Ponies roll past Hermon to give White his 100th career victory

DOVER-FOXCROFT — With a 35-0 lead at the half Foxcroft Academy left little doubt before the final play about the outcome of the game and a milestone for head coach Danny White vs. Class C North Hermon High School on Sept. 15. The Ponies won the Homecoming contest by a final score of 48-0 as White earned the 100th victory of his career in his 15th year leading the program.

Foxcroft is now 3-0 on the season, having posted the team’s second consecutive shutout with the win over the Hawks (1-2). The Ponies have given up just six points in the three games, and the lone score came on a late kickoff return vs. John Bapst Memorial High School of Bangor on opening night. Since then the team has posted over 100 minutes of scoreless play — a portion of which featured a running clock — for a 151-6 point differential to start 2023.

After electing to receive the opening kickoff, Hermon faced a 3rd-and-7 deep in its own territory. Hawk junior quarterback Bruce Colter dropped back to pass and the Foxcroft defense came up with a strip sack and recovery at the Hermon 12-yard line. Five plays later senior Gage Beaudry ran the football in from 2 yards out for what would turn out to be the winning play about four minutes in. Senior Kemsley Marsters followed with the first of his six PATS in as many attempts during the evening.

The Pony defense followed with a 3-and-out, and the offense got the ball right at the 50 after a punt return touchdown was called back due to a holding call. The setback was only temporary as five plays moved the football to the Hermon-6. Senior Jadon Richard had a 23-yard reception during the drive with the bulk of the yards coming after the catch. He would have five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half.

Senior quarterback Wyatt Rayfield was 9-of-11 for 148 yards and two touchdowns in the opening 24 minutes, ending the game 12-of-15 for 166 yards. Before his second quarter 7-yard touchdown pass to Richard and 29-yard scoring strike to senior Jackson Smith, Rayfield got into the endzone with his legs.

On 1st-and-goal at the Hawk-6 Rayfield faked the handoff, spun left, and ran in for the touchdown in front of the left pylon.

Sophomore Landon Smith led Foxcroft with 41 rushing yards, coming on just three carries late in the game. In the fourth quarter Smith found the endzone on a 20-yard rush, as he and his brother both scored touchdowns. The younger Smith’s score came a series after senior Jacob Johnson ran the ball in from the 3-yard line for what was the sixth of seven Pony touchdowns.

Foxcroft will host Madison Area Memorial High School (0-3) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22. The two programs last met in the 2022 Class D quarterfinals, a 69-0 victory for the then top-seeded Ponies.

FOOTBALL

Foxcroft 48, Hermon 0

HER 0 0 0 0 – 0

FOX 14 21 0 13 – 48

First: F – Beaudry 2 yds (Marsters kick); F – Rayfield 6 yds (Marsters kick)

Second: F – Beaudry 6 yds (Marsters kick); F – Richard 7 yds from Rayfield (Marsters kick); F – J. Smith 29 yards from Rayfield (Marsters kick)

Fourth: F – Johnson (Marsters kick); F – L. Smith 20 yds (rush fail)

Passing: H – Coulter 2-of-8 17 yds 2 Int; F – Rayfield 12-of-15 166 yds 2 TD; G. Caruso 0-of-1

Receiving: H – Hopkins 1, 9 yds; Long 1, 8 yds; F – Richard 5, 56 yds TD; Topolski 3, 46 yds; Harvey 2, 14 yds; J. Smith 1, 25 yds TD; Marsters 1, 21 yds

Rushing: H – Kimball 7, 13 yds; Smith 7, 13 yds; Coulter 8, 8 yds; Long 1, 4 yds; Phair 1, 4 yds; Hamm 1, 2 yds; Hopkins 1, -2 yds; Cyr 2, -6 yds; F – L. Smith 3, 41 yds TD; Beaudry 7, 33 yds 2 TD; Rayfield 2, 17 yds TD; Holmes 2, 14 yds; Johnson 2, 5 yds

Records: H – 1-2, F – 3-0