RUMFORD — The Camden Hills varsity football team took to the road Friday, Sept. 27 hoping to spoil Mountain Valley's decorated Homecoming festivities.

Without the services of its starting quarterback, Ryan Clifford, it was obvious the visiting Windjammers would require the contributions of many to meet their goal.

Though the team fell short of its bid for a second road win this season, falling 21-6, the Windjammers showcased its best defensive performance of the year, holding the Falcons to two offensive scores and 167 total yards in Rumford.

Senior co-captain Brady Hedstrom captained a spirited Camden Hills defense with four solo tackles and 12 assisted tackles and was well-supported by junior Will Thorn (six solo tackles and three assists).

The overall defensive effort is what Camden Hills head coach Jeremy Marks has been clamoring for with the season now at the halfway point.

"Our defense got back to playing our style of football — aggressive and team driven," said Marks. "We still have a lot of work to do to get better but we are trending in the right direction."

The Windjammers fell behind early set up at their own 1-yard line and sophomore Hunter Norton tackled for a Safety followed by a 16-yard touchdown pass by the Falcons to take an 8-0 lead.

Quickly, junior wideout Ben Craft took a jet sweep handoff around the right side, taking a wide angle that appeared would result in a loss of yardage. However, Craft's speed and shiftiness was on full display as he gashed through would be tacklers and cut towards the hashes to the tune of a 64 yard touchdown run.

The two-point conversion attempt failed and the score would settle in at 8-6 in favor of Mountain Valley until the third quarter when the Falcons scored on an 18-yard run and later on a 52-yard interception return. 

“Ben played an amazing game,” Marks stated. “We are just seeing the tip of the ice berg with regard to his talent.” 

With Clifford out for the contest, co-captain Aedan Kehoe stepped up to command the Windjammer offense. 

“Aedan stepped into the most difficult position on the field and gave us a chance to win, I was very proud of his effort,” said Marks. “I was very proud of how the team rallied around Aedan.”

Marks noted the team needs to tighten up to limit procedural errors, false starts and delay of games. 

By virtue of Dirigo cancelling its varsity season, Camden Hills will receive a win via forfeit in the upcoming week, meaning the Windjammers will enter its Friday, Oct. 11 contest with a 2-3 record. 

For its next contest, the Class D Windjammers will host Lake Region (Class C) at Don Palmer Field in Rockport at 7 p.m.

“We are thankful for the off week to get healthy and work on where we need to get better,” said Marks. “I am excited for the stretch run and we all think the best is yet to come for this team."

With lights being brought in for the Oct. 11 contest, the Five Town Football fifth and sixth grade football team will also get to experience the memorable feeling of playing under-the-lights when the young ‘Jammers host Oceanside on Saturday, Oct. 12. 

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.