The Tigers’ defense holds off the determined Vikings.
GARDINER – Eight teams in the regular season scored a total of 22 points against the Gardiner Tigers’ defense. That includes three points by Oxford Hills two weeks ago in a 20-3 Gardiner win.
When Oxford Hills tallied 14 points in the first three quarters of Friday night’s Pine Tree Conference quarterfinal matchup at Hoch Field, the Vikings had to figure they were in pretty good shape.
Good, but not good enough.
Justin Lebourdais ran 27 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns despite a minor injury midway through the third quarter to lead the Tigers to a 26-14 victory over the Vikings.
“We got beat by a good football team,” said Oxford Hills coach Paul Bickford. “Our kids showed a lot of heart and a lot of toughness, coming up here and playing the way they did. Someone had to go home.”
The 14 points were the most scored by a team in one game against Gardiner this season, and both touchdowns came on solid running plays straight into the teeth of the Gardiner defense.
“We knew from the second play of the game, when they popped Lebourdais on a run up the middle, that they’d be out here to hit and hit hard,” said Gardiner coach Matt Brown. “They put forth a very gallant effort tonight.”
Helping the Tigers down the stretch were two critical fourth-down conversions. With Gardiner clinging to a 20-14 lead, the Tigers faced a fourth-and-eight at the Vikings’ 33-yard line. Instead of Lebourdais, Kris Ramsay got the call and scampered around the right end for 21 yards to the Oxford Hills 12-yard line.
“Converting two fourth down plays in the final quarter was huge,” said Brown. “We didn’t score on the first one, but we got one the second time.”
The Vikings stuffed the Tigers at the 2-yard-line on that drive, but on the next Gardiner possession the Tigers again converted, this time on fourth-and-two at the Oxford Hills 21-yard-line. Three plays later, Lebourdais capped the scoring with an eight-yard scamper around the left end.
Gardiner opened the scoring early in the first after stuffing the Vikings on four straight plays. Lebourdais carried four times on the opening drive for 39 yards and the score.
Oxford Hills bounced back on its next drive with a touchdown of its own following a 12-play, 77-yard drive. Jim Bower ran in from 18 yards to knot the score.
Gardiner tallied the next two touchdowns, one with 53 seconds left in the first on a 36-yard dash by Craig Toulouse, and the other at 8:41 of the second quarter by Lebourdais.
“Just before we got to 20-7, they had a fake punt,” said Brown. “I think that was a huge play that completely shifted the momentum.”
The next play was the third Gardiner touchdown, a Lebourdais 58-yard run.
Oxford drew to 20-14 in the third on an inside hand-off to Jeff Tifft with 7:28 to play in the period, but never threatened again.
“That first half was more of a gut check than anything,” said Bickford. “A lot of teams would have all but given up down 20-7 against this Gardiner team, but we never did.”
Gardiner advances to the PTC semifinals next week and will travel to Brunswick, while Oxford Hills finishes the season at 5-4.
jpelletier@sunjournal.com
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