Staff Writer
CARIBOU – The Southern Cleary Law Knights were dethroned in last Saturday’s Aroostook Football League title game in double overtime by their season adversary, the Valley Mustangs, 18-12.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
TACKLE – The Knights’ Justin Ramsey, No. 85, gets ready to wrap up a Mustang runner during last Saturday’s Aroostook Football League title game in Caribou. The Knights lost in double overtime, 18-12. The Valley Mustangs, who finish the season 6-2 overall, had defeated the Cleary Law Knights (3-4) twice on the regular season, winning both games in overtime.
“Congratulations to Madawaska for a great game and a great season,” said Knight Assistant Coach Richard Cleary. “They had a lot of adversity last season [winless on the year] and I was impressed with the way they picked themselves up this year.”
Even though the Knights couldn’t make it two in a row, the players and coaches are optimistic for next season.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
GOTCH YA – The Knights’ David Flint grabs the Mustangs’ Steven King and brings him down during last Saturday’s game.
“With the number of freshmen and young players we have, including our quarterback Quinn Harris, I am excited about our chances next year,” Cleary said.
From the start of the game, the Knights were out of sync, as it took time for the team to settle in under acting head coach Cleary. Time after time, the Knights seemed to be lacking the one play that could break the game open for them, but it never came as the ball brushed fingertips or fell just out of a player’s grasp.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
OUT OF REACH – Brandon McGuire watches the ball fall just out of reach during last Saturady’s AFL title game in Caribou. Houlton lost in double overtime, 18-12.
“We had fumbles and penalties that cost us, too,” said Cleary. “I made some mistakes, but made up for some of them. Our defense made four goal line stands. I am proud of them.”
The Knights were shaky at the beginning of the game, as the Mustangs’ Steven King forced a fumble and intercepted the ball for a 20-yard run. The Mustangs were confident, as quarterback Chris Ruth, who will be moving back to Houlton, found Tony Rizzitano for 31 yards, and King for another 24 rushing yards, but neither team could crack the scoreboard.
Then, in the second quarter, the Mustangs capitalized on another interception by Brandon Bosse, while Ruth and Rizzitano hooked up for another 67 yards, including a six-yard pass to his favorite receiver for a touchdown, giving Valley a 6-0 lead.
As time passed, frustration mounted for the Knights, as they just couldn’t find a way to get the ball into the end zone. One of their earlier scoring chances came when Brandon McGuire fielded the ball, sprinting along the sideline, which appeared to be open, when all of a sudden the Mustangs’ Matt Clavette met McGuire head on … like two freight trains colliding … Clavette’s tackle was so hard that McGuire went airborne and the brawny six-foot receiver was grounded.
Mustang Coach Ron Dalgo said, “That was the biggest hit I’ve ever seen. It was as good as any NFL tackle I’ve seen.”
But, the Knights in a dramatic fashion finally crossed the end zone. On third down and short, the Knights’ Jesse DaEira yelled to coach Cleary and told him to rerun the last play, which the Mustangs had broken up. Showing confidence in his players, Cleary called for the play, again. With McGuire slanting from the right to the left, DaEira moved left to right across the field, and with McGuire drawing the attention, David Flint — who stepped in as quarterback on the play — found DaEira at the corner to tie the game.
Pioneer Times photograph/
Gloria Austin
ON THE RUN – The Knights’ Jesse DaEira, No. 10, grasps the ball and heads up the field as he is being chased by the Mustangs’ Derek Couture during last Saturday’s AFL title game in Caribou. The Mustangs defeated the Houlton team for the third time in overtime, 18-12.
In overtime, the Knights took possession first, and eighth-grade quarterback Harris spied a wide-open Flint (who rushed for 82 yards in the game) on the right side, and Flint hauled in the ball for a touchdown, giving Houlton a 12-6 lead. However, the Knights couldn’t complete the extra point, as the Mustang defense stripped DaEira of the ball, as he looked to rush through the middle.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
HIT – The Knights’ Caleb Black grips the ball tight as a Mustang defender prepares to tackle him during last Saturday’s AFL title game held in Caribou.
The Knights nearly sealed the win on the Mustangs next possession. As the Mustangs lined up their offense, the ball was thrown to the middle of the end zone intended for King, but Flint, Harris and DaEira all crowded King, with Flint nearly coming up with the interception, which would have ended the game but he was unable to grip the ball, as it toppled to the ground.
Wiping their brows from the close call, the Mustangs answered on the next drive, as Ruth hit Rizzitano for a seven-yard touchdown. On the extra point conversion, Houlton’s Flint tipped the ball away, again, from its intended receiver to keep the game tied.
In the second overtime, the Knights’ next possession was designed to find a receiver on the right side, but the ball was overthrown into the waiting arms of the Mustangs’ Bosse, who came up with a huge interception to set his team up for their final drive.
Houlton made two defensive stands in the second overtime, holding Valley to no gain, but on third down, the Mustangs found a chink in the Knights’ armor. The Mustangs dumped the ball to King, who broke a tackle, dodging his way through Knight defenders into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown. 
DOWN – The Knights’ John Smith drops a Mustang runner during last Saturday’s AFL title game in Caribou. Watching the action in the background is No. 20 Quinn Harris.
“Our boys played their hearts out,” said Cleary. “I am sorry that our seniors could not enjoy victory in their final game, but they can come away knowing they gave it their all.”
Game Stats:
David Flint: 82 yards rushing; 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Quinn Harris: 4 yards rushing, six tackles. And six-yard
touchdown pass.
John Sanders: 11 tackles; two fumble recoveries and a sack.
Brandon McGuire: 18 yards rushing; seven tackles
and two interceptions.
Jesse DaEira: 5 yards rushing and three tackles and a six-yard touchdown reception.
Caleb Black: 10 yards rushing.
Ryan Pickel: 2 tackles.
Justin Ramsey: a tackle.
(Angela Lagasse of the Mustangs contributed to this article.)
