Western Class A quarterfinal
No. 6 Biddeford (3-5) at No. 3 South Portland (5-3)
7 p.m. at Martin Memorial Field
These teams met just two weeks ago at Waterhouse Field, with South Portland scoring on its opening five possessions to open up a 35-7 halftime lead, only for Biddeford to score three-straight touchdowns to pull back within seven points.
It was too little, too late as the Red Riots scored a late TD to run out 42-28 victors, but that second-half comeback bid gives the Tigers plenty to build on heading into the postseason rematch.
“We played a tremendous second half,” Biddeford coach Brian Curit said. “In the first half we made such a boat load of mistakes that half the battle was lining up properly. The second half it seemed like we just of settled down. We learned a lot from that game.”
Biddeford, which enters riding a four-game losing streak after a 3-1 start, has found it difficult to put together a full game in the second half of the season, playing one good half but not showing up for the other.
Against Sanford in week 6, the Tigers led 14-13 at halftime but were held to just 42 yards on 18 plays in the second half in a 35-14 loss. Last week in a 41-20 loss to Thornton Academy, Biddeford hung tough for a half, trailing 14-7 at halftime before being broken down by the Trojans as the second half wore on.
Part of the problem has been a lack of depth as, much like last fall, Biddeford has experienced more than its fair share of injuries in the second half of the year. But after returning some key pieces last week, the Tigers will get two more back this week as running back Lucas Rhoy and linebacker Isaiah Charles ”“ both of whom missed the last South Portland game after suffering injuries against Sanford ”“ will return.
“They’re two critical players who are back, and that’s going to make a huge difference,” Curit said. “Lucas is a dynamite player and Isaiah is a very, very good player is well. It was hard to compete without them.”
Still, the Red Riots will enter as favorites and feature an explosive running game that Biddeford failed to control for much of the Oct. 17 game. It’s led by Hayden Owen ”“ a receiver who runs plays out of the quarterback position in the Wildcat formation ”“ and running back Matthew Stearns, who scored three touchdowns against the Tigers in that first game running behind a big offensive line.
“They’re very physical and very, very big,” Curit said. “They’re athletic and their Wildcat player (Owen) is one of the better players in the conference. (Stearns) is tough as well.”
Biddeford also had trouble neutralizing the Red Riots’ passing attack in that game as Nick Mezzanotte threw for 189 yards and two scores on 8 of 10 passing. However, South Portland’s offense has run hot and cold at times this year, three times failing to score more than seven points, including in a 10-6 loss to rival Portland last Saturday, something a retooled Biddeford defense is hoping to take advantage of.
“We’ve been robbing Peter to pay Paul and had a revolving door at a number of positions on defense that people were able to exploit,” Curit said. “I think South Portland’s going to see a very different team.”
Overall, it’s been 11 years since the Tigers’ last playoff win, a run that has included seven first-round playoff exits, including a 45-19 defeat at Scarborough last October.
Curit, though, is quietly confident of his team’s chance to break that streak in what will quite probably by Biddeford’s last season as a Class A football program.
“We’re going to have to play well to beat them, but I expect us to play well,” Curit said. “We’ve had a tremendous week of practice and I’m very pleased with the effort and their mental approach. I think having everyone back has been a big help in that regard.”
— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or cdunbar@journaltribune.com.
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