Sam Hopkins scored two touchdowns on Friday night, helping to lead Hermon to a 24-0 Class C football win over Foxcroft Academy in a season opener played at Pottle Field.
The Ponies dominated time of possession and plays run from scrimmage (40-8) in the first half. They took the games opening kickoff and drove 80 yards to the Hawks 1 yard line, but Foxcroft quarterback Evan Seavey was stacked up and tackled for a loss on 4th and goal as the drive stalled. Hermon broke the deadlock on the first play of the second quarter when Hopkins went up the sideline and pulled away from the defense for an 80-yard touchdown run. The guests once again put a solid drive together down to the Hawks 22, but a 4th down throw from Seavey was intercepted by Kaleb Keezer. Keezer would return it to the Ponies 38, and the first play after the turnover quarterback Ethan Curtis connected with Griffin Dunton for a 38-yard scoring pass for a 14-0 lead. Foxcroft drove to the Hermon 3 with the last possession of the opening half, but on the last play Seavey overthrew a pass to Owen White in the back of the endzone as the final seconds ticked off.
The hosts would finally put it away in the fourth quarter, scoring twice in 16 seconds to put the finishing touches on an opening night victory. Ethan Garner kicked a 25-yard field goal, and then the Hawks would recover a Ponies fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the FA 20. The first play after the error, Hopkins found paydirt for his second TD of the night on a 20-yard run. Hopkins was named the Hometown Nutrition Player of the Game. Hermon will play again next Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. when they visit Nokomis, while Foxcroft Academy will take on Oceanside in their home opener next Friday at 7 p.m. That game can be seen live on Eastern Maine Sports Media.
