SACO — Who knows how the “Wildcat” formation got its name.

Perhaps the coiner of the phrase somehow knew that Thornton Academy halfback Andrew Libby would use the scheme to run wild against Windham.

Libby, a sophomore, churned out 248 yards rushing ”“ most of them coming off of direct snaps to him ”“ and two touchdowns, to lift No. 2 seed Thornton Academy to a 21-9 triumph over No. 7 Windham, Saturday, in a Western Maine Class A playoff quarterfinal tilt at Paul Hill Stadium.

“We kept running the (Wildcat) play until they stopped it,” said Libby. “It kept working out.”

The win put the Golden Trojans (8-1) into next Saturday’s semifinal clash with No. 3 South Portland (7-2), which handed Thornton its lone loss of the season back on Week 2.

“That was early in the season,” said junior lineman Bobby Begin. “We’re a lot different now. We’re a better team now.”

The Trojans sputtered at the outset, and trailed 2-0 after Windham (4-5) recovered a fumble in the Thornton end zone with just eight seconds remaining in the first quarter.

However, from then on, Thornton asserted itself, utilizing a stern defensive effort combined with Libby’s explosive running to build a 14-2 halftime lead.

“It’s about running the ball,” said Begin. “And getting hands on the ball. We did that pretty well, most of the time.”

Libby scored twice in that stanza on plunges of 2 and 4 yards.

The first of those came with 8:12 remaining in the half, as he rolled in over the blocks of Thornton’s offensive line.

“We wanted to get the ball in Andrew’s hands,” said Trojans coach Kevin Kezal, explaining all of that “Wildcatting” in the game plan. “And that’s one way we can do it. He had a great day.”

The ensuing conversion attempt turned into something of an adventure when the errant snap had to be chased down by place kicker Brandon Briggs.

Briggs gathered it and floated a wobbler to John Remmes in the end zone to set the score at 8-2.

“Honestly,” said Briggs, “I did what I had to do. I threw it, and luckily John was there to catch it for me. It was just a lucky throw, I guess.”

Libby made it 14-2 with 47.5 seconds remaining after taking a direct snap and diving across the goal line.

He set up the score himself earlier in the drive with a 47-yard burst from the Thornton 13.

“It’s about reading my blocks,” said Libby, who credited his older brother Luke, a fixture on the offensive line, “and following them.”

As the third quarter unrolled, both teams committed crucial turnovers.

Windham appeared primed to haul itself back into contention after a Thornton fumble at the 10. The Eagles replied with a six-minute drive that brought them to the Thornton 19.

However, Trojan lineman Tyler Danley quelled the threat with an interception off Eagles quarterback Todd Allen.

“That brought a lot of emotion,” said Begin. “Everyone got pumped up 10 times (over) just because of that.”

That was the closest call Thornton had from then on.

Quarterback Eric Christensen sealed the win with a 1-yard dive with 2:50 remaining in the game.

Windham made matters interesting when Damien Shepard ran the ensuing kickoff back 99 yards for a score.

But by then, the Trojans could safely begin to think about the rematch with South Portland.

“There’s definitely going to be payback,” said Libby. “I’m excited about getting these guys again. I was waiting for it all over again. To show them how we can play.”

— Contact Staff Writer Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com or follow him on Twitter @DanHickling.

* An earlier version of this story was published with an error. This version reflects the correction.