Road to tradition: Knights capture third consecutive gridiron title

TACKLE — Houlton Knight Dan Toby, No. 79, lays a tackle on a Huskie runner during last Saturday’s AFL title game.
    The long road to the championship game played at Bob Ruth Field in Houlton began in the early August heat at the Maliseet field. Knights’ Head Coach Brian Reynolds surveyed a group of veterans, second-year players and a lot of rookies.
    His job this year was to harness the enthusiasm and athleticism into a cohesive and competitive force for the 2011 football season.
    It began with long hours of fundamentals, drills and conditioning for everyone. The veterans had been down this road before.
    To say that this was one of the most team-oriented groups that Reynolds and his staff had seen in its six-year existence was no exaggeration.
    The Knights (9-1) ran the table in the Aroostook Football League against all comers. They also learned what it would take to get to the next level in 11-man football against downstate teams.
Semifinal pressure
    A big aggressive team from Milo came into town on a Tuesday school night with upset on their minds.
    The Knights were hurting from nagging injuries; for the whole season it seemed. There wasn’t much enthusiasm after the let down of a snowstorm induced postponement of the game on the previous Saturday.
    “We were down a few players with injury issues. We had to make some personnel adjustments. Playoff games take on more importance and they bring out the best in everyone,” said Reynolds.
    Milo deferred on the coin toss and the Knights received the opening kickoff. Four plays later, Quinn Harris sped into the end zone with an electrifying 50-yard score.
    Houlton scored twice more thanks to Harris running for one and passing to Bill Livezey for the other.
    Both teams struggled with footing in the second quarter. Milo was able to score, grinding it out with brute force. As the second quarter wound down Harris passed to wide receiver Hunter Hanning for a 57-yard touchdown. The score at the half stood Knights 26-6.
    In the third quarter Harris rushed for his third touchdown to up the score to 32-6. Milo would not lay down. They answered with a passing touchdown and two-point conversion.
    On the next series Knights’ Hanning bulled his way into the end zone from five yards out.
    Milo still would not go away passing and running down field. Livezey had enough of it and recorded a spectacular one-handed interception at the goal line to dash any hopes of a Milo comeback.
    Joel Redman kept the clock running with two clutch runs of 12 and 15 yards. The game ended, with the Knights prevailing, 38-14.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
TAKE DOWN — Houlton Kinght Aaron Eastman, No. 24, rushes the ball, while three Caribou Huskie defenders take him down on the play. The Knights won their third straight Aroostook Football League Title, 45-6.
    Harris ran for 116 yards on 13 carries and three rushing touchdowns. He passed for another.
    On defense, Hanning recorded 9-plus tackles and Caleb McGary had 8-plus. Jordan Russell was credited with a sack. Sam St. John was everywhere with a fumble recovery and blocked punt that McGary recovered in the Milo end zone for a Knight touchdown. Both Harris and Livezey intercepted Milo passes.
    Courage Above and Beyond
    The Caribou Huskies (6-3) rolled into the Shiretown on Saturday looking to claim the prize on a sunny, but cool afternoon.
     Caribou’s active roster was diminished by injuries and the Knights were far from 100 percent. It was a page right out of “Last Man Standing.” Knight’s standout Aaron Eastman returned from a three-game back injury layoff and would try to contribute. In six games, he had carried for more than 900 yards in carries. Starting junior lineman Donald DeVoe was nursing a shoulder and star defensive end Josh Carmichael had ended his glory days four games ago.
    Reynolds had pieced together a team, which ironically held together and gained valuable success and experience in the late season for the rookies. The question was — would it hold one more time?
    “We knew Caribou’s tendencies, they are a good team,” said Reynolds. “We needed our team to play flawlessly to win.”
     The Knights took the opening kickoff and were forced to punt away the first series. The second possession fared no better. On the third series, however, Harris pulled off a stunning keeper and scored from the 20.
    On the Knights’ next possession, Eastman carried to the three via a 14-yard run and Caribou penalty. Harris obliged and snuck in for the second score of the game.
    In the second quarter both teams hammered away at each other. Harris passed to wide receiver Caleb McGary for a nine-yard score. Livezey ran in the conversion. At the half, the Knights led 19-0.
Ryan Baptiste runs with the ball
    The third quarter opened with a relentless effort by the defense. The Knights pushed in another score by Harris from the 12. Harris called his own number and converted the extra point.
    On the next possession, Livezey scored from the five-yard line. Harris passed to Hanning for the conversion. The Knights led 33-0 going into the fourth quarter.
    In the fourth quarter the Knights would not let up. Eastman did yeoman work all day and scored from the three-yard line.
    Both teams had given it their all. Caribou threw the ball up and connected for a 27 yard scoring play to make the score 39-6.
    Eastman took care of business breaking off a 38-yard run. Four plays later, Harris passed for his second touchdown to Hanning from the nine-yard line.
    The clock wound down and the Knights picked up the win and the AFL title, 45-6.
    On offense, Eastman accrued 178 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Harris ran for 43 yards and two scores to go with his two passing touchdowns. Freshman running back Jake Drew carried for 44 yards. Hanning brought in three catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
    On defense Eastman made 13-plus tackles at middle linebacker. Toby and Bragan had seven tackles a piece and Bragan recovered a fumble. Sam St. John chipped in with five-plus tackles. The freshman story on defense was JJ Jones with four-plus tackles.
    The Knights quest for a third consecutive title was realized — the fourth in six years.
    Coach John Smith said, “This was a total team effort. Our younger players know what it takes to get to this point. They have been a big part of our success and are instilled with Knight’s pride and will be ready to carry on the tradition. Every player on this team contributed.”
    Following the game, the championship trophy was raised to the strains of “We are the Champions.” The crowd rushed onto the field to share the moment with cameras and Reynolds was drenched in water by the players in traditional post-game fashion.