RUMFORD – The Mountain Valley football team can’t always afford to rest on its laurels and that was proven before a huge Homecoming crowd in a Campbell Conference game Friday night.
The Falcon defense rose to the occasion again and running back Aaron Arsenault and quarterback Andy Shorey each scored touchdowns as unbeaten Mountain Valley rallied for a 14-6 victory over York at Hosmer Field.
Mountain Valley (6-0), defending Class B state champions, played against an unbeaten team for the second-straight week, extended their unbeaten streak to 17 games. Despite the win, the Falcons were left bewildered and frustrated over several missed opportunities.
“I coach high school kids,” Mountain Valley coach Jim Aylward said. “I can’t control their emotions and the way they will play. Especially after everybody in the state tells them how good they are and puts them up on a mountain, bigger than life.”
The Falcons utilized their ball-control offense to run time off the clock. Still, the York defense, led by linebackers Brandon Hume and Brandon Cross, made the Falcons earn every yard.
“We won the game, but we didn’t play that well,”center David Smith said. “We made too many mistakes and York turned the ball over six times and we failed to capitalize. We have a veteran offensive line, so we can and should be doing better. York was slanting toward our strong side and we didn’t adjust.”
Shorey scored on a 2-yard keeper in the first quarter.
York (5-1) had recovered two fumbled snaps on attempted punts, deep in Falcon territory. Quarterback Christopher Knox scored on an 8-yard keeper. Mountain Valley opened the third quarter with a 77-yard, 14-play drive, lasting 6:41. Arsenault (144 yards, 34 rushes) ran the final nine yards.
The Falcon defense allowed 49 rushing yards, including just one yard in the second half, and fumbles were recovered by Matt Glover, Kyle Dow and Smith. Derek Sicotte and Justin Stairs each had interceptions.
“You have to credit the York defense,” Aylward said. “They made some big plays, plus we hurt ourselves with penalties in the red zone. Its hard to score, when you’re starting out first-and-20.”
York was 0 of 7 on third down in the first half.
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