(Editor’s note: For the complete Yarmouth-Cheverus football game story, see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/.)

Fall sports are back in abundance and all is right with the sports world again.

Last week, local athletes began play in football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and golf and early results have been encouraging.

Here’s a look at what you might have missed:

Football

After a year’s hiatus, high school football is back and while every local squad was happy to take the field last weekend, Freeport was the lone team to emerge victorious.

The Falcons, playing in their first season in Class D, hosted Madison Saturday and rolled to a 33-0 victory. Nick White opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run. Tony Casale added a 15-yard TD run for a 14-0 advantage at the half. Casale then scored on a 4-yard rush and Aidan Heath’s 3-yard touchdown scamper made it 27-0 after three periods. Jordan Knighton added the final score in the fourth. Casale finished with 99 yards on 13 carries, scoring twice. He also had two catches for 11 yards. White gained 109 yards and scored a TD on 13 attempts. Knighton added 111 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and had one reception for 16 yards. The defense was paced by strong efforts from linemen Cody Arsenault and Cam Desrosiers and linebackers Casale, White and Cooper Delois. Freeport is home versus John Bapst Friday.

The Falmouth/Greely co-op team hosted Gorham and lost, 16-6. The Navigators struck first when quarterback Cooper Bush (266 passing yards) hit Finn Caxton-Smith for a 78-yard score, but they couldn’t score again.

“(Gorham) made nice adjustments and were playing well,” Falmouth/Greely coach John Fitzsimmons said. “We were dropping some passes that were right on the money.”

Falmouth/Greely seeks its first victory Saturday when it hosts Windham.

Yarmouth began its second season as an eight-man program Saturday at Cheverus and lost, 54-8. The Clippers hung tough for a quarter, but were down, 38-0, at halftime and couldn’t catch up. Spencer LaBrecque scored Yarmouth’s lone touchdown, a 2-yard run, and Michael McGonagle added the two-point conversion rush.

“We challenged the guys at halftime and they came out and played,” Clippers coach Jim Hartman said. “The problem is that Cheverus is still playing at a level of speed that our kids have never seen before. It took us a half to catch up and unfortunately we were way down at halftime. If we’d been at their speed level, it would have been better.”

Yarmouth hopes to get in the win column Saturday, when it hosts Traip Academy.

“We got punched now and understand it and hopefully, we’ll get better,” Hartman said.

Boys’ soccer

Falmouth’s boys’ soccer team, the reigning Class A champion, opened its season Saturday with a 6-0 home win over Sanford. Mason Farr scored four goals and Michael Christman tallied the other two. The Navigators are at Massabesic Wednesday, go to Gorham Friday and welcome Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth, the reigning Class B champion, started by blanking host Cape Elizabeth, 2-0, last Thursday. Truman Peters and Steve Fulton scored the goals and goalkeeper Cole Snyder made six saves. The Clippers played their home opener Tuesday versus Freeport (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story), then visit York Saturday and welcome Greely Tuesday of next week.

Greely started with a 10-0 victory at Poland Friday. Gage Cooney and Ethan Njitoh each scored twice. The Rangers visit Freeport Thursday, host Cape Elizabeth Saturday and are at Yarmouth next Tuesday.

Freeport got off to a promising start as well with a 1-0 win at York. Owen Rusiecki had the goal with Eli Andresen getting the assist. Colin Cronin made five saves. After playing at Yarmouth Tuesday, the Falcons welcome Greely Thursday, then go to Lake Region Tuesday of next week.

North Yarmouth Academy, the two-time reigning Class D South champion, opened with a 1-0 win at Richmond Friday. Chas Rohde scored the lone goal and goalkeeper Michael Belleau stopped six shots. The Panthers play their first home game Wednesday versus two-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story). NYA is home with Wells Saturday and visits St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, NYA, the two-time reigning Class D champion, started its season by beating visiting Old Orchard Beach (9-0) and Richmond (5-0). Angel Huntsman scored five goals against the Seagulls and added three more in the second victory. Jazzy Huntsman scored twice in the win over OOB. The Panthers visit Waynflete Wednesday and play host to St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week.

In Class A, Falmouth started by beating host Sanford, 4-0. Elise Gearan scored three goals and goalkeeper Jordan Wolf scored on a penalty kick. The Navigators hosted Massabesic Tuesday, welcome Gorham Thursday and play at Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.

In Class B, Greely blanked visiting Poland, 8-0, in its first game under new coach Rachel Williams. Elle Jowett led the way with three goals and Ally Martin added a pair. After welcoming Freeport Thursday, the Rangers go to two-time reigning state champion Cape Elizabeth Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and play host to Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth lost its opener, 2-0, to visiting Cape Elizabeth. Regan Sullivan did make nine saves. After going to Freeport Tuesday, the Clippers host York Saturday and play at Greely Tuesday of next week.

Freeport dropped a 2-1 home decision to York in its opener. The Falcons took an early lead on a goal from Megan Driscoll, but couldn’t hold it. Freeport welcomed Yarmouth Tuesday, go to Greely Thursday and play host to Lake Region Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Falmouth opened its field hockey season with a 2-0 loss at Scarborough, then evened its record at 1-1 after a 4-1 home victory over Kennebunk. In the win, Chloe Bush rattled the cage twice, while Macy Bush and Anna Turgeon both scored once. Goalie Jenna Nunley made 11 saves. The Navigators go to Westbrook Wednesday, host Windham Friday and visit Thornton Academy Monday.

Yarmouth started with a 4-3 home loss to St. Dom’s, then edged visiting Freeport, 2-1, Monday for its first win over the Falcons in five years. In the setback, Sophie Smith had two goals and Cat Jordan one. Alice Donahue (from Jordan) and Smith scored the goals in the victory. The Clippers go to Greely Wednesday, visit Wells Saturday and play host to Gray-New Gloucester Monday.

Freeport opened with a 4-0 home loss to York and a 2-1 setback at Yarmouth. Against the Clippers, Kyla Havey scored the goal. The Falcons visit Lake Region Thursday and go to Cape Elizabeth Saturday.

Greely began with a 1-0 home loss to Lake Region, despite 16 saves from goalie Savannah Harvey. The Rangers were at Fryeburg Academy Tuesday, host Yarmouth Wednesday and go to NYA Saturday.

The NYA/Waynflete co-op team plays its first game since 2019 when it welcomes St. Dom’s Wednesday. After welcoming Greely Saturday, the squad is at Wells Monday.

Volleyball

Yarmouth and Falmouth, the two-time reigning Class B and Class A champions, respectively, were scheduled to square off in the season opener last weekend, but that match was postponed to Sept. 29.

As a result, the Clippers start Thursday at rival Cape Elizabeth. After hosting Greely Saturday, Yarmouth is at Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

The Navigators, meanwhile, play at Cheverus Wednesday, host Bonny Eagle Thursday, welcome Cape Elizabeth Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for story), then travel to Greely Tuesday of next week.

Greely opened its season Tuesday at home versus Cape Elizabeth. After going to Windham Wednesday, the Rangers visit Yarmouth Saturday and play host Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

NYA begins its season Wednesday at Gray-New Gloucester, then welcomes Sumner Saturday and Brunswick Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

The cross country season began last week, as Greely and Yarmouth joined Old Orchard Beach at Cape Elizabeth. The Rangers won the girls’ competition and were led individually by Annie Reynolds, who completed the course in 21 minutes, 43 seconds. The Clippers placed third. Gigi Grosset led the Clippers with a fourth-place finish (22:04). In the boys’ meet, won by Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth finished second (Aksel Yeo was fifth individually, 18:51) and Greely was third (with Mitch Parent coming in third individually in 18:27).

Falmouth hosted South Portland, Thornton Academy and Westbrook. The girls’ squad was first, as Lila Findlay was fourth individually (23:11). The boys’ team was second to the Red Riots, but Logan Ross was first individually in 17:29.

Freeport hosted Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region, Maine Coast Waldorf and Poland. The Falcons boys won their meet, as William Spaulding (fourth, 18:05.16) led the way individually. MCW finished third, as Louis Walker finished third individually (18:04.63). In the girls’ competition, Freeport was first and MCW second (with the top individually, Maeve Woodruff, 21:27.02). The Falcons were paced by Jillian Wight (fourth, 21:51.52).

NYA joined Fryeburg Academy and St. Dom’s at Sacopee Valley. The Panthers were first on the boys’ side, as James Tourigny was tops individually in 17:52. The girls didn’t score as a team. Liv Urbanek was fifth individually in 25:18.

Golf

Freeport’s golf team, the defending Class B state champion, started its season with a pair of wins over Cape Elizabeth, a loss to Wells and a victory over Poland. Finn Sharpe had a nine-hole score of 41 versus the Capers, while Eli Spaulding shot a 33 against the Knights.

Reigning Class A champion Greely started with a 9.5-3.5 loss to Gorham. Will Klein and Ruth Weeks each shot a team-low 40 over nine holes.

Falmouth opened with a 7-6 win over South Portland. John Hwang had a low score of 39.

Yarmouth started with victories over Lake Region and Old Orchard Beach. Against the Lakers and the Seagulls, Andrew Cheaver and Nate Hagedorn both shot a 41.

NYA opened with a 7-0 loss to Cape Elizabeth. Nick Pelletier’s 41 was the team’s best score.

Press Herald staff writer Travis Lazarczyk contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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