Foxcroft shuts out Gardiner for Homecoming victory
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy found the endzone twice in each of the opening two quarters and kept Gardiner Area High School from crossing the goalline for all 48 minutes to earn a 28-0 victory in the Ponies’ 2026 Homecoming game on Sept. 18.
Foxcroft improved to 2-1 after winning the Class C matchup, having won for the second week in a row. The visiting Tigers dropped to 2-1 after having scored 65 combined points in the team’s first two games and allowing just six points before the trip north to Oakes Field.
The two squads traded possessions to start the game before a Gardiner punt was downed at the Foxcroft 13-yard line. Six plays moved the football 76 yards to the Gardiner-11.
WRAPPED TIGER — Foxcroft Academy senior Colby Simmons tackles Gardiner senior Isaac Marquis, with Pony freshman Jacob Haack looking on, during the Ponies 2026 Homecoming game on Sept. 18. Foxcroft won 28-0 to improve to 2-1.
On first down senior Thomas Day took the handoff. He faked a would-be tackler and ran up the middle for the touchdown. Day carried the football 10 times for a game-high 111 yards and the touchdown.
Junior Leo De La Poza followed with the PAT — the first of his four in as many attempts — for the 7-0 lead.
The defense followed by getting a sack for a 13-yard loss on a 2nd-and-14 and then forced an incompletion on 3rd-and-27 to set up a Gardiner punt. A short return by senior Aiden Sickler put the football at Foxcroft’s 39-yard line.
Junior Preston Hutchinson gained seven yards on the first play from scrimmage. He got the ball again and ran 45 yards to the Gardiner-9.
HIGH POINTING — Sophomore Owen White makes a 9-yard touchdown reception in front of Gardiner senior Dominc Webber late in the first quarter on Sept. 18 in Dover-Foxcroft.
On 1st-and goal senior quarterback Evan Seavey found sophomore Owen White open in the left side of the endzone for the touchdown which helped put the Ponies up 14-0 later in the opening quarter.
The Ponies forced four Tiger turnovers, also stopping the offense three times on fourth down. Senior Tyler Wing made a diving interception on a tipped ball at the Gardiner 42-yard line early in the second quarter.
Foxcroft made the Tigers pay for the miscue with seven points off the turnover. After White gained three yards on 4th-and-goal at the Gardiner-4, the Ponies had 1st-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
The offense lined up with Seavey a few yards behind junior center Jaedon Haack, looking to take the typical shotgun snap. Before setting his teammates, Seavey ran up under center for the football. He got it and quarterback sneaked over the goalline for the 1-yard touchdown.
PERFECT WITH HIS LEG — Junior Leo De La Poza gets ready to kick one of his four PATs vs. Gardiner with senior Evan Seavey awaiting the snap. De La Poza went 4-for-4 on the evening.
Later Gardiner got inside Foxcroft territory but senior Dominic Webber was tackled a yard shy of the sticks on a 4th-and-8 at the Pony 22-yard line with just over a minute to go.
Despite trailing 21-0, Gardiner opted to call timeout after two runs for one yard.
Facing a 3rd-and-9, Seavey threw and connected with Hutchinson who adjusted to make the contested catch along the left sideline. Hutchinson got his feet inbounds, eluded the defender and ran to the endzone to complete the 77-yard play.
Hutchinson made three receptions for 142 yards and the touchdown. He had another 77 yards on the ground in six carries for 219 total yards of offense.
DAY AT NIGHT — Senior Thomas Day brings down Gardiner senior Dominic Webber early in the third quarter. Day led Foxcroft with 111 rushing yards, including a 11-yard touchdown run for the first points in a 28-0 victory.
Seavey ended the night 11-of-16 for 226 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed eight times for 48 yards and a touchdown for 274 combined passing and rushing yards.
Next up for Foxcroft is a trip to Class D North program Madison Area Memorial High School (1-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. The Bulldogs enter having dropped two in a row.
FOOTBALL
Foxcroft 28, Gardiner 0
GAR 0 0 0 0 – 0
FOX 14 14 0 0 – 28
First: F – Day 11 yds (De La Poza kick); F – Smith 9 yds from Seavey ((De La Poza kick)
Second: F – Seavey 1 yd (De La Poza kick); F – Hutchinson 77 yds from Seavey (De La Poza kick)
Passing: G – Madore 9-of-22 63 yds 2 Int; F – Seavey 11-of-16 226 yds 2 TD Int; McGary 0-of-0
Receiving: G – Webber 4, 31 yds; McGrane 3, 16 yds; Doody 1, 15 yds; McCormick 1, 1 yd; F – White 5, 40 yds TD; Hutchinson 3, 142 yds TD; Sickler 2, 42 yds; Luellen 1, 2 yds;
Rushing: G – Doody 18, 102 yds; McGrane 1, 40 yds; Webber 3, 16 yds; Marquis 1, 12 yds; McCormick 1, 8 yds; Madore 4, 1 yd; F – Day 10, 111 yds TD; Hutchinson 6, 77 yds; Seavey 8, 48 yds TD; McGary 2, 17 yds; White 6, 14 yds
Records: G 2-1, F 2-1