HOULTON, Maine — In a battle of the top teams in the division, the Mattanawcook Lynx narrowly defeated the Houlton Shiretowners, 50-48, in a closely-contested match.
Houlton led for most of the game, only to see MA score with four minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The two squads nearly scored 100 points combined.
Houlton, playing on its home turf at the Maliseet Athletic Field, jumped to an early 16-6 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 65-yard touchdown run by Chris Caswell and a 67-yard catch by Troy Hipsley. After a Mattanawcook score cut the lead to two points, Bronson Hanning returned a 65-yard kickoff for a Shiretowners touchdown to make the score 24-14. Mattanawcook managed to score once more before the half ended, making it 24-20 at halftime.
Houlton came roaring out at the start of the second half, with Hipsley scoring another touchdown and Caleb Solomon running 55 yards for an additional score to make it 36-20. But Mattanawcook refused to back down, and scored two touchdowns in response, along with completing two-point conversions to even the score at 36-36.
Houlton scored once more before the start of the fourth quarter, with quarterback Isaiah Ervin scrambling for a 59-yard touchdown. Ervin then threw a touchdown pass to Solomon for another score with 10 minutes remaining, giving Houlton a 48-36 lead.
But once again, Mattanawcook wasn’t ready to give up. The Lynx ended up scoring two more touchdowns within the final seven minutes to walk away with the victory, 50-48.
Ervin ended the day going 8-for-12 passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for an additional 61 yards and a touchdown. Solomon rushed for 93 yards and Caswell for 67, with each scoring a touchdown. Hipsely led all receivers with 131 yards and two touchdowns.
With the victory, Mattanawcook Academy improved to 4-1 on the season and now sits atop the 8-man Small School division standings. Houlton, 3-1, fell to third in the region behind Dexter (also 3-1).
HOULTON, Maine — October 11, 2021 — Houlton quarterback Isaiah Ervin scrambles while being pursued by Mattanawcook defenders. (Alexander MacDougall | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — October 11, 2021 — Houlton’s Collin Crouse heads off the field as the defense makes a formation change. Crouse recorded six tackles against Mattanawcook, four of them going for losses. (Alexander MacDougall | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — October 11, 2021 — Houlton’s Chris Caswell rushes forward before being brought down by a Mattanawcook defender. (Alexander MacDougall | Houlton Pioneer Times)
