BERLIN, New Hampshire — Hopes of bringing home a league championship were not to be for the Aroostook Huskies football squad Saturday.
Playing on a cold windy day against the top-ranked Berlin Gladiators, the Huskies failed to find their offensive mojo, resulting in an 18-0 loss in the Maine Independent Football League championship.
The Gladiators ended their run with a 8-1 overall record, while the Huskies finished 7-2.
“It was a disappointing ending to a great season,” Huskies coach Taylor DeFelice said. “The team had won one game in four years prior to this season. With only six seniors, we hope to bounce back strongly next year when we open our new home field.”
Both teams struggled with ball security and the center-quarterback exchange early on in Saturday’s game. After a few three and outs for both teams the Gladiators broke the scoring ice with a five-yard plunge for a 6-0 lead before the first quarter ended.
After another punt by the Huskies, the Gladiators drove the length of the field in the second quarter for the 12-0 lead.
The Huskies next drive stalled when quarterback Dom Poisson got hit while releasing the ball in the end zone and it ended up in the waiting arms of a defender for their third, and final score of the game.
“In the second half it was a back and forth between defenses that saw both teams make goal line stands to prevent any scoring,” DeFelice said. “On the last drive of the game we got the ball to the 2 yard line but time ran out.”
