Stearns Too Much for MDI – Trojans Lose 46-22

The MDI Trojans took the long ride up to Millinocket on Friday, September 24th to play the Stearns Minutemen on a rainy night. The Trojans lost the game 46-22 in a game where there were 25 offensive series, with MDI having the ball 13 times.

Stearns won the toss and elected to defer, wanting to get the ball in the 2nd Half. Stearns kicked off and MDI returned the ball to their 11 yard line. One of the keys to the game was hanging onto the ball given the rain and the wet field. The Trojans fumbled on their 1st play, and the Minutemen took over on the MDI 16 with 11:47 left in the 1st Quarter.

It took only 1:19 and Stearns was on the scoreboard, when Shaw Clements ran the ball in from 9 yards out. The 2-point conversion was good when Caleb Shearer completed a pass to Aiden Sanders.

MDI returned the kick to the 20 yard line, but weren't really able to move the ball, turning over the ball on downs, after they were able to get to their own 42 yard line.

Stearns took over on their MDI 42 yard line with 8:52 remaining in the 1st Quarter. The MDI defense stepped up, intercepting Shearer's pass, and the Trojans had the ball on their own 34 yard line, with 7:57 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

Again, the Trojan's offense was grounded, and they were forced to punt.

Stearns took over at their own 23 yard line, with 4:47 remaining in the 1st Quarter. 1 play, and 57 seconds later the Minuteman had scored again as Aidan Sanders busted a 77 yard run to the end zone. The 2-point conversion was good and Stearns led 16-0

MDI had a great kickoff return, bringing the ball up to their own 46 yard line, but again, the offense couldn't gel, and the Trojans turned the ball over on downs, with Stearns taking over at their 44 yard line, with 1:02 left in the 1st Quarter.

Stearns took over and marched down the field. The drive took 3:25, and Shearer ran in from 2 yards out for the score. The 2-point conversion was good, and Stearns led 24-0.

Alex Gray had replaced Spencer Laurendeau at Quarterback, and Gray's 1st pass attempt was picked off, with CJ Lyons running the interception in for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good, and Stearns led 32-0 with 7:27 remaining in the 1st Half.

MDI took the kickoff back to the 32 yard line. And finally the Trojan offense got untracked. The Trojans were able to drive down the field. In a drive that took 5:53, MDI was finally able to get into the end zone, with a 2 yard pass from Gray to Jacob Shields. The 2-point conversion was no good, and MDI trailed 32-6 with 34 seconds left to go in the 2nd Quarter.

Stearns took over at their 20 yard line, and AJ Lozano picked off Caleb Shearer's pass, to give the Trojans the ball at the Stearns 16 yard line.

But, MDI's pass was picked off by Jack Morris. Time ran out, and Stearns led MDI 32-6 at the end of the 1st Half.

Stearns out-rushed MDI 126 yards to 59 yards in the 1st Half

Stearns received the ball to start the 2nd Half, returning the ball to their own 48 yard line. The Trojans defense stepped up, forcing the Minutemen to punt, and MDI took over at their own 12 yard line with 9:24 remaining in the 3rd Auarter.

The Trojans scored, capped off by a 53 yard pass from Alex Gray to AJ Lozano. The 2-point conversion was good, and with 5:55 remaining in the 3rd Quarter MDI trailed 32-14

Stearns took over at their own 24 yard line, but was forced to punt.

MDI took over on their own 25 yard line with 2:52 left in the 3rd Quarter, but turned the ball over on downs.

Stearns took over at the MDI 33 yard line with 1:42 left in the 3rd Quarter. Tjey marched down to the MDI 1 yard line, before the Trojan's defense stiffened, and the Minutemen turned the ball over on downs.

MDI took over with 9:01 left in the 4th Quarter, but Stearns tackled the Trojan ball carrier in the end zone for a safety, and with 8:06 left in the game, Stearns led 34-14.

Strearns returned the punt to the MDI 21 yard line. They were in the end one when Jack Morris rumbled in from 4 yards out. The 2-point conversion was no good and Stearns was up 40-14.

MDI took over at their own 46 yard line. Another long pass from Alex Gray to AJ Lozano, this time 44 yards long, resulted in a Trojan touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good, and with 5:54 remaining MDI trailed 40-22.

Stearns was forced to punt, and MDI had the ball, but fumbled with Jonathan Blaisdell recovering the football for Stearns.

The Minutemen scored the final points with 1:34 remaining, when Cayden Raymond ran in from 4 yards out. The 2-point conversion was no good.

Kudos to both the Trojans and Minutemen Cheerleaders who were out in the rain the entire game, yet were still loud and proud!

MDI is now 1-2. They will play Camden Hills on Saturday October 2nd at 7 p.m. That game was originally scheduled to be played in Bar Harbor on Friday, October 1st but Camden Hills is playing Monday, September 27th. By mutual consent the game was moved to the 2nd. That game will be broadcast on WDEA Internet Radio, on our free downloadable APP and on any Alexa enabled device

Stearns is 2-2 and will play at Houlton on Friday, October 1st at 7 p.m.

Stats

MDI Rushing