Big first quarter helps Ellsworth win at Dexter
DEXTER — Three touchdowns and 213 rushing yards in just five carries during the first quarter by Ellsworth High School junior Ripley Strout helped the visiting Eagles jump out to a 22-0 lead at Dexter Regional High School during an 8-Man Small School North contest on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 12. Strout and the Eagles would spoil the Tigers’ 2024 Homecoming contest with a 50-8 victory.
Strout finished with 372 yards on the ground and six touchdowns in his 15 carries — he also caught a 7-yard pass — as Ellsworth improved to 5-1 in a matchup between teams who entered ranked fourth and fifth in the North standings. Dexter fell to 2-4, losing after having won two in a row.
Ellsworth led 30-0 in the second quarter when the Tigers got on the scoreboard.
THAT GUY, SWARM, SWARM — Ellsworth junior Ripley Strout is brought down by Dexter seniors Tyler Gould (5), Jason Bowden (34), and Issiah Amazeen (81) during a game on the afternoon of Oct. 12 in Dexter with Ellsworth junior Riley Gray and Tiger senior Trevor Picariello running in. The visiting Eagles won 50-8.
After Dexter covered up the short kickoff, a pair of plays moved the football from the Tiger-39 to the 45-yard line for a 3rd-and-4. Junior Kody Kimball took the shotgun snap and he looked to pass. Kimball instead opted to tuck the football and run as he scrambled up the middle and cut left down the sideline 55 yards for the touchdown. He gained a team-high 78 rushing yards in six attempts.
Kimball would then find sophomore Tristen Hopkins-Watrous open in the endzone for two to make the score 30-8.
In addition to being Homecoming, the game was also the last regular season home contest of 2024 and senior football players and cheer team members were recognized along with their parents prior to kickoff.
SCRAMBLE TO THE SIDELINE — Junior Bryce Cooper runs around Ellsworth junior Ripley Strout during the opening quarter of the Oct. 12 8-Man Small School North matchup between Dexter and the visiting Eagles.
Seniors on the roster are Issiah Amazeen, Jason Bowden, Thomas Burgess, Tyler Gould, Kayden Miller, Trevor Picariello, Torin Thoby, Zaiden Williams, and manager Sarah Silva. Cheer seniors are Jayden Dami, Andrea Gilman, Kenzie Kimball, Fannie Patel, Izzie Roberts, and manager Kaylynn Loggans.
Dexter will play next at Houlton High School (5-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18.
SENIOR GAME — Senior Tyler Gould looks to get past Ellsworth sophomore Dawson Hunt on Saturday, Oct. 12. The game was the last home contest of the regular season with senior football players and cheer team members being recognized prior to kickoff.
FOOTBALL
Ellsworth 50, Dexter 8\
ELL 22 14 14 0 – 50
DEX 0 8 0 0 – 8
First: E – Strout 5 yds (Jude rush); E – Strout 63 yds (rush fail); E – Strout 94 yds (Gray from Jude)
Second: E – safety; E – Strout 23 yds (no throw) D – Kimball 55 yds (Hopkins-Watrus from Kimball); E – Strout 31 yds (pass fail)
Third: E – Sullivan 1 yd (Jade rush)
Fourth: E – Strout 52 yds (pass fail)
Passing: E– Jude 2-of-6 9 yds; Renwick 2-of-4 20 yds; D – Kimball 1-of-2 3 yds; Amazeen 1-of-5 3 yds; Cooper 0-of-0
Receiving: E – Conners 2, 13 yds; Duhaime 1, 9 yds; Strout 1, 7 yds; D – J. Bowden 1, 3 yds; Hopkins-Watrous 1, 3 yds
Rushing: E – Strout 15, 372 yds 6 TD; Sullivan 9, 71 yds TD; Duhaime 3, 29 yds; Jude 2, 26 yds; Renwick 1, -1 yd; D – Kimball 6, 78 yds TD; Cooper 3, 8 yds; Gould 7, 7 yds; Hopkins-Watrous 6, 7 yds; Miller 1, 7 yds
Records: E 5-1, D 2-4