1 week Ago
KENNEBUNK — Behind its star players and contributions from many others, the Old Orchard Beach eight-man football team put on a big-play showcase in the second half Saturday, beating Stearns 60-14 to win the eight-man Small School state championship at Kennebunk High. It’s OOB’s second state title in three seasons. The Seagulls won in 2022, then lost to Orono in the 2023 championship game.
North champion Stearns (9-2) answered OOB’s early salvos in the first half, but the momentum changed when Seagulls senior receiver Riley Provencher put his imprint on the game. Provencher did not had a catch until the Seagulls took over with 1:01 to play in the second quarter following a Stearns touchdown that tied the game. Then senior quarterback Brady Plante, a four-year starter, found his good friend for a 25-yard reception, a 23-yarder, and a 6-yard touchdown to the corner as Provencher toe-tapped to stay inbounds with nine seconds left before halftime.
Provencher then returned the second-half kickoff 75 yards for a score, stiff-arming one would-be Stearns tackler to the artificial turf and then pulling away from a last-ditch grab of the back of his shirt. Old Orchard Beach went on to score 38 points in the third quarter after leading 22-14 at halftime. Plante suggested that Provencher switch to the deep position for the second-half kickoff.
“I told (our special teams coach), ‘Put him back deep because we need him to make a play,’ and he came right out and saw a seam and took it to the house,” Plante said. Provencher and Plante combined for two more long touchdown passes – 56 and 88 yards. Provencher finished with seven catches for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
He also had an interception in the end zone to stop an early scoring threat, the first of six turnovers by Stearns. OOB had four turnovers of its own. Brady Plante completed 17 of 25 passes for 415 yards and four scores, to go with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, a 2-point conversion rush and two conversion passes.
He also had an interception. Trot Moody, a junior who usually lines up on the opposite side of the field from Provencher, had eight catches for 110 yards and the game’s first touchdown. He intercepted Stearns quarterback Cam Atkinson twice, caught a 2-point conversion pass, and ripped the ball away from a Stearns player for a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
“I always knew I needed to step up,” Moody said. “When you have one of the best wide receivers in the state, Riley Provencher, you have to step up. Offense or defense, you have to step up.
” Old Orchard’s seniors had already experienced the highs and lows of the state finals. As sophomores, captains Plante, Provencher, Levi Perrone and Brayden Mansur along with junior running back Wes Gallant were key players as OOB grasped the Gold Ball when they beat Orono, 46-22 . Last season, after routing every opponent by the average score of 64-4 en route to the title game, the script was flipped.
Orono dominated in a 46-18 victory. “We couldn’t lose two in a row,” Brady Plante said. “I don’t even know what to say right now after winning it.
We needed to win. We put too much work in during the offseason to lose this game.” “It’s been our mission, it’s been our goal, since this time last year when we lost, but at the same time, to win this game is kind of bittersweet because this is the favorite team I’ve ever been on,” Provencher said.
“It’s hard to believe that there’s no more after this.” Stearns (9-2) had its own senior story. The Minutemen finally reached the state championship game after losing in the North final the three previous seasons.
This season, they proved themselves superior to both Orono and league runner-up Houlton. In the first half, Atkinson showed his elusiveness on a handful of runs before suffering a hip injury that forced Stearns to shelve any designed QB runs. Atkinson threw two touchdown passes, one each to rangy ends Gavin Gagnon (22 yards) and Sam Jacobs (15 yards), but the Minutemen were unable to mount any consistent offense in the second half to slow OOB’s flood of points.
We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use .
More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe .
Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors.
« Previous.
