Football
Youth football splits games with Kennebunk
By AJ Steffenberg
York quarterback Matt Pratt (8) keeps the football for a gain with blocks made by Justin Frecker (91), Eli Loeffler (86), Dillon Smith (81) and Adam Janetti (56).
Courtesy photo
YORK - On Sunday morning, Oct. 15, the York Pee Wee Youth Football A and B teams split the difference as they hosted Kennebunk with a win each at the York High School football field in Southern Maine Youth Football League action.
In the initial game with York's B squad, Kennebunk capitalized on the few York turnovers and penalties as they defeated the Wildcats 8 to 6 in a close contest.
Dakota Pidgeon of the Wildcats scored a touchdown on a strong York drive where he had most of the carries. Conall Anderson led the Wildcats in rushing with 34 yards in four carries. Jimmy Orso also made a key 40-yard kickoff return avoiding tackles deep in York territory.
Connor Smith turned the tide in the Wildcat's favor late in the fourth quarter with a standing fumble recovery and runback which put York in good scoring position for the go-ahead. However, York was not able to complete a potential game winning drive. Cole Merritt, Kevin McKenna and Orso also made fumble recoveries as well.
York's other defensive efforts were led by Eli Loeffler with three solo tackles. Nick Moulton led York's tackle assists with three, as well as sending the ball for a total of 70 yards with his three kickoffs. The remaining York B squad defensive players made an additional 30 combined solo tackles and assists against Kennebunk's scoring drives.
York's A squad beat Kennebunk 20 to 0. Thomas Kinton and Donald Goodrich each scored touchdowns on the way to the second consecutive York A squad shutout. Kinton ran in two touchdowns and Goodrich ran in one and an extra point conversion as well. Goodrich drove, pushed and spun for a total of 117 yards on the day on 14 carries, and Evan McElwain also had a good morning with 40 yards in nine carries. Tim Gauthier carried the ball 35 yards on one kickoff return, and Ross Hogan booted the ball a total of 94 yards on the day in four kicks.
Defensively, Ryan LeClair and William Donovan led York with a pair of solo tackles each, and John Cifrino and Wesley Warner led York's tackle assists with three each. The Wildcat defense continued to dominate with Zach Faskianos and Ben Gauthier each scooping a fumble recovery, while McElwain blocked and intercepted a Kennebunk pass.
The remaining York A squad defensive players made an additional 13 combined solo tackles and assists against Kennebunk's scoring drives.
The York Pee Wee A and B squads will play again this Sunday, Oct. 22, at 9 a.m., when the Wildcats host Wells at the York High School football field.
