AUGUSTA- Freshman running back Wesley Gallant scored three touchdowns on Saturday afternoon, helping the Old Orchard Beach Seagulls to a 46-22 victory over the Orono Red Riots in the 8-man small conference football state championship game played on Fuller Field at Cony High School. Quarterback Brady Plante also threw three touchdowns. OOB put up over 500 yards of offense, including 394 of those on the ground.
OOB (9-2) never trailed and scored the first 24 points of the game. Gallant had two rushing touchdowns and caught one for a score, while Riley Provencher had two receiving scores from Plante and a 40 yard interception return for six. Will Francis led Orono with two kickoff returns for touchdowns of 80 yards and 92 yards both in the third quarter. The Red Riots (7-4) came into the season with a 25 game losing streak, and defeated Bucksport, Dexter, and Stearns all on the road in the North playoffs to reach the state game. Sophomore quarterback Jack Brewer had 20 touchdown passes in the postseason, as they had their five game win streak snapped in the loss. The Seagulls gold ball is their first in football since 1993. OOB played in the first ever 8-man state championship game when they fell to Mt. Ararat back in 2019. They also finish this season on a seven game win streak, and this was the first game in those seven that they’ve given up more than 20 points. The full scoring recap is listed below-
1st quarter-
OOB- Asher Hubert 6 yard run (two-point conversion fails), 6-0 Seagulls
OOB- Wesley Gallant 3 yard run (two-point conversion fails), 12-0 Seagulls
2nd quarter-
OOB- Brady Plante 15 yard pass to Riley Provencher (two-point conversion fails), 18-0 Seagulls
OOB- Brady Plante 6 yard pass to Riley Provencher (two-point conversion fails), 24-0 Seagulls
Orono- Jack Brewer to Will Francis lateral to Pierce Walston 36 yards (two-point conversion good), 24-8 Seagulls
3rd quarter-
Orono- Will Francis 80 yard kickoff return (two-point conversion good), 24-16 Seagulls
OOB- Brady Plante 29 yard pass to Wesley Gallant (two-point conversion good), 32-16 Seagulls
OOB- Riley Provencher 40 yard interception return (two-point conversion failed), 38-16 Seagulls
Orono- Will Francis 92 yard kickoff return (two-point conversion failed), 38-22 Seagulls
4th quarter-
OOB- Wesley Gallant 15 yard run (two-point conversion good), 46-22 Seagulls
