Greely remains undefeated with win at Foxcroft Academy
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A season after winning the 2024 8-man Large School championship, Greely High School of Cumberland has kept rolling after making the move up to the 11-player game and being a part of the Class C division.
The Rangers shut out Foxcroft Academy in the second half after being down 19-18 to defeat the Ponies 34-19 on the evening of Friday, Oct. 3 in the inaugural matchup between the two schools on the gridiron and possibly first-ever meeting in a one-on-one contest in any sport.
Greely improved to 5-0 and the team has now won 14 straight overall in a timespan of about 15 months after falling in its 2024 opener 14-6 at Camden Hills Regional High School back on Sept. 7, 2024. The program also reached the 2023 Large School championship.
Foxcroft dropped to 3-2 and had its 3-game winning streak snapped as the Rangers are now only the third team to win at Oakes Field in the last four and a half seasons.
RUN LEFT — Foxcroft Academy senior Aiden Harvey gains five yards during the third quarter of an Oct. 3 game vs. Greely of Cumberland. The visiting Rangers shut out the Ponies in the second half and scored 16 points during this stretch to win 34-19 and improve to 5-0 in the program’s first trip to Dover-Foxcroft.
With just over a minute to go in the second quarter, Pony senior Simon Turzik took the snap from the Greely 22-yard line and he rolled right looking to throw. Despite being draped by the defensive back, senior Lucas Sands caught the football inside the right pylon for the touchdown to put the home team ahead 19-18 (the 2-point throw was incomplete).
Both defenses came up with interceptions inside the last 60 seconds of the opening half, Sands made the pick for the Ponies, as all of the previous possessions ended in trips to the end zone.
Early third quarter possessions concluded on a fourth down sack for Greely inside the red zone and fourth down Foxcroft interception made by senior Aiden Harvey around the middle of the field before the only punt of the night. Sands’ kick rolled down to the Ranger-24.
Three plays moved the football 59 yards to the Foxcroft-17. On first down Greely senior Benjamin Kyles took the handoff and he broke a tackle to get across the goal line to give his team the lead in the final minute of the third quarter. Ranger junior quarterback Luke Piper followed by running right for two, making the score 26-19, after Greely had been 0-for-3 on conversion attempts.
HANDY — Senior Landon Smith fends off a would-be tackler early in the second half. Running in is senior Aidan Bryant (54) and sophomore Jaedon Haack (57).
The Ponies ended the third with the football at the team’s own 41-yard line. On the first play of the fourth, Ranger senior Dominic Martone picked off the short pass and he was not brought down until reaching the Foxcroft-3 (both defenses made three interceptions).
On first-and-goal from the 3, Greely junior Noah Allen ran off left tackle for the touchdown. A Piper run made the score 34-19 behind 16 unanswered points.
Allen finished with a contest-best 172 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while also catching a 22-yard pass.
Greely’s third interception came at a very opportune time with Piper making the pick on a tipped ball in the end zone on a 4th-and-4 from the 9-yard-line with eight and a half minutes to go. From here the Ranger offense kept the ball on the ground for 12 straight plays to run out the clock.
WIDE OPEN SPACE — Pony senior Finn Holmes runs for yards after the catch on a 28-yard reception to the Greely 2-yard line where Ranger junior Luke Piper made the tackle. Four plays later Holmes ran the ball in from a yard out to help Foxcroft go ahead 13-12 in the second quarter on Friday night.
The Rangers scored on the game’s opening possession and then an 8-play, 65-yard Foxcroft drive culminated in junior quarterback Evan Seavey and Turzik connecting on a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie play at 6-6.
After the second Greely touchdown in as many possessions, the Ponies matched with a 13-play drive starting at the team’s own 26.
Foxcroft had a 1st-and-goal at the Ranger-2 following a 28-yard reception by senior Finn Holmes who made three catches for a game-high 73 receiving yards. Two plays only got the ball a yard closer and on third down Holmes tried to jump over the pile but he fell to the ground outside the end zone.
On 4th-and-goal Holmes stayed grounded and he went up the middle for the score. A Harvey PAT gave the Ponies the team’s first lead, 13-12.
DOWN TO THE GROUND — Foxcroft sophomore Preston Hutchinson (8) and senior Landon Smith tackle Greely senior Sean Justice with Pony senior Finn Holmes running in.
Holmes led Foxcroft with 49 rushing yards in eight attempts to tally 122 yards on offense between his carries and receptions.
Greely would go ahead 18-13 with 3:48 left in the second quarter but the Ponies took the lead again on the Turzik to Sands touchdown.
Foxcroft returns to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10 when the Ponies travel to Hampden Academy (0-5).
FOOTBALL
Greely 34, Foxcroft 19
GRE 12 6 8 8 – 34
FOX 6 13 0 0 – 19
First: G – Allen 48 yds (pass incomplete); F – Turzik 10 yds from Seavey (PAT shy); G – Piper 4 yds (rush fail)
Second: F – Holmes 1 yd (Harvey kick); G – J. Justice 6 yds from Piper (rush fail); F – Sands 22 yds from Turzik (pass incomplete)
Third: G – Kyles 17 yds (Piper rush)
Fourth: G – Allen 3 yds (Allen rush)
Passing: G – Piper 7-of-17 109 yds TD 3 Int; Allen 0-of-0; F – Seavey 11-of-19 181 yds TD 3 Int; Turzik 1-of-1 22 yds TD
Receiving: G – J. Justice 3, 55 yds TD; S. Justice 2, 30 yds; Allen 1, 22 yds; Kyles 1, 2 yds; F – Turzik 4, 28 yds TD; Holmes 3, 73 yds; Smith 2, 32 yds; Hutchinson 1, 25 yds; Harvey 1, 23 yds; Sands 1, 22 yds TD
Rushing: G – Allen 20, 172 yds two TD; Piper 12, 64 yds TD; S. Justice 4, 21 yds; Kyles 2, 21 yds TD; J. Justice 1, 6 yds; F – Holmes 8, 49 yds TD; Seavey 4, 42 yds; Smith 9, 15 yds; Harvey 2, 0 yds
Records: G 5-0, F 3-2