Younger Knights win

    With the varsity Knights football team enjoying a much deserved rest via a scheduled bye week, the younger program of peewee and junior high Knights enjoyed the spotlight on a warm and sunny opening day in Houlton.
    Peewee head coach Brian Forest’s team defeated the visiting Madawaska Mustangs at the Airport Field, 35-24.
    Sam Geary scored three touchdowns, while Jake Forest ran and passed for another. Coach Forest and assistant coaches were pleased with the effort of all of their players.
    “The kids had fun, and that’s the point for this age group,” said Forest.
    The Peewee Knights, 1-0, travel to Presque Isle on Saturday to take on the Caribou Huskies.
    In the second game of the afternoon, the junior Knights picked up an opening season win over the Huskies, 13-0.
    Quarterback J.J. Jones hit receiver Ryan Heath with a 40-yard scoring strike. Kyle Turner returned a punt 45 yards to seal the deal.
    The junior Knights defense was aggressive and stifled the Mustangs in their season opener. Head coach Hank Milligan and his assistant Matt McAfee were happy with the team’s performance.
    “We played a tough team and all of our players responded well,” said Milligan.
    The junior Knights travel to Presque Isle on Saturday to meet the Huskies of Caribou in a tough matchup.
    High school varsity Knights head coach Brian Reynolds attended both Houlton games and watched his own sons play. He enjoyed watching the play of both Houlton squads.
    “The future looks bright for football in the Shiretown,” he said. “I was impressed with all the kids. These teams will provide a seamless program of continuing football culture and increasing skill development required for the high school team.”
    The events were well attended and everyone enjoyed the action, Reynolds added.
    Meanwhile the junior varsity Knights traveled to Caribou on Saturday, and after an interminably long wait for a first game to conclude, in which the Caribou varsity Huskies, 2-1, ran over the Milo Panthers, 83-0, Reynolds’ ‘Gen Next’ junior varsity players did not disappoint the large group of supporters in attendance. The JV Knights spanked the Huskies, 61-12, in perfect football weather.
    The JV Knights, 2-0, used four offensive packages. Each group was involved in the scoring.
    Quarterback Hunter Hanning ran for a touchdown and threw six touchdowns to Joel Redman (28 yards); Cyrus Brooker (31 yards); Josh Carmichael (18 yards) and Bill Livezey (30 yards, 22 yards and 15 yards).
    Sal Cloukey broke a tackle up the middle and hit pay dirt with a 40-yard rumble. Brooker added another touchdown with a sprint to the end zone from 26 yards out. Joey Gould and company accounted for several catches and seven of nine PATs.
    The offensive damage was an eye popping 240 yards through the air and 215 yards on the ground.
    Defensive coach Smith’s Knights defense was strong with two fumble recoveries and three interceptions to hold the Huskies to two meaningless scores.
    The varsity Knights, 2-0, travel to Milo to take on the Panthers, 0-1, at 1 p.m. on Saturday.