Knights roll in historic gridiron matchup, 48-0

    In 1951, the population of the Shiretown topped 8,400 people. Market Square was the retail hub of the County. The local football team had won the Aroostook League with 18 members from the high school. The town was on the move.
    Fast forward 60 years. The Square still maintains a distinct beauty and New England charm less 2,000 folks who have moved on. Traffic bustles between two retail areas now, stretching halfway to Littleton. It is the nature of America to be on the move.
    No less on the move were the Houlton Knights attempting to capture a little of that former glory when they traveled to the Bangor area to face the BCH 11 last Saturday.
     Football fever has arrived in Houlton after a 60-year slumber. The local team has captured two consecutive league titles. The Knights squad has a roster of 30 players with 40 more coming up from the lower grades – far greater numbers than their predecessors of the early ‘50s, and just as athletic and enthusiastic.
Photograph courtesy of Theresa Bragan
ROLLING — Houlton Knight quarterback Quinn Harris, No. 12, rolls out of the pocket looking to run for yardage in last Saturday’s game against BCH.
    The Knights realized that they were making history with a full complement of 11 as the sun broke through over Galen Cole Memorial Complex in Kenduskeag and the two teams took the field for pregame warmups. The humidity rose and temperatures topped 80 with light winds.
    Head Coach Brian Reynolds, a New Hampshire transplant, ran the team through its rigorous paces the previous week and wanted to demonstrate that the Knights belonged.
    “I wanted the kids to know that the County can produce competitive teams that can play this game,” he said.
    The Knights (1-0) did not disappoint. The large migration of fans that moved south for the game witnessed an entertaining 48-0 win and the Knights extended their win streak to 16.
    After the initial kickoff, the defense held BCH to a ‘three and out’ first series and responded with an efficient six-play, 59-yard drive at 7:09 of the first quarter when tailback Aaron Eastman rumbled in from the four-yard line to score. The defense held again. The next series proved more efficient when Quarterback Quinn Harris passed to flanker Bill Livezey for a 31-yard advance to the BCH four-yard line. Fullback Jesse DaEira bulled into the end zone to cap the drive at 3:51 of the first quarter and the Knights led 12-0 going into the second.
    In the second quarter, the Knights went 49 yards in eight plays with Eastman grinding out all 49 and the score with 3:22 left. Eastman converted for a two-point conversion. On the next BCH possession Josh Bragan forced and recovered a fumble. The Knights went back to work. DaEira ran into the end zone from the nine-yard line at 1:08. Eastman took the ball in from the seven to add two more conversion points.
    Head Coach Reynolds was happy to sit out the quarter with a 28-0 lead going into halftime, but the Knights were not finished. An errant BCH pass found its way into outer linebacker Hunter Hanning’s hands and he raced this one back 35 yards for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half. Knights, 34-0.
    The second half kick off to Eastman on the two-yard line was bobbled. He picked it up and blazed 78 yards down the sideline for an improbable touchdown with 12 seconds gone from the clock. Eastman ended the day with 14 carries for 110 yards to go with the return.
Photograph courtesy of Theresa Bragan
HERE I COME — A Houlton Knight player is ready to sprint after a BCH runner in last Saturday’s game. The Knights won, 48-0.
    In the fourth quarter Harris, connected with DaEira from the 12 at 8:16. The conversion was good. Knights 48-0.
     Both teams settled in. The Knights had a big cushion, but the defense had pride and out muscled the BCH offense allowing only 54 total offensive yards for the game and keeping them off the scoreboard. Bragan and Josh Carmichael led the defenders with six tackles, Dan Toby had five, Eastman had four-plus, Jon Ramsey had a knocked down pass with three-plus tackles and Sam St. John had two-plus. Bragan and Axel Keber each recorded a sack.
     “It’s always a good thing to get the first win. This is going to be a long season, with eight games scheduled,” said Reynolds. “BCH played us hard. Hopefully, we can stay healthy. We need to work on a few things and I’m proud of the kids’ efforts. We’ll move on from here.”
    Coach Bill Alderson concurred, “Absolutely. With Jon Tuttle and Don DeVoe on the offensive line the team was practically unstoppable [in this game].”
    As the team packed up and prepared for the long journey home, Knight’s Coach Andy Hay observed, “The team was prepared. They executed well, defensed well, we got a few breaks and everybody got in to play. That’s a good day.”
    The Knights travel to Caribou to take on their conference rival Caribou Huskies on Saturday. The Peewee and junior high teams host the first Football Jamboree in Houlton at the Houlton Airport field on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. Football fans are invited to cheer on the youngsters. A six-team round robin is scheduled and should ensure that football will stay on the move in Houlton.