Maine High School Football: Skowhegan Breaks Playoff Drought
The River Hawks defeated Brunswick 35-0 to advance to the Class B North semifinals against Cony.
By Matthew Turner ·
Skowhegan high school football players and fans can stop waiting for a playoff win. The River Hawks defeated Brunswick 35-0 on Friday night at Reginald Clark Memorial Field in Skowhegan, Maine. This result marks the team's first postseason victory since they captured the Class B state title in 2022.
Coach Brad Cyr described the win as a relief for the program. He said his message to the team all week was that they need to make winning normal. Cyr noted that the group has struggled to find this level of success in the playoffs despite their past championship run. The victory ends a long period without a postseason win.
Quarterback Austin Lancaster led the offense with a dominant performance. The junior rushed for 201 yards in the first half alone. He broke through for a 47-yard touchdown on a third-and-24 play to give Skowhegan an early 7-0 lead. Lancaster also connected with Christian Ouellette on a 28-yard pass for a touchdown on fourth-and-6 to extend the margin to 14-0.
The River Hawks defense controlled the line of scrimmage and limited the second-seeded Brunswick team to 102 total yards. Skowhegan forced three turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception by Matthew Keister. The defensive line applied consistent pressure on Brunswick sophomore quarterback Max Caouette, who completed five of nine passes for 38 yards before throwing the interception.
Asher Ouellette played a key role on the defensive front. He recorded a sack in the third quarter and disrupted multiple plays. Cyr noted that Ouellette played without a cast on his arm for the first time since the start of the season. The coach said having both hands helped Ouellette be more physical against the Brunswick offensive line.
Skowhegan, which finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, will face the No. 2 Cony Rams next Friday at 7 p.m. in Augusta. The teams met in Week 2 of the season, where Cony won 42-35. Skowhegan came back from a 20-point deficit in that game but ultimately fell short. Lancaster passed for 194 yards and rushed for 113 yards in that previous matchup.
Cael Hamilton, a junior lineman for Skowhegan, credited the improved performance to better practice habits. He said the team has grown as a unit and improved its teamwork since their 19-17 win over Brunswick in Week 4. The River Hawks are now one win away from matching their combined total victories from the 2023 through 2025 seasons.
Source: The Forecaster
