schroeder, a co-captain, had to be helped off the field and didn’t play in the second half, although Fallon said he thought Schroeder would be ready for next Friday’s game at Gorham.
Long after both teams emptied their benches, Cheverus tacked on a third quarter score to make it 41-0.
The Redskins broke the shutout with 29 seconds left, when John Morgan scored on a 29 yard pass from back up quarterback Josh Schroeder.
“It was not a great day,” said Fallon. “Obviously Coach Wolfgram does a great job. And he’s got this Cheverus freight train rolling. Unfortunately it rolled right over us today.”
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535, Ext. 323.
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