Even though it’s still early October, we’ll get an early taste of the fall sports postseason this weekend, as the golf state championships will be held.

For football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball and cross country, the regular season continues and the best is yet to come.

Here’s a look back at the week that was and a glimpse at what’s to come:

Football

Deering’s football team fell from the unbeaten ranks Saturday, losing at reigning Class B state champion Kennebunk, 41-0. Things went from bad to worse for Deering, as the host Rams drove the field and scored a touchdown on their first possession, then took advantage of a Deering fumble to add another TD for a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Kennebunk made it 28-0 by halftime, then added single scores in the third and fourth periods respectively.

“We just didn’t show up,” lamented Deering coach Brendan Scully. “It’s pretty clear. We didn’t have anything in pregame. We didn’t have anything in the first couple series and they’re a very good football team and they pushed us around.”

The Rams (now 4-1) mustered just 149 yards of offense, turned the ball over twice and was flagged three times for 31 yards.

“I’m not going to make any excuses,” Scully said. “They wanted it more and played hard and deserved it. We’re a young team in terms of the guys haven’t experienced a lot of success. When things start not going our way, we have to learn how to fight back. We’d been able to run the ball and chew the clock, but we had that done to us today. Pretty one-sidedly.”

Deering looks to bounce back at home against 0-5 Westbrook Friday night. The Rams lost twice to the Blue Blazes in 2023, 29-12 at home in the regular season finale and 30-22 at Westbrook in the Class B South quarterfinals.

“It’s just week five, we’re healthy and we’ll focus on next week,” Scully said.

Portland improved to 4-1 by easily dispatching visiting Edward Little, 55-0. The Bulldogs led only 7-0 after one quarter on a 43-yard Louis Thurston to Brody Viola touchdown pass, but erupted for five touchdowns in the second period to go up 42-0 and induce a mercy rule running clock. Cordell Jones got things started with a 4-yard run, then he caught a 17-yard pass from Thurston, Aidan McGowan scored on a 46-yard run, Jones returned a punt 58-yards for a score and Thurston and Viola connected again, this time from 34-yards out. Portland then added single TDs in the third (a McGowan 32-yard rush) and fourth (Charles Abramson-Thompson caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Reese Wildes) quarters to account for the final score. Thurston threw for 97 yards and three TDs, while McGowan rushed for 160 yards and two scores and Jones had three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs travel to 1-4 Bangor Friday. The teams didn’t play last season.

Cheverus’ two-game win streak was snapped Saturday at home with a 34-27 loss to Gorham as it fell to 2-3 on the year. The Stags held a 7-6 lead after one quarter, then extended it to 20-13 at the half, but the Rams scored the next 21 points and while Cheverus pulled within a score late, it wasn’t able to complete the comeback.

The Stags have the daunting task of going to 5-0 Kennebunk Friday night. The teams didn’t meet a year ago.

Boys’ soccer

While the big news in boys’ soccer last week was a landmark win for longtime Portland coach Rocco Frenzilli (see story), his Bulldogs improved to 7-1-1 by blanking visiting Sanford (9-0) and doubling up visiting Kennebunk (4-2). Against the Spartans, David Mawangu scored twice and Manuel Armando, Alianca Luzololtemo, Khalif Mbab, Baptista Muanda (three assists), Loic Ramazani, Isaac Rodrigues-Nkanza and Osvaldo Silva added one goal apiece. In the win over the Rams, Mawangu, Silva, Pedro Bunga and Paulo Joao all scored once. Portland (third in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) plays at Cheverus Wednesday, has a showdown/playoff rematch at Windham Friday (see our website for game story) and welcomes Marshwood Monday.

Deering, which started 1-3-1, improved to 6-3-1 and extended its win streak to five last week by downing visiting Bonny Eagle (5-1) and host South Portland (3-1). Against the Scots, Augusto Daniel had two goals and Cristiano Alfonso, Ethan Fisher and Alex Yunga added one apiece. In the win over the Red Riots, Daniel, Fisher and Samuel Almeida all scored one time. The Rams (seventh in Class A South) go to Marshwood Wednesday, have a home showdown versus Scarborough Saturday, then visit Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus took a 3-6 mark into Monday’s game at Massabesic following a 5-1 home loss to South Portland last week. The Stags (12th in Class A South) host Portland Wednesday, visit Marshwood Friday, then welcome Windham Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete started the season 0-3, but was 4-4 at press time after sandwiching wins last week at St. Dom’s (8-0) and at home over Oak Hill (2-1) around a 2-1 home loss to Gray-New Gloucester. Against the Saints, Owen Duda, Lucas Plumb and Abie Waisman all scored two goals and Charles Reynolds and Noah Stern-Rich added one apiece. In the setback, Plumb converted a first half penalty kick and the Flyers led with just over six minutes to play, but the Patriots struck twice before the end of regulation to steal one.

“It’s definitely a hard way to lose,” said Waynflete coach Will Burdick, who previously coached at Gray-New Gloucester. “I thought we played well for 60, 70 minutes, but credit to Gray, they took the momentum and they capitalized. It was a well-fought game all around. It’s frustrating to be on this side of it. Games like this, every single detail has to be accurate. If you slip up, a good team will take advantage and they did.”

The Flyers bounced back to edge the Raiders, as Duda scored the first goal and Stern-Rich produed the winner. Waynflete (fourth in Class C South) hosted Traip Academy Monday and went to Freeport Tuesday, then stays on the road to play at Traip Academy next Tuesday.

“We strung a couple wins together, but our schedule tests us two or three times a week,” said Burdick. “We hope to get more results going forward. I think we’ve made progress. We’re going in the direction we want to go. It’s just about learning and continuing to get better.”

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Cheverus got its biggest test to date last week and while the Stags weren’t able to beat visiting two-time Class A state champion Scarborough, they played extremely well and settled for a 1-1 tie. Sophia Monfa scored Cheverus’ goal off Rachel LaSalle’s free kick.

“This is monumental,” Monfa said. “It shows we’ve improved as a team. We had a lot of chances. We just need to execute. This is our best result so far.”

“I think the girls are extremely happy with the resilience and the result even though they wanted to win,” said Stags coach Craig Roberts. “We had good chances. We didn’t convert, but they were dangerous opportunities.”

Cheverus then improved to 6-0-2 with a 7-0 win at Massabesic, as Monfa had two goals and Finley Brown, Taylor Hoglund, Alaina Holmes, Maddie Smith and Olivia Vigue added one apiece. The Stags (fourth in the Class A South Heals at press time) were at powerhouse Windham Tuesday (see our website for game story), host Bonny Eagle Thursday, then travel to Thornton Academy Monday of next week.

“We have big games coming up,” Monfa said. “We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. We know we’re good.”

“We have Windham on the horizon and they’re tough and physical,” Roberts said. “They’re the favorite. We’ll take it one practice, one game at a time and hopefully build on our momentum.”

Deering was 2-6-2 and 12th in Class A South after blanking visiting South Portland (2-0) and falling at home to Windham (3-1). In the victory, Anika Gin scored twice, with Elsa Freeman assisting on both goals. Freeman had the lone goal versus the Eagles .The Rams were at Westbrook Tuesday and play host to Portland Thursday (see our website for game story).

Portland fell to 0-9 last week after losses at Westbrook (3-2) and Kennebunk (3-0). Anneliese Collin scored both goals against the Blue Blazes. In the loss to the Rams, goalkeeper Jane Flynn made eight saves. The Bulldogs (17th in Class A South) hoped to get in the win column Tuesday at home versus Massabesic. Portland is at Deering Thursday, hosts Bonny Eagle Saturday and travels to Windham Monday of next week.

Waynflete was 3-4-1 after a 2-0 home win over St. Dom’s and a 5-2 setback at Gray-New Gloucester. In the victory, Paige Alexander and Fallon Culley scored the goals. Against the Patriots, Naomi Rice scored both goals. The Flyers (fifth in Class C South) were at Traip Academy Monday, hosted Freeport Tuesday (see our website for game story), then welcome Fryeburg Academy Thursday and Traip Academy Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey team, the reigning Class A state champion, passed two huge tests a week ago to remain undefeated, beating visiting Biddeford (2-0) and outlasting host Gorham in double-overtime (1-0). Against the Tigers, Lucy Johnson scored early, Zoey Radford scored late and Joey Pompeo was a difference-maker all over the field as the Stags beat Biddeford for the second time this season.

“We just tried to stay positive and humble,” Radford said. “We knew we’d have to play hard. They’re a good team. We just had to keep our composure.”

“Biddeford’s a great team, but we came in and just played our game,” said Pompeo. “We knew they were strong and their passes are great. They held us the first game too.”

“We knew what we were getting into since we played them once,” said Johnson. “We set expectations for ourselves. We executed really well.”

“We didn’t really change our game plan from the last time,” added Andrea Musante, the Stags’ first-year coach. “In the field hockey world, a month is like a year, so we knew they’d come in stronger and faster, but we’ve also grown. We knew it would be a similar game and it was.”

Cheverus then got pushed to the brink at the Rams, heading to halftime without a goal for just the second time all season, then being held scoreless into the fourth period for the first time. Ultimately, the game went to overtime and after the Stags were stymied in the first eight-minute, “sudden victory” session, Johnson finally won it, from Pompeo, 41 seconds into the second OT.

“I don’t even have words,” said Johnson. “I started crying when I hugged Joey. It was the highlight of the game. We kept our cool even though we got frustrated. I got frustrated, but tried to stay positive.”

“I feel like my heart rate was in the 200s,” said junior Anna Kennedy-Jensen, who made a critical defensive save in the third quarter to keep the game 0-0. “It felt like states honestly. We were so excited. I never doubted that we would score.”

“I’m just really proud of this group for working in uncharted territory and surviving being tested,” added Musante. “That was anyone’s game. That was exciting. It was fun. It was a good experience for us. We learned a lot today. Physically and mentally, it’s been a tough week. I’m very happy we came out with the win.”

Cheverus (9-0, first in the Class A South Heals, riding a 27-game overall win streak and a 55-game win streak) was at Scarborough Tuesday, hosts Noble Thursday and welcomes Massabesic Saturday.

“Honestly, we don’t really even talk about (the win streak), Pompeo said. “We just keep our heads down and grind. We want to get the seniors (one more championship). That’s our goal for sure.”

“It’s hard knowing that we have a lot of pressure on us, but it doesn’t stop us from focusing on one game at a time,” Johnson said. “Having these games is nice to keep us prepared. We just have to finish strong.”

“We don’t really about think about our winning streak,” added Musante. “I think it’s an interesting fact about us, but we just try to come in and enjoy each other and stay happy and healthy. We need to stay well-conditioned and not let outside pressures get to us.”

Portland/Deering fell to 0-8 after a 10-0 home loss to Biddeford and a 9-0 setback at Sanford last week. Goalie Emma Walsh was busy, stopping 30 shots against the Tigers and making 28 saves versus the Spartans. Portland/Deering (14th in Class A South) was home versus Marshwood Monday, hosts Thornton Academy Thursday, then welcomes Bonny Eagle Monday of next week.

Waynflete was 5-3 and fifth in Class C South entering Monday’s game at Traip Academy following last week’s 1-0 victory at Wells. Lucia Infantine scored the goal, assisted by Ava Vander Schaaff. The Flyers welcome Telstar Wednesday, then go to Sacopee Valley Tuesday of next week.

Volleyball

Cheverus’ volleyball team made history last week. The Stags, who first beat host Portland in straight sets, improved to 3-6 on the season with a 3-1 home win over perennial powerhouse Scarborough, a team the Stags had never beaten. After losing the first game, 25-20, Cheverus won the second set, 25-12, behind the serving of senior captain Bella Cortez and the hitting of Mary Hackleman. The Red Storm held a 15-14 lead in the third game, but the Stags responded, getting a pair of aces from Dylan Walker and two timely kills from freshman Frida Gray to go up 2-1 in the match by virtue of a 25-20 victory. Cheverus didn’t let Scarborough hang around in the fourth set, shooting to a 20-7 lead and while the Red Storm crept back to 23-17, consecutive Walker kills ended it.

“It’s crazy,” said Cortez, who had 16 service points. “I remember sophomore and junior year we lost to them, then we pushed them to five last week and this one shows a huge change in our program. It was team chemistry. We had a ton of energy. We pushed, played smart, saw their open spots, called their open spots and just put the ball down.”

“It’s amazing, so much fun,” said Hackleman, who posted 11 kills, five blocks and eight service points. “I’m so excited we’re finally showing we’re the team we can be. It was hard to get our energy up early, but after the first set, we brought it back together. That last point was fun. I was just so happy.”

“We needed this,” added Stags’ first-year coach Gary Powers. “Beating Scarborough for the first time is huge. We choose to play Class A, but we only have 362 kids in the school. They have a middle school program, a first team, a JV and a varsity. The kids are playing well. They did what they needed to do.”

Cheverus (eighth in the Class A statewide Heals at press time) hosted York Tuesday, goes to Falmouth Thursday, then visits South Portland Tuesday of next week.

“We didn’t have the best start to the season, but we’re showing a great change,” said Cortez. “We’re a great team and we have all the pieces.”

“We want to keep the intensity we have and keep doing what we’re doing,” said Powers. “People had us pegged as a good team at the beginning of the season, but we couldn’t put it together and hopefully this shows everyone what we can do.”

Deering fell to 2-7 and 10th in Class A after losing at Yarmouth in straight sets (16-25, 10-25, 9-25) and falling at South Portland in five games (25-15, 25-17, 20-25, 23-25, 11-15). The Rams hosted Sanford Tuesday and go to Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Portland was 1-9 and 16th in Class A after straight set losses to visiting Cheverus and host Bonny Eagle last week. After welcoming Biddeford Tuesday, the Bulldogs go to Massabesic Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

Portland’s boys’ cross country team, the reigning Class A state champion, won the Festival of Champions Saturday in Belfast, beating out 73 other squads. Aran Johnson was the Bulldogs’ top individual, posting the third-best time (15 minutes, 47.96 seconds). Deering finished 13th and had the fourth-best individual in Ellis Wood (15:49.51). Cheverus was 21st and was paced by Arman Gurcan (85th, 17:42.04). Waynflete came in 51st and had the 35th-fastest individual in Pi Crosby (16:53.58).

The girls’ title was won by Mt. Desert Island, which beat out 60 other teams. Portland finished fifth and featured Maia Endicott (44th, 20:27.58). Waynflete finished 11th and was paced by Paige Alexander (15th, 19:15.71). Cheverus was 14th and was led by Allie Schmitt (seventh, 18:46.4). Deering came in 35th and was paced by Charlotte Pelletier (70th, 21:15.39).

Golf

The golf state meet is this weekend at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, as Class A will be held Friday and Class B and Class C Saturday.

Cheverus completed its regular season at 7-3 after wins last week over South Portland (12-1) and Deering. Against the Red Riots, Mick Madden was the medalist with a nine-hole round of 32.

Portland finished 3-7 after losses last week to Falmouth (11.5-1.5), Deering (9-4) and Scarborough (13-0). Lucas Milliken shot a 45 against the Navigators. In the loss to the Rams, Milliken shot a 40 and Adam Paradise had a 41. Against the Red Storm, Paradise and Cole Christensen each finished with a round of 44.

Deering finished the regular season with a record of 1-9, sandwiching losses last week to Scarborough and Cheverus around a 9-4 win over Portland. In the victory, Caleb Libby and Owen Lichter each shot a 46.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.