Caden Begos of Edward Little runs the ball behind blocker Dawson Tracey during a game against Windham earlier this season. (Sun Journal File Photo)

Top-seeded Edward Little enjoyed a week of rest, but probably not relaxation, last week as their next opponent, fourth-seeded Windham, had to fight No. 5 Cheverus tooth-and-nail in a 12-6 comeback quarterfinal victory.

After the Red Eddies’ Week 8 loss to rival Lewiston, EL coach Dave Sterling vowed his team would use the bye week to get back to basics and regain the form that led to a seven-game winning streak to start the season. 

Sterling and the Eddies probably wouldn’t mind if that form resembled what they showed in the last win of that streak, 21-13 over Windham at Walton Field.

Senior QB Grant Hartley and a stout defense stood out for the Red Eddies in the victory.

Hartley, a PTC North all-star, exploited the Eagles’ run-stopping game plan for 138 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for a game-high 79 yards on eight carries and another score.

The defense, meanwhile, kept Windham QB Tanner Bernier under wraps for 120 total yards passing and rushing, and limited the Eagles to six points until a late touchdown made it a one-possession game again.

Bernier is the key to Windham making it this far. A threat to pass and run, he had to do the former last week as Cheverus shut down the Eagles’ running game. Bernier led the comeback with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, finishing the day 13-for-31 for 183 yards. Hunter Coffin and Treva Valliere were his top targets.

Bernier also leads the defense as a safety. He and fellow A North second-team all-stars Justin Labrecque, Nate Watson and Valliere form the core of a unit that has allowed just 25 points over the last three games.

EL’s balanced offensive attack will challenge Windham’s defense.

Senior running back Caden Begos finished second in the conference in rushing with 707 yards and was the focus of Windham’s game plan in the first game.

A North Player of the Year Maxx Bell gives the Eddies an outside threat and is also a big-play receiving threat along with Xzabier Weaver. Weaver and Bell finished 1-2 in the conference in receiving with 389 and 308 yards, respectively. The pair joined Hartley, Begos, tight end Terrell Thomas and linemen Alex Merchant and Latrell Thomas as first-team offense all-stars.

EL’s defense, which allowed a league-low 108 points this season, is just as talented. All-conference linemen Kevin Lachance and Bobby Tremain and linebackers Justin Theriault and Bell lead an athletic front.

Edward Little is looking for its first regional championship berth since 2008, when it lost to Skowhegan. Windham has appeared in the last three regional title games, losing the last two.

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