LEWISTON – Sure fans in

Houston went wild, and of course Boston and even Rhode Island fans were hysterical that their home team was in the Super Bowl. New England, though, includes more than just Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

In Lewiston, fans fanned out across the city in search of food, friends and, of course, football.

6:25 p.m., Blue Goose Tavern, kickoff

Nine people are scattered about the bar, two people, presumably a couple, watch one of two televisions from a booth against the side wall, while four men sit at the bar. All of them are chatting about the Super Bowl, and all of them are picking the Patriots.

The bar’s owner, Earl St. Hilaire, stands at the left side of the bar.

“We actually had about 30 people here a little while ago, for a barbecue. That was a lot of fun.”

All that is left of the ‘cue is a smoking grill just outside the front door of the bar, and the aroma of burgers and wings.

“This is about average for this night,” St. Hilaire said. “Everyone usually leaves here, goes home or to a private party to watch the game, and then after the game they’ll all be back.”

6:55 p.m., Pub 33,

first quarter

Adam Vinatieri had just missed his first field goal of the game, and everyone at Pub 33 groaned.

“I can’t believe he missed that field goal,” Patriots fan Michael Bolduc said, rolling his eyes. “He’s only missed twice in domes before, and those were at that stadium, too.”

There, nestled in couches, in chairs surrounding Bolduc and crammed between the pool tables are approximately 60 people, many of whom are regulars.

In the far-left corner, fans had organized a pot-luck dinner.

“I had never been to a big football game like this at a bar,” said Bolduc. “I had always been at either my family’s house or at college with a bunch of guys in a dorm. This is a great atmosphere here.”

As for predictions, Bolduc was all about the Patriots, like most fans out and about on Sunday.

8:44 p.m., Midnight Blues, third quarter

“How early do we have to be here to have this seat?”

That was the only question Peter Mandres and Cathy Chiaverini had for Midnight Blues owner Paul Morency. Mandres and Chiaverini are from Rhode Island, but traveled to Auburn to escape the hype generated back home.

“I went to Edward Little, graduated in 1972,” Mandres said.

“We wanted to come up here to get away from all of the hoopla,” added Chiaverini, who wore a red Tedy Bruschi throwback jersey that hung nearly to her knees. “Two years ago, when the Pats were in the Super Bowl, we were in Daytona, Florida. We were the only ones in that bar that cared.”

At Midnight Blues on Sunday, about 40 people paid $35 for a meal, three beverages and a door prize that ranged from a pair of Maineiacs tickets to a large, lighted Molson bottle encased in plastic ice.

Both Mandres and Chiaverini have cousins that have played professional football, and both with the Cowboys. Dave Mandres played with the Cowboys from 1967 to 1972, while Darren Chiaverini played in Dallas just two years ago.

10:25 p.m., Fast Breaks, end of the game

There are more than 40 people scattered throughout the restaurant and bar, but one person stood out. With a black knit stocking cap and with his shirt tucked into his jeans, Steve Fusilier, an ex-Marine with Louisiana roots (a Dallas Cowboys fan), sat quietly at the right corner of the bar, slowly taking sips from his glass.

“I’m not a Carolina fan,” Fusilier said, “just not a Patriots fan.”

Fusilier was not a popular man in that restaurant, and several patrons mocked him when he cheered for Carolina.

When the Patriots scored a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion, Fusilier was the first (and perhaps only) in the place to announce his opinion.

“They’ll go right back down,” he said. “They’ll score again. This one’s going to overtime.”

Well, he was half-right.

As Vintieri’s kick sailed through the uprights with four seconds left on the clock, Fusilier stood up to applaud.

“At least it was a good game,” he admitted. “It ain’t like y’all kicked their butts.”

He was right, but that didn’t stop the rest of the patrons to whoop and holler after the Patriots’ kick coverage stuffed Rod Smart.

“Now we can go home a sleep well,” one fan said as he headed out the door.

“I knew it all along,” said another.

Whether or not the area is full of prognosticators, fans all across New England saw a great game, and the win will be a topic of conversation in the days, weeks and even the years, to come.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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