One sport, golf, has held its postseason championship. The rest of the fall slate is winding down with many squads primed to play their final regular season game either this week or early next week.

No matter how you slice it, October has brought more intensity and the promise of glory to come has coaches, athletes and fans riveted.

Here’s a glimpse at the week that was and a look ahead:

Golf

All three local golf teams made it to states last weekend at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, where a South Portland individual stole the show.

Red Riots junior Lucas Flaherty shot an even-par 72, carding four birdies, two bogeys and one double-bogey to take the Class A individual title by four strokes. Quinn Dillon of Gorham and Cole Binette of Kennebunk tied for second.

“The qualifier definitely gave me the confidence I needed,” said Flaherty, who had posted the top score in his league’s qualifier just days before at Natanis. “I knew I was coming in near the top of the state. I just had to play my game and let it come to me. The driver was really working for me. I just wanted to keep the ball in play. That was the mindset coming into today.”

“Lucas Flaherty is a terrific young man, a very good player and even a better person,” said South Portland coach Tom Hyland. “What made Lucas successful is preparation, grit and determination. He prepared by utilizing the spring and summer to play, practice and compete as often as he could. He played in competition in and out state. He sought out better players to compete against which honed his resolve. Since freshman year, he got progressively better, but this summer and fall his mental sharpness and decision-making improved to make him the champion he has become. He is our leader and captain. He leads by example and we all benefit. Lucas came into this season with one distinct goal, and on a beautiful fall day in Vassalboro, he achieved his goal. I could not be more proud of him and his success.”

Flaherty’s performance highlighted a historic day for South Portland, which qualified for states as a team for the first time since 2001. The Red Riots finished with a team score of 343, good for sixth place, 28 strokes shy of champion Falmouth.

Also scoring for South Portland were Alex Leupold (88, tied for 32nd), Ben Stanley (91, tied for 47th) and Connor Corcoran (92, tied for 49th). Lucas Inman (97) and Camden Cloutier (111) also participated, but their scores weren’t factored in.

“For our team to qualify this season was the fulfillment of many years of hard work,” Hyland said. “Our goal in August was to qualify for states and contend for a championship. Throughout  my tenure, our program has taken many baby steps, slowly getting better and closer. I  have many former players and parents to thank for their hard work and commitment. This season was a huge step forward. We believed in ourselves and we believed we could compete. We played well, bonded and had a lot of fun. Everyone contributed. We are proud of ourselves and we will continue to work for the ultimate team prize of a state championship.”

Scarborough finished with a team score of 335, good for fourth, 20 strokes behind Falmouth. The Red Storm, last year’s runner-up, who qualified for states for the eighth year in a row, were paced by T.J. Liponis (82, tied for 12th). Keenan Buteau (83, tied for 17th), Harrison Griffiths (84, tied for 21st) and Owen Falcon (86, tied for 26th) also scored. Alden Griffiths and Asa Buteau (88) also participated.

At the Class B state match, won by Yarmouth with a team score of 322, Cape Elizabeth finished at 361, tied with Hermon for fourth place. The Capers, who got back to states after missing out a year ago, were led by Sam Ludington (89, tied for 14th). Also scoring were Curtis Sullivan and Jake Frame (90, tied for 17th) and Aidan Connelly (92, tied for 24th). Dylan Ludington (97) and Antonio Dell’Aquila (102) also took part.

Football

Scarborough’s football team won its third game in a row and improved to 4-2 with a 49-13 home victory over Sanford last Friday. The Red Storm fell behind early, 7-0, as the Spartans chewed up over seven minutes on a lengthy touchdown drive. Then, Scarborough, already playing without standout Jayden Flaker, sidelined with an upper body injury, lost quarterback Sam Rumelhart to an ankle injury on its first offensive series, but instead of letting things deteriorate further, the Red Storm, behind backup QB Keegan Weed, went out and completely turned the game around and rolled to an emphatic victory.

Weed’s first pass was a quick screen to Griffin Denbow, who broke it for a 44-yard score, and even though the extra point was no good, Scarborough was on its way. Early in the second period, Denbow’s 4-yard touchdown run gave the Red Storm the lead for good. The rest of the first half belonged to Weed, who threw three more TD passes, 32- and 14-yard strikes to Charlie Murray and a 32-yard bomb to Denbow on fourth-and-10 just before the break to produce a decisive 35-7 advantage. Weed then threw his fifth touchdown pass and his third to Murray, from 15 yards out, and after three quarters, the score was 42-7. Sanford refused to go quietly and answered with a score, but Tim Crockett countered for Scarborough with a 9-yard scoring rush to account for the final tally.

Weed threw for 204 yards and five TDs and, for good measure, added 117 yards on the ground.

“I played the first three games and I had a great quarterback ahead of me who taught me and gave me good advice,” Weed said. “I was a little nervous at first, but that first play gave me a lot of confidence. This says Scarborough football is what we’ve always been. Just because we lost two games doesn’t mean we’re out of it. We’re coming back stronger than ever.”

“(Sanford) came out fired up, but I think our athletes and our conditioning took over,” said Scarborough coach Packy Malia. “Something we always pride on here at Scarborough is our conditioning. A lot of teams come in here fired up to play us since we’ve been top tier for awhile. We had to weather that storm.”

The Red Storm are at 1-5 Lewiston Friday, then close the regular season with games versus currently undefeated powers Oxford Hills and Thornton Academy.

“We’re getting better as we go,” said Malia. “Getting healthy will help for the end. We really haven’t had our core group of guys on the field together at any point this season, but I see it as kind of positive where we’ve been able to build depth and make us a strong team down the stretch.”

South Portland evened its mark at 3-3 with a 30-14 win at Noble. The Red Riots took a 14-0 lead after one quarter, as Nate Rende scored on a 2-yard run and Ryan Thurber returned an interception 64 yards for a TD. After Noble answered to pull within six, Brady Demers kicked a 32-yard field goal and Rende added a 15-yard touchdown run for a 24-8 halftime advantage. Rende then opened it up further with a 9-yard scoring pass to Nolan Hobbs, and while the Knights got one more touchdown, South Portland finished it off.

“I know we lost two in a row, we wanted to fight back and we wanted to get a win,” Rende said. “I think this is just setting us in motion for an upward climb and we’re going to get back into it.”

The Red Riots have a big test Saturday afternoon, when they host 6-0 Portland in the “Battle of the Bridge” (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story).

“It’s a big game,” South Portland coach Aaron Filieo said. “(Portland is) good, so we’re excited to go play them.”

Cape Elizabeth fell from the unbeaten ranks after a 39-27 loss at Leavitt, dropping the Capers to 4-1. The Hornets led, 8-6, after one quarter, as the Capers answered an initial Leavitt touchdown with a 2-yard Nick Laughlin scamper. After another Hornets score, Caden McDuffie tied it up at 14-14 with a 3-yard TD rush. Leavitt held a 20-14 advantage at the half, but early in the third period, McDuffie scored from 4 yards out and Cape Elizabeth had a momentary lead, but the Hornets answered with 19 straight points to seize control. McDuffie and Laughlin hooked up on a late 66-yard touchdown pass, but it wasn’t enough.

“We’ve only had one turnover all year and we had a couple tonight,” Capers coach Sean Green said. “Usually when you have two teams who are right there, hand-in-hand, turnovers make the difference and I think that was the story tonight. You can’t give a team like (Leavitt) more opportunities.”

Cape Elizabeth looks to bounce back Saturday at home against longtime rival Wells (4-2).

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough’s boys’ soccer team’s season-opening, nine-game win streak came to a halt last Thursday with a 2-1 loss at Marshwood. Jack Matthews scored the lone goal. The Red Storm (9-1 and second in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) looked to bounce back Wednesday at home when reigning Class A champion Falmouth paid a visit (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story). After visiting Gorham Saturday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), Scarborough closes the regular season next week with games at Sanford Monday and at Cheverus Tuesday.

South Portland improved to 7-2-2 and fourth in Class A South after recent wins at Gorham (2-0) and at home over Kennebunk (4-0). Joey Hanlin and Divin Mpinga had the goals against Gorham, and Thomas Caouette made five saves. In the victory over Kennebunk, Alberto Kissaka scored twice, while Jack Houle and Joey Perron both had one goal. The Red Riots were home with Deering Wednesday, go to Falmouth Saturday and close at home versus Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth was 8-4 and sixth in the standings after a 3-1 home loss to Greely and Tuesday’s dramatic 2-1 win at Gray-New Gloucester. Against the Rangers, Sam Cochran scored the goal. Against the Patriots, the game was scoreless until the 72nd minute, when Eddie Caldera set up Crispin Duryee for the apparent game-winner, but Gray-New Gloucester tied it five minutes later. Then, in the 79th minute, Stewart Kelley scored to win it. The Capers were at York Thursday and close at Freeport Tuesday of next week.

In Class D South, Greater Portland Christian School was 1-6 and 10th following last week’s 5-3 loss to Temple Academy. Isaac Steward scored twice and Logan Hoffman had the other goal. The Lions were home with Pine Tree Academy Thursday, play at Chop Point Friday and close Monday at home versus Chop Point.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Scarborough got its first big test Monday at Falmouth. The Red Storm had improved to 11-0 after last Thursday’s 2-1 home win over Marshwood, behind goals from Lana Djuranovic and Ali Mokriski, but at the Navigators, despite an early Djuranovic goal, they lost, 3-1.

“Falmouth played really well,” Scarborough coach Mike Farley said. “They had numbers back and helped each other out. They put pressure on the ball. If you contain that well for that long, you’ll be in a good spot, especially with a goalie that good. We’ve had trouble with loose balls in the box against teams that didn’t punish us the way Falmouth did.”

The Red Storm (fourth in the Class A South Heals) hosted Gorham in a huge test Thursday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and close at home against Cheverus Tuesday of next week.

“We have to get better,” Farley said. “If we lick our wounds or put our heads down, we’re going to run into a couple other juggernauts who will run us over too. We have to turn it around and be more composed. These games prepare us for playoffs. We needed to be pressed hard and we’re going to get it.”

South Portland fell to 1-11 and 15th in Class A South after recent losses at Kennebunk (2-0) and at Deering (4-0). After hosting Falmouth Thursday, the Red Riots close at Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Two-time reigning Class B champion Cape Elizabeth bounced back from its first loss with shutout wins at Greely (4-0) and at home against Gray-New Gloucester (5-0). Against the Rangers, Evelyn Agrodnia, C.C. Duryee, Caroline Gentile and Emily Supple scored the goals. Supple, on her birthday, then scored four times against the Patriots, while Agrodnia had the other goal. The Capers (11-1 and first in the Class B South Heals) were home with York Thursday and finish the regular season at home versus Freeport Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Cape Elizabeth’s field hockey team saw its undefeated run come to a close last week with a 3-0 home loss to perennial powerhouse York. The Capers managed just two shots on cage.

“York’s a great team,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Maura Bisogni. “We learned what we can’t do against a team like that. We’ll see York again. We do respect them, they are strong.”

Monday, the Capers improved to 9-1-1 and second to York in the Class B South Heals after a 5-0 win at Poland. Grace Gray scored twice, while Meghan Conley, Kaitlyn McIntyre and Camden Woods had one apiece. Cape Elizabeth went to Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday, plays at Greely Saturday and finishes at York Monday.

“Being undefeated was fun and exciting, but it wasn’t our goal,” Bisogni said. “We’ve got a tough schedule the next couple weeks. A lot of away games. That will get us ready for playoffs.”

In Class A South, Scarborough was 12-1 and second to Cheverus after a 1-0 overtime win at Noble and a 5-0 home victory over Marshwood. Daisy Stone scored the winner at the Knights. Against the Hawks, Lily Stone scored twice, while Jaianna Quigley, Halle Seguin and Daisy Stone had one goal apiece.

South Portland fell to 0-11 and 16th in Class A South following losses to visiting Sanford (2-0), host Cheverus (11-0) and visiting Westbrook (4-0). Emily Keefe stopped 12 shots against the Spartans and 15 versus the Stags. The Red Riots hosted Scarborough Thursday, welcome Marshwood Friday and close at Falmouth Monday.

Volleyball

Cape Elizabeth’s volleyball team finished the regular season 10-4 following a 3-0 home win over Greely, a 3-1 (13-25, 22-25, 30-28, 9-25) setback at two-time reigning state champion Yarmouth and a 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-7) home victory over Kennebunk. Against the Clippers, the Capers overcame a sluggish start and won a dramatic third game, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Maeve McQueeny had 21 assists; Annaliese Rudberg finished with 14 kills and five service points; and Madalynn Vaine added 10 service points, four blocks and four kills.

“Yarmouth just has our number,” Cape Elizabeth coach Sarah Boeckel said. “They did what they needed to do. I hope we live to play them again. They’re on quite a streak of beating us. They play more to win and we play not to lose. We have to beat them. They won’t give it to us. We’ll take this as a learning opportunity. We weren’t mentally ready to play today. It wasn’t so much physical. Yarmouth played a really good match and we didn’t play as well as we could.”

The Capers (third in the Class B Heal Points standings at press time) now turn their attention to the playoffs.

“I think we’ll fall two or three, but hopefully not four (and be in the same region as Yarmouth),” said Boeckel. “We have to be more mentally prepared the next time we play them.”

In Class A, Scarborough improved to 11-2 and second to Biddeford in the Heals after recent 3-0 victories over visiting Falmouth (25-12, 25-14, 25-16), host South Portland (25-14, 25-18, 25-20) and visiting Deering (25-19, 25-8, 25-10).

South Portland was 6-6 and ninth after a 3-0 home win over Portland and a straight-set (14-25, 18-25, 20-25) home setback to Scarborough in recent action. The Red Riots closed at home versus Thornton Academy Thursday.

Cross country

Cape Elizabeth hosted St. Dom’s, Waynflete and Yarmouth in a cross country meet last week. The boys’ squad finished first as the top five finishers were all Capers. Owen Patry led the way with a time of 16 minutes, 42 seconds. In the girls’ race, Cape Elizabeth was first as a team and produced individual champion Hadley Mahoney (19:24).

Scarborough hosted Falmouth, Gorham and Windham. The boys placed first and were led by top individual Zachary Barry (16:12.72). In the girls’ race, won by the Rams, Jane Curtis paced the Red Storm with a 15th-place finish (23:41.18).

South Portland joined Cheverus, Deering and Portland at Westbrook. The boys were second to the Bulldogs, as Jacob Ramos was the second-best individual in 17:20.10. In the girls’ meet, won by the Stags, South Portland came in third. Anna Brown placed 10th individually (24;09.80).

Press Herald staff writer Steve Craig and Times Record staff writer Eli Canfield contributed to this story.

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

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