Bucksport runs away from Tigers in the second half

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — For the first half Dexter Regional High School and Bucksport High School were evenly matched, 13-13, during the 2013 season opener for each in the revived Class D East on Sept. 7.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    A YARD SHY — Bucksport senior Josh Gray makes a touchdown-saving tackle on Dexter junior Daytona Gould during the fourth quarter of the 2013 opener on Sept. 7 in Dexter. Gould had caught a 10-yard pass from senior quarterback Trevor Fogarty (10) but he was brought down at the 1-yard line. Bucksport then kept the Tigers out of the end zone to conclude the 35-19 victory.

    The Tigers went ahead 19-13 on the first possession of the third quarter, but the Golden Bucks responded by putting the ball in the hands junior Asher Bowden. The team kept the ball on the ground and scored 22 unanswered points to win 35-19, in the first meeting between the two schools since last year’s Class C quarterfinal when the fourth-seeded Golden Bucks earned a 28-27 victory over the No. 5 Tigers.
    The second half began with Dexter senior Trevor Fogarty bringing the kickoff back for a touchdown, but a flag for a block in the back negated the score and put the football at the Dexter 48-yard line. The Dexter offense then marched down the field, helped by a 29-yard completion from Fogarty to junior Matthew Bartlett to convert on a third-and-17, and got to the Bucksport-5.
    On a second-and-goal, Fogarty took the snap and dove through a hole in the left side of the line to cross the goal line for the touchdown. The PAT by senior Dustin Sirabella ended up getting blocked, but Dexter led 19-13 at the 7:23-mark of the third quarter.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    IN THE END (ZONE) — Senior quarterback Trevor Fogarty scored on a 5-yard run to start the second half of the Sept. 7 contest vs. Bucksport, after his kickoff return touchdown was called back due to a block in the back. Looking on are senior Ethyn Gould (33), juniors Joseph Hubbell (77) and Adam Wintle (34) and Bucksport junior Tucker Boynton.

    After the Tiger defense intercepted Bucksport four times in the first half, the team opted to keep the ball out of the air and on the ground as Bowden got handoff after handoff. From the team’s own 30, Bowden ran the ball eight times and gained 69 yards before being tackled at the Dexter 1-yard line.
    A false start moved the line of scrimmage back five yards, but Bowden then gained four yards and from the two ran the football in for the touchdown to tie the game at 19 points apiece. Golden Bucks senior Josh Gray then kicked the PAT to put his team ahead 20-19.
    A three-and-out by the Bucksport defense gave the team the possession again at the Dexter-32, and the team stuck to its strategy by running the football and Bowden. The Golden Bucks used the short field to score in four plays as Bowden ran the ball in from 10 yards out in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Bowden followed by running up the middle for two as the team had a two-possession lead at 28-19.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    TOUCHBACK CATCH — Freshman Zachary White hauls in the football on a kickoff at the goal line.

    On a third-and-5 from the Dexter-20, a Fogarty pass was picked off by Bucksport junior Lucas Ashmore at the Tiger 30-yard line. Ashmore weaved his way through would-be tacklers before being brought down at the 6-yard line.
    Following a timeout by Dexter head coach Kevin Armstrong to set his defense, Bowden took the handoff and gained three yards. On second-and-goal he got the ball once again, for his 16th carry on as many plays for the Bucksport offense, and he ran up the middle for the touchdown. A Gray PAT made the score 35-19 with 9:31 remaining. Bowden would pick up 113 yards on 16 carries, with a trio of touchdowns, in the second half — and lead with a game-high 129 total rushing yards on 20 attempts.
    Dexter then used 10 plays to move the ball 69 yards from the team’s 20 to the opposition’s 11. On first down Fogarty spied junior Daytona Gould open just outside the end zone by the right pylon. Gould made the catch but he was tackled at the 1-yard line, for the first down but not the touchdown.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    POINTING THE WAY — Senior Ethyn Gould of Dexter looks to get around Bucksport senior Tyler Maguire as junior Adam Wintle gets ready to block the defensive lineman.

    Following a Tiger timeout with 3:32 left on the clock, the team lost four yards on a sweep to the right. Fogarty then got two yards back on second down, but a sack by Bucksport pushed the Tigers back to the 7-yard line. The team then threw on fourth down, but the ball fell to the grass incomplete as the Golden Bucks took over on downs and opted to kneel down to conclude play.
    Dexter’s first touchdown of 2013 came in the first quarter. An interception by sophomore Connor Larson at midfield and return put the ball at the Bucksport-26. On the ensuing play Fogarty connected with Gould down the right sideline for the score.
    In the second quarter the Tigers again took advantage of a Bucksport turnover as a Gould interception at about the Dexter-25 and return gave the Tiger offense possession at the team’s own 44.
    One play was all that was needed as Fogarty and Bartlett connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline — a Sirabella PAT then tied the score at 13.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    PRESSURED THROW — Tiger senior Dustin Sirabella rushes Bucksport junior quarterback Matthew Stewart, who on the play was intercepted by Dexter sophomore David McKenney. In the first half Dexter picked off Stewart four times.

    Fogarty finished with a game-high 243 passing yards, as he completed 15 of 22 throws for a pair of touchdowns with one interception. The 56-yard touchdown reception helped Bartlett lead all players with 127 receiving yards, coming on four catches.
    Dexter will be in action next on Saturday, Sept. 14 when the team hosts John Bapst Memorial High School of Bangor (1-0).

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    FIRST DOWN — Junior Matthew Bartlett is tackled by Bucksport junior Matthew Stewart after hauling in a 29-yard reception to convert on a third-and-17 early in the third quarter. Bartlett led all players with 127 receiving yards.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    TRIPS LEFT — Spread out wide left are Dexter receivers, from left, juniors Daytona Gould and Adam Wintle and freshman Zachery White. Senior Ethyn Gould is lined up behind senior quarterback Trevor Fogarty.