This week in high school football history: 1951, ’68, ’72 and 2021

Oak Hill’s Caden Thompson smiles to fans after scoring a touchdown during an Oct. 2, 2021, football game against Bucksport at Oak Hill High School in Wales. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

TWO YEARS AGO …
Oak Hill’s star running back made the biggest play of the game on defense in the Raiders’ 25-20 win over Bucksport on Oct. 2, 2021. Caden Thompson, who earlier in the game caught an 11-yard touchdown pass and had a 51-yard reception that setup another Oak Hill score, ripped the ball from a Bucksport player’s hands and returned the fumble 83 yards for a score that put the Raiders up 25-14. Ramon Spearman intercepted two passes for Oak Hill. The day before, Curis Errington ran for 174 yards and two scores, and Charlie Houghton scored two 2-point conversions as Dirigo defeated rival Mountain Valley 16-6.

This photo appeared in the Oct. 2, 1972, edition of the Lewiston Daily Sun.

51 YEARS AGO …
Robin Marshall’s 85-yard run put Mexico up 12-6 in the third quarter and the score remained unchanged as the Pintos defeated Hall-Dale in a wet contest in Mexico on Sept. 29, 1972. Marshall also scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 6-6 right before halftime. The Bulldogs fumbled four times in the second half and their fate was sealed when Mexico’s Tom Gaudet intercepted a pass, allowing the Pintos to run out the remainder of the clock. The following day, Jay remained undefeated with a 12-6 win over previously unbeaten Winthrop. A 22-yard run by Mark Letourneau highlighted the Tigers’ first scoring drive, which concluded with a 1-yard run by Randy Doiron. Their lead grew to 12-0 on an 18-yard TD pass from Neil Labbe to John Iannucci in the third quarter.

55 YEARS AGO …
Mt. Blue moved to the top of the Mountain Valley Conference with a 26-13 win over Hall-Dale on Sept. 27, 1968. A 70-yard touchdown run and a punt return for a score by Mark Bayer and a 38-yard scamper by Art Pettitt put the Cougars up 19-0 in the first half. Forrest Scott finished Mt. Blue’s scoring when, in the midst of a thunderstorm, he intercepted a pass and carried the ball into the end zone. The following morning, Lewiston fell to Brunswick 13-12 at Lewiston Athletic Park. Scotty Dick (15-yard run) and Ken Foisy (59-yard pass from Chip Gagnier) scored the Blue Devils’ touchdowns.

This photo appeared in the Oct. 1, 1951, edition of the Lewiston Daily Sun.

72 YEARS AGO …
Joe Woodhead and Albert Giguere led Lewiston’s rushing attack and each scored a touchdown in a 12-0 win over Deering on Sept. 29, 1951. The Blue Devils finished with 212 yards rushing. Woodhead led the way with 97 yards on 15 carries, which included a first-quarter TD. Giguere scored in the fourth period after taking a pitch from QB Norm Ayotte. Giguere gained 83 yards on 15 carries. That same day, St. Dom’s and Westbrook combined for nearly 700 yards of total offense in a game won by Westbrook 33-13; Livermore falls romped over Winthrop 27-6; Edward Little fell to 0-3 with a 26-7 loss to South Portland; and Gould Academy won its season opener 14-2 over Mexico.