WALES — Slowed by a nagging ankle injury, Winthrop/Monmouth senior running back Zach Glazier was primarily a cheerleader on the sideline in a key Western D Campbell Conference game Saturday at rival Oak Hill.

“He was banged up,” Winthrop/Monmouth coach Joel Stoneton. “We didn’t want to push it with him so we used him sparingly.”

Glazier made the most of his opportunities.

He rushed for a 6-yard touchdown just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter to help the Ramblers pull out a come-from-behind 18-13 victory over the Raiders in a showdown between the only undefeated teams in the conference.

“I gave it all I had,” Glazier said. “I just gave it a push and did what I could to get into the end zone.”

Glazier ran for just 22 yards on six carries. He also fumbled in the fourth quarter, but the Ramblers defense bailed him out with a tough stand in the final two minutes.

Advertisement

The Ramblers improved to 4-0 while the Raiders dropped to 3-1.

“We came ready to play,” Stoneton said. “We battled all the way.”

Jared Hanson enjoyed a big day for the Ramblers. The senior quarterback completed 15 of his 18 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Jake Weeks rushed for a team-high 67 yards on 17 carries.

“We wanted this one,” Hanson said, “and we took it. We’re on top now, but we need to stay there.”

Oak Hill (3-1) lost starting running back Alex Mace to a shoulder injury early in the game, and his absence hurt. Kyle Flaherty led the Raiders with 62 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Senior quarterback Parker Asselin, who twice left the game because of injury but returned both times, completed 11 of 19 passes for 133 yards. He also rushed for 20 yards and a touchdown.

“He had the wind knocked out of him,” Oak Hill coach Stacen Doucette said. “It was a good football game. I give credit to Winthrop/Monmouth. They were well-prepared. It was a good, old-fashioned football game.”

Advertisement

Oak Hill led 13-12 at the half before Winthrop/Monmouth scored the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

The Ramblers started the drive on their 40-yard line and marched down the field thanks to a few big completions from Hanson to Mario Meucci and Dakota Carter. Glazier then finished off the drive with a run up the middle.

“Just a tough play,” Stoneton said.

The Ramblers got the ball back midway through the quarter, but Glazier fumbled it away with 1:55 remaining. The Raiders took over at the Winthrop/Monmouth 48 and drove to the 24 before the drive stalled.

Defensive back Brandon Goff made a key play on fourth down when he broke up an Asselin pass intended for Kyle Tervo in the back corner of the end zone with 52 seconds left.

“Our defense stood up,” Stoneton said. “We came up with the plays we needed to make.”

Advertisement

The Ramblers jumped out first when Dakota Carter hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass with 4:12 left in the first quarter.

The Raiders answered when Flaherty plowed in from 6 yards out with 5.7 seconds left in the quarter. Adam Merrill kicked the extra point to give Oak Hill a 7-6 lead.

Hanson then hit Meucci for a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field with 6:39 left in the second quarter to again give the Ramblers the lead, 12-7.

“The middle was open because we had the corners spread out,” Meucci said. “(Hanson) just threw a good ball and I got into the end zone.”

The Raiders surged ahead 13-12 when Asselin rushed for a 1-yard touchdown as time expired in the second quarter. The touchdown came after Winthrop/Monmouth thought the clock should have expired on the previous play — a 6-yard rush from backup quarterback Dalton Therrien.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: