STANDISH—South Portland’s football team had chances to remain unbeaten Friday evening.

But the Red Riots just couldn’t get a timely stop at Bonny Eagle.

And the end result was a frustrating setback to one of the state’s proudest programs, which simply refuses to lose on its homefield.

South Portland did stop the Scots twice on downs in its territory in a scoreless first quarter, but early in the second period, Bonny Eagle struck first, as junior quarterback Colin Moran (remember that name) hit junior Caden Cooper with a 12-yard touchdown pass and while the extra point was blocked, the Scots had a 6-0 advantage.

The Red Riots then answered in just one play, as senior quarterback Easton Healy hit dangerous junior Alex Horton for a 51-yard TD pass and after the extra point failed, the game was deadlocked, 6-6.

Bonny Eagle then drove to go on top for a second time, as Moran broke free down the sideline for a 39-yard score. The two-point conversion failed and that loomed large when South Portland embarked on a great drive just before halftime and got a 6-yard touchdown run from Healy, plus the extra point, to cling to a 13-12 advantage at the break.

The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter, as a 5-yard touchdown run from junior Colby McCormack made it 18-13 Scots before a 2-yard Horton run gave the Red Riots a one-point edge heading to the fourth period.

There, Bonny Eagle took the lead for the fourth time and it proved to be the charm, as Moran and Cooper connected again, this time on a 23-yard scoring pass.

The Scots then forced a Red Riots’ punt and with 7:48 to go, took over at their 14 and they never gave the ball back, as the running of Moran and senior Connor Johnson helped move the chains five times and run out the clock on a 24-19 victory.

Bonny Eagle improved to 3-2 on the season and in the process, dropped South Portland to 4-1 as the fascinating Class A South region continues to tighten up.

“I think we belong in the top four and I think that’s the big takeaway,” said Red Riots coach Aaron Filieo. “We just haven’t earned it yet. Tonight would have been another step and we could have won this game.”

Not quite

South Portland is off to its best start since the 2001 season, downing host Sanford in the opener (35-15), before beating visiting Bangor (42-26), host Oxford Hills (42-7) and visiting Windham (41-20).

Bonny Eagle, conversely, has had a much tougher first half, starting with a 27-18 loss at Lewiston, beating visiting Oxford Hills, 27-10, and visiting Portland (14-8) before falling last week at reigning state champion Thornton Academy, 35-12, in a game that was closer than the score would indicate.

The teams didn’t meet a year ago and hadn’t played since Aug. 31, 2018 (a 34-6 Scots’ victory in Standish).

Friday, on a very comfortable evening (61 degrees at kickoff), the Red Riots sought their first win over Bonny Eagle since Sept. 4, 2015 (18-14 in Standish) and their first 5-0 start this century, but instead, the Scots dug deep and did just enough to get back in the win column.

South Portland won the opening coin toss but deferred possession to the second half.

Bonny Eagle began with the ball at its 28 and began to drive, as after the Red Riots began inauspiciously by jumping offsides before the game’s first snap, Moran hinted at his huge night to come with a 26-yard run, breaking several tackles in the process, to the South Portland 42. After Johnson gained four yards, Moran threw incomplete, then Johnson ran for four more yards, setting up fourth-and-2, where McCormack was held to just one, giving the Red Riots the ball on downs.

South Portland began at its 32, but went three-and-out, as junior Connor Gerard ran for five yards, Healy lost two, then Healy threw incomplete.

A short punt then gave Bonny Eagle the ball at the Red Riots’ 48 and after Johnson ran for three yards, Moran threw on the run to Cooper, who made a juggling catch good for 16 yards and a first down at the 29. After Moran was held to no gain, then ran for two yards, the quarterback threw incomplete and on fourth-and-8, senior C.J. Cooper caught a pass from Moran, but it only went for six yards and South Portland got the ball back at its 21.

Again, the Red Riots went nowhere, as a holding penalty pushed them back 10 yards and after Healy ran for six yards and Horton gained 10, a false start cost South Portland five more yards and on third-and-9, Healy was dropped for a two-yard loss by senior Cole Cyr, necessitating another punt.

This time, the Scots started at their 43 with 1:32 on the clock and in a drive that chewed up 57 yards on nine plays and 4 minutes, 30 seconds, Bonny Eagle broke the ice.

After gaining two yards, Moran scrambled for eight more and a first down at the Red Riots’ 47. After running for two more yards on the final play of a quarter which saw the Scots gain 79 yards to South Portland’s 2, Moran began the second period by connecting with C.J. Cooper for nine yards, then hitting him again for a dozen and a first down at the Red Riots’ 24. After Johnson was held to a yard, C.J. Cooper tried a sweep to the left but was held to no gain, setting up third-and-9. Moran then willed his way to a first down, bulling up the middle on a scramble for 11 yards and a first down at the 12. On the next snap, Moran dropped back and threw to the right where Caden Cooper came down with a contested ball in the end zone just inside the sideline with 9:02 to go in the half. Junior Mason Kane’s extra point was blocked, but Bonny Eagle had a 6-0 lead.

A lead which would quickly disappear.

On the ensuing kickoff, Horton returned the ball to South Portland’s 49 and the Red Riots quickly capitalized, as Healy dropped back and threw deep down the middle to Horton, who was double-covered.

But it didn’t matter, as Horton came back to the ball and caught it while being interfered with, before shaking off a tackler and racing into the end to complete the 51-yard scoring pass with 8:43 on the first half clock. Senior Alex Bunnell-Parker was short on the subsequent extra point and the game remained tied, 6-6.

While the Red Riots struck with lightning speed, the Scots would answer methodically, driving 85 yards in nine plays, chewing up nearly six minutes in the process.

Johnson ran for one yard, then he picked three before catching a Moran pass for five, but that set up fourth-and-1. Longtime Bonny Eagle coach Kevin Cooper rolled the dice and had Johnson take the direct snap and rush forward for 18 yards and a first down at the 42. After McCormack ran for eight yards to midfield, then gained a yard, Johnson picked up another third down, pushing the pile for three yards to the South Portland 46. Moran then returned to the air, hitting C.J. Cooper for seven yards. On the next play, Moran ran right, found room and outran the pursuit to the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown with 2:56 on the first half clock. The Scots attempted a two-point conversion, but Moran’s rush was stopped short, keeping the score 12-6.

The Red Riots got the ball back at their 28 and in a terrific drive to end the half, used up all but 17 seconds to march 72 yards in nine plays.

An eight-yard pass from Healy to junior Darius Johnson got things started. Gerard then ran for 14 yards, breaking tackles in the process, to midfield. After Healy rolled left and hit Horton for 12 yards, Healy made something from nothing, rushing for seven yards to the Bonny Eagle 31. After Gerard was held to two yards, Healy didn’t gain anything, but on fourth-and-1 at the 29, Gerard bulled forward for six yards and a first down. After the Scots jumped offsides, Healy scrambled 12 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 6, as Filieo used his third and final timeout of the half. On the next snap, Healy rolled left again and beat the defense to the pylon. This time, Bunnell-Parker’s PAT was true and South Portland had a 13-12 advantage, which it would take to the half.

The Scots had a 207-125 advantage in first half yardage and got 108 rushing yards and 67 more through the air from Moran, but they found themselves behind.

That would change in the third period.

The Red Riots hoped to get a bookend touchdown to add to their late first half score and starting at their 40, were in good position to do so.

After C.J. Cooper and junior John Havu dropped Healy for a two-yard loss, Healy found an open Horton to the left and the dynamic Horton gained 26 yards to set up first down at Bonny Eagle’s 36. Healy then ran for four yards, but that’s as good as it would get for the visitors, as Healy threw deep to Horton with senior Emmett St. Pierre breaking it up, before Gerard was stuffed for no gain and on fourth-and-6, Healy, under pressure from C.J. Cooper, threw incomplete.

That gave the Scots the ball on downs at their 32 with 8:57 to go in the third and in nine plays and 3:52, they marched to go back in front.

A six-yard scamper from McCormack got things started. After an illegal motion penalty cost Bonny Eagle five yards, Moran threw incomplete, but on third-and-9, he hit C.J. Cooper on a slant for exactly nine yards and a first down. On the next snap, McCormack broke free to the right and ran down the sideline before Horton caught him from behind at the South Portland 10 to (momentarily) save the touchdown. A facemask penalty on the Red Riots moved the ball five yards closer and McCormack did the rest, scoring on a 5-yard run up the middle with exactly 7 minutes to go in the quarter. The Scots went for two, but Moran threw incomplete and the lead was 18-13.

After starting at its 47 following another nice Horton kickoff return, South Portland marched 53 yards in nine plays and 3:52 to retake the lead.

Horton gained seven yards and after Healy was held to one, Healy hit Johnson with a quick pass to the right and Johnson gained 13 yards for a first down at the Bonny Eagle 36. After a false start penalty set up first-and-15, Gerard ran for five yards and the Healy-to-Johnson connection produced 17 yards to the 19. After Healy ran for nine yards, he threw incomplete, but on third-and-1, Healy fought his way forward, pulling a would-be-tackler with him, all the way to the 2 to set up first-and-goal. Horton then got the handoff and scored with 3:02 remaining. The Red Riots sent the kicking unit out, but they faked the PAT and had Healy throw the ball for two, but his toss was high and South Portland’s lead was just one, 19-18.

Undaunted, the Scots answered as the third quarter gave way to the fourth, marching 80 yards in 11 plays and 5:31 to go ahead to stay.

On first down from its 20, Bonny Eagle got a six-yard pass from Moran to C.J. Cooper. After Johnson ran for three yards, Moran was held to no gain, setting up fourth-and-inches and again, Kevin Cooper went for it deep in his territory, having Johnson take the direct snap and rush for six yards and a first down at the 35. McCormack then ran for a yard on the final play of the third.

The fourth period began with Moran gaining 12 yards on a keeper to the left, setting up first down at the 48. Moran then ran for seven more yards into Red Riots’ territory. After Johnson was dropped for a one-yard loss by senior Brady Haynes and junior Kai Turner, C.J. Cooper caught a pass, but it was only good for one yard, setting up a critical fourth-and-3.

Moran wasn’t about to be denied, running to the right, getting the edge and fighting all the way to the 23, a 22-yard scamper. On the next play, Moran showed off his arm, lofting a perfect strike down the right sideline to Caden Cooper, who caught the ball in traffic in the end zone for the 23-yard score with 9:24 left. Moran dropped the snap on the ensuing two-point conversion and couldn’t recover, meaning the Scots had a five-point lead to protect.

South Portland hoped to take its turn scoring when it began at its 42, but this time, the Red Riots weren’t able to reach paydirt. After Healy threw incomplete deep to Johnson, Gerard ran for 11 yards and a first down at Bonny Eagle’s 47, but Healy threw incomplete, Gerard was dropped by McCormack for a one-yard loss, then Healy threw incomplete again, forcing a punt.

“We’ve been pretty good at finishing drives, but that one we didn’t finish,” lamented Filieo.

Healy’s punt pinned the Scots at their 14 with 7:48 on the game clock and the Red Riots were hopeful of getting a stop, then having another chance at a winning score, but they would never touch the ball on offense again.

Moran gained six yards on first down and after McCormack ran for three, Johnson picked up two yards on third-and-1 for a first down at the 25. Moran then gained eight on first down and Johnson moved the chains again with a three-yard burst. After a three-yard Moran run, an illegal block penalty on Bonny Eagle set up second-and-10. After Moran ran for two yards, the game’s most pivotal play ensued.

Moran dropped back to pass and looked for C.J. Cooper only to be intercepted by Turner.

But the Scots got a break, as defensive holding was called and Bonny Eagle not only kept possession, but had a first down at its 48 with 3:31 to go.

“I thought we’d go win it after that pick,” Filieo said. “I didn’t see what happened on the sideline (with the penalty), so it’s obviously disappointing.”

After junior Josh Cyr tackled McCormack for no gain, Moran ran for five yards, setting up a critical third-and-5 from the Red Riots’ 47. Again, Moran wouldn’t be denied, fighting through an initial tackler and gaining eight yards for a first down.

“My teammates are the ones who carried me to those first downs every single time,” Moran said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten any first downs. I love this game so much. I can’t come up short on game day after putting my all into it all week.”

“It’s very frustrating, particularly when we had a good feel what they were trying to do,” said Filieo. “We were stopping their inside zone. We knew (Moran) was going to pull it, but we didn’t make the plays.”

Moran then essentially iced it with an 18-yard scamper to the 21, as he broke a tackle in the backfield before running free. After Johnson ran for three yards, Filieo used his final timeout, but Moran was able to take a knee twice and that ran out the clock, giving the Scots an inspirational 24-19 victory.

“We put (last week) behind us by having a positive mindset,” Moran said. “We stayed focused on South Portland and beating them. We take so much pride in beating teams on our homefield. You can’t get an easy win on our field. It’s not going to happen.”

“To be able to take the ball and run out the clock and end with taking a knee against an undefeated team is special,” Kevin Cooper said. “(South Portland is) proud. They have their program turned around. They’re a legit Class A contender.”

Bonny Eagle ended up with 417 yards of offense, most of it coming on the ground.

Moran dazzled with 199 yards and one TD on 20 carries, while also completing 11-of-14 passes for 106 yards and two scores.

“I think if you look at (Colin) without his uniform on, he doesn’t carry himself as a guy that can get tough yards, but he runs hard, he’s got a great awareness of how to twist his body to get extra yards,” Kevin Cooper said. “He played great tonight. He was unbelievable. What he did for us allowed us to win the football game.”

Johnson saw heavy use as well, rushing 15 times for 33 yards and catching one pass for 5 yards.

McCormack gained 73 yards and scored once on nine carries.

C.J. Cooper caught seven passes for 50 yards and Caden Cooper had three receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

“Caden’s earned his stripes,” said Kevin Cooper, the father of both Caden and C.J. Cooper. “He deserves to be out there. In the Portland game, he had one that bounced off his hands, but he made the plays tonight. He had unbelievable catches on great throws by Colin.”

The Scots didn’t turn the ball over, didn’t punt and only were flagged five times for 23 yards.

South Portland wasn’t quite as clean, committing seven penalties for 45 yards and punting on three occasions.

Healy wound up 7-of-14 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown. He ran a dozen times for 47 yards.

Horton caught three balls for 89 yards and a score, ran three times for 19 yards and was dangerous on kickoff returns as well.

“Alex is quite a weapon for us,” Filieo said. “He can run the ball, get open. He loves football and he’s worked his tail off to get as good as he is. Everything he’s gotten, he’s earned.”

Gerard gained 31 yards on seven carries and caught one pass for 11 yards.

Johnson caught three passes for 34 yards.

In it to win it

Bonny Eagle goes to 1-4 Scarborough next Friday. The Scots hope for their fourth win in five outings as they look to surge into the playoffs.

“We’re underdogs,” Moran said. “With the great coaching we have, we can go far. We have to make sure our bodies are healthy and have a positive mindset and put in the work. We’re having so much fun. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

“I’d like to think we’re always prepared to defend our home ground, but you can’t just win at home to be a great football team,” said Kevin Cooper. “I think we’re pretty close. There are four good teams. It’s going to be a battle in A South for sure. It’s a race to November. We’re thrilled we won tonight, but it doesn’t change the playoff picture that much. We’re trying to get better. That’s our focus. If we do that week-in, week-out, we’ll be happy.”

South Portland, meanwhile, has another doozy of a test, at 4-1 Thornton Academy next Friday night.

“We’ve got a lot of things we can offer, it’s just figuring it out, so we’ll take that into next week and try to go shock the world,” said Filieo. “We just need to be more disciplined, especially on defense. We have to tackle in space. We’ll have to tackle TA in space on their turf. Their guys can move.

“We’ll be ready. We won’t be nervous or scared. The guys will be motivated from this.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. 

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