Oak Hill wins their third straight hold ball
ORONO—Dalton Therrien did it with his arms and his legs, while Levi Buteau did it with his defense and punting foot in leading the Oak Hill Raiders football team to their third straight class D state championship. Therrien threw for 239 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 183 yards and four touchdown on 29 carries in the Raiders 34-21 win over MCI at Alfond Stadium on Friday evening. Oak Hill also defeated the Huskies in the 2014 state title game.
The first quarter was a defensive battle, until Therrien connected with Jonah Martin for a 63 yard touchdown with 1:24 remaining in the quarter. The Huskies defense kept them in the game in the first half. Curtis McLeod forced and recovered a fumble to give MCI the ball inside the red zone early in the second quarter. Willie Moss was running into the end zone just four plays later.
The Raiders responded quickly, when Therrien scored on a one yard touchdown run with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter, as Oak Hill took a 12-7 lead. That capped an 11 play drive that was highlighted by two pass plays from Therrien to Connor Nilsson. After the score, the Raiders recovered an onsides kick. Therrien capped off a five play drive with another touchdown, Therrien went 3-3 passing for 41 yards on the drive, with two of those passes to NIlsson.
With Oak Hill moving the ball well late in the first half, Braden Monteyro intercepted a Therrien pass. That set up a Moss two yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in the half. The Raiders held an 18-14 halftime lead.
Eli Bussell put the Huskies ahead with a one yard touchdown run with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter. Buteau took over on defense and special teams, and Therrien took over on offense from that point. Buteau forced a fumble that set up a 16 yard touchdown run from Therrien. Buteau also had a booming punt that gave the Huskies the ball at their own one yard line. On the next play, the Raiders were tackling MCI in the end zone for a safety.
Turnovers held the Huskies back the entire game. They threw five interceptions, and lost two fumbles. Therrien capped the scoring with a 48 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“A lot of turnovers, a lot of back and forth for both teams, it wasn’t a one sided game. They (MCI) fought a hell of a game. We are a strong team, especially in the second half,”Therrien said. “We stick together, when times get tough, we don’t break apart, we get closer. My line did a hell of a job. These wide receivers are the best I have ever played with.”
Moss finished with 143 yards and two touchdowns on 30 rushes. Monteyro had three interceptions. MCI finishes the season with a 10-1 record. Nilsson finished with 154 yards receiving on six catches, while Martin had 78 yards on three catches. Oak Hill finishes the season with an 11-0 record and their third straight gold ball.
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