Senior End Kris Noonan Senior end Kris Noonan looks to get past a Foxcroft defender after catching a pass over the middle in the first half of Saturday's championship game. (Photo Kevin Burnham)

The Foxcroft Academy Ponies scored on their first three possessions on the way to a 26-8 victory over the Seahawks in the Class C State Final on Saturday, November 17 in Portland.

The Seahawks end a very successful season as they finish with a record of 10-2 and a Western Maine Title.

The Ponies, who were appearing in their fifth state final in six years, took the opening kickoff and marched 64 yards on 14 plays before quarterback Jamie Nelson threw 19 yards to Jason Gould for the touchdown with 5:54 remaining in the first period.

The Seahawks defense had put Foxcroft in a long yardage situation as a sack by Joe Farrin left the Ponies with a third and goal, from the 19-yard line when Nelson found Gould wide open over the middle.

With their first possession of the day the Seahawks started at their own 29-yard line and picked up a first down on three carries by Tim Stover. After a one yard gain by Jason Tilton, quarterback Sam Cook connected with Kris Noonan for 21 yards to move the ball into Foxcroft territory. The drive would stall four plays later when a fumble on fourth down turned the ball back over to the Ponies.

The Ponies continued to use a variety of offensive sets on their next series as they took over on their own 38-yard line and moved into Boothbay territory on five plays and were on the scoreboard one play later when Shane Atkins rushed 43 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with10:07 remaining in the second period. For the second time in the game the kick for the extra point was unsuccessful for the Ponies.

Less than five minutes later the Ponies were in the end zone again when Nelson found Gould again, this time for a 29-yard touchdown pass that capped a nine-play drive that started at their own 16-yard line following an interception of a Cook pass. Mike Witham rushed for the two-point conversion to give Foxcroft the 20-0 lead.

The Seahawks got the boost they needed on the ensuing kickoff as Chris Graves returned the ball 59 yards to the Foxcroft 27-yard line. Rushes by Stover and Shawn McDuff picked up three and six yards respectively before Stover picked up another 13 yards on two carries. McDuff then scored from five yards out to put the Seahawks on the scoreboard with 3:19 remaining in the first half. Stover rushed for the two-point conversion to leave the Seahawks down 20-8 going into the second half.

Receiving the second half kickoff, the Seahawks put together a sustained drive as they moved the ball into Foxcroft territory and appeared ready to get right back into the game when a devastating call all but ended their season. On a fourth down and six from the Foxcroft 36-yard line Cook connected with Noonan on what appeared to be a first down but offensive pass interference was called on Noonan. In high school football this is a loss of down penalty and gave the ball to the Ponies plus 15 yards tacked on to the spot of the foul.

With the ball inside Seahawk territory, the Ponies put the game away when Nelson hooked with Gould for their third touchdown pass of the day, this time for 12 yards with 3:30 left in the third period to give the Ponies the 26-8 lead.