Hyde - 28
Hebron - 12

Phoenix fans jammed the Oxford Hills stadium on a cold clear Maine Saturday night to “P-Pump it up” for Phoenix Football.   The Lumberjacks of Hebron Academy hosted the Phoenix under the lights and stars in what would turn out to be an exciting game with fake punts, interceptions and great hits marking the Phoenix victory.

The first opened as Hebron received the ball and ran it back to their own 44 yard line. Six plays later, Hyde linebacker Cole Shapiro ‘10 stuffed an off tackle run for a 15 yard loss, followed by a sack from the entire defensive squad forcing a Hebron punt.  Hyde started deep in its own end on the 26 yard line, ending up on their own 18 yard line after a Hebron sack forcing a 4th and 21 punt.  Not so fast.  Ted Cercos ‘11 saw that Harry Smith ‘10 was open on the right and instead of doing what he was supposed to do; punt; he passed for an 88 yard touchdown!  OK, so sometimes you do not listen to the coaches.  That trend would happen a few more times as the game progressed.  The Hyde “D” stiffened as they forced a three and out for Hebron.  Hyde offense then sputtered with offside and holding calls thwarting a drive.  Hebron received the ball with 11 seconds to go in the 1st on their 21 yard line.  Lumberjack PG #10 Griffin Piper (9 carries for 59 yards) plowed off tackle for 44 yards followed by a 7 yard romp by #30 senior Clebert Marcelin to close the 1st with Hyde on top 6 - 0 but with Hebron on Hyde’s 27 and driving.

“P-Pump it Pump it up HO”

Two minutes and 20 seconds later Hebron drove the final 27 yards for the score as Piper  dove in from the 3 yard line on a 3rd and goal to notch the game at 6 - 6.   On Hyde’s next possession, the Phoenix fumbled and Piper recovered.  Hebron 1st and 10 on the Hyde 27 yard line.  3 plays later, on a 3rd and 7, Hyde D-End Kaniel Rose-Tamkin ‘10 intercepted a pass and gave Hyde possession on their 36 yard line.  Hyde QB Smith found fellow senior Dave Duncan (3 catches for 37 yards) for a 19 yard catch followed by a 28 yard screen pass from Smith to Mike Kean ‘11 (9 carries for 36 yards and 1 catch for 28 yards) with a great block from newcomer Connor Harbert ‘11 to open a lane for Kean.  Smith then carried the ball for another 18 yards and Hyde found itself with a 1st and goal from the 5 with a minute and 35 seconds to go in the half.  On 3rd and goal QB Smith was sacked hard and had to leave the game.  A lumberjack penalty gave Hyde another 3rd and goal.  Sophomore QB Mason Carmel found Connor Harbert (remember him?) deep in the corner for a 3 yard TD.   Ted Cercos kicked it this time for the extra point and the Phoenix went into half time on fire and on top 13 - 6.

“P-Pump it-Pump it up HO, come on-come on,…”

Hyde took the second half kick-off to the 35 yard line then sputtered and punted away on 4th and 7.  Lumberjack #10 Piper dove off tackle for a quick 12 yards and a first down.  QB #23 Wade Jordan dropped back and under pressure threw his second interception, this time to the senior with the broken wrist and bright blue club cast; Kurt Chessman.  Mike Ingalls ‘10 (8 carries for 51 yards) and Connor Harbert (3 catches for 28 yards) moved the ball to a 1st and 10 from the 11 yard line.  On an audible, QB Smith rolled off tackle for an eleven yard TD romp.  With another Cercos extra point the Phoenix were up 20 - 6 with 7:21 to go in the 3rd.   On a Hebron 3rd and 5 the Lumberjacks fumbled and the man with the blue club, Chessman once again showed what you can do with one hand!  Both defenses stiffened for the next 6 and a half minutes and traded possessions.  At the 1:07 mark, Harry Smith intercepted a Jordan pass to give a Hyde a first and 10 from the Lumberjack 23.  Mike Kean rambled three plays in a row to give Hyde a 1st and goal from the one yard line.  Smith wasted no time in calling his own number and dove over junior center Chip Wohlstetter for the TD and after a Carmel to Duncan two point conversion pass, a 28 - 6 lead with 10:44 to go in the game.

“P-Pump it-Pump it up HO, come on-come on, ENIX…”

Not so fast.  The Lumberjacks were not about to hand over their axes and roll over.  Hyde fumbled a Hebron punt and the jacks recovered on Hyde’s 34 yard line.  On a 4th and 7, senior Lumberjack #33 Cory O’Brian rumbled 31 yards for a Hebron score and closed the gap to 28 - 12 with 7:35 to go in the game.  The Phoenix had to punt away the next possession and Hebron took over on their 25 yard line with 5:17 to go.  Jordan dropped back looking for #10 Piper.  Instead he found Chessman, again, for Kurt’s second interception and third recovery on the night!  Hyde held on to the ball for the next 4 minutes but was forced to give Hebron one more chance at the 1:28 mark in the 4th.  Hebron came up gunning but Jordan was unable to find any open receivers and turned the ball over on a 4th and 10 with 47 seconds to go.  Hyde took two knees and came away with the victory.  Next Saturday, it’s on to Woodstock to play our sister school in the season finale.  The Phoenix are playing for a 500 season, the Wolfpack playing for heart and pride.  Be there if you can as it should be a great game as Hyde is sure to win.

“P-Pump it-Pump it up HO,

Come on-come on, ENIX…

PHOENIX - PHOENIX

THE BEST!!!!! “