Newsletter #54...The game that wouldn't end
When you've done this as long as I have (26 years and counting), it's easy to think you've seen it all.
And then every once in awhile, something comes along that can still astound.
That was the case last Saturday night in Yarmouth, where the Clippers hosted Cape Elizabeth in a battle of undefeated eight-man football teams.
And what resulted was offensive fireworks.
A total of 1,068 combined yards and 122 combined points, as Yarmouth, which trailed at one point in the second quarter, 32-14, closed the game on a jaw-dropping 68-8 run to prevail, 82-40.
"That game was crazy," said Clippers' coach Nick Orsi, in the understatement of the year.
Indeed, it was a long, long evening.
Three hours and two minutes to be exact.
Here's a few wild stats to put things in perspective:
Yarmouth's previous record for points in a game came in a 70-26 victory at Waterville last Oct. 18.
The Clippers' previous highest combined score was 104 which came Oct. 15, 2021, a 58-46 loss at Dirigo.
Cape Elizabeth had never surrendered more than 64 points in a game, which came last year in a 64-38 loss at Yarmouth.
Last winter, Yarmouth's boys' basketball team made a surprise run to the Class B state final. In their 22 games, the Clippers never eclipsed 77 points (and they needed overtime in a regional semifinal round victory over York to do so).
Additionally, Yarmouth and its opponent matched or exceeded the aforementioned football games' 122 combined points on just six occasions.
The football Clippers' high-flying ways are far from finish. Ellsworth comes to town Friday and as we already know, when it comes to points, the sky's the limit.
Game stories
Links to game stories you might have missed since last week:
Portland boys score goals in win at Cheverus
Portland football dominates Windham in statement victory
Deering boys edge Scarborough to stay perfect
Kennebunk beats Cheverus on late TD pass
Yarmouth outscores Cape in wild eight-man football contest
Cape field hockey continues surge with win over York
Gorham volleyball suffers first loss of season, to York
TA boys stay unbeaten with win at Cheverus
Greely girls get much-needed victory over York
New Portland Football Hall of Fame Class named
Portland High's Football Hall of Fame has a new class of illustrious members. The list includes:
John Lappin, Class of 1916
Lappin holds the Bulldogs record for career field goals with 16 and he holds the single season record for field goals with 10 in 1915. Lappin scored 121 points in his career.
Bob O’Connell, Class of 1977
O’Connell was an All-State player in 1974 as a sophomore. O’Connell was a hard-hitting linebacker and guard.
Mike Porter, Class of 1984
Porter was an offensive and defensive All-State player in 1983 as a lineman. He was a key two-way contributor on the 1982 Class A state championship team. Porter went on to play football at the Air Force Academy and University of New Hampshire.
Issiah Bachelder, Class of 2017
Bachelder quarterbacked the Bulldogs to appearances in the 2015 and 2016 Class A state championship games. Bachelder holds the Bulldogs career passing percentage record (54 percent). He passed for 2,008 yards and had 30 touchdown passes in his career. Bachelder played professionally in Hungary and is now the varsity coach at Cape Elizabeth.
Koa Farnsworth, Class of 2019
Farnsworth was an All-State player in 2018 and was the 2018 Class A North Lineman of the year. A four-year starter on the line for the Bulldogs. Farnsworth finished his career with 160 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Farnsworth played college football at Maine Maritime Academy.
The induction ceremony for the 2026 PHS Football Hall of Fame Class is Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Hail to the Spring Players of the Year
Our final Spring Player of the Year, Cheverus softball standout Addison DeRoche, recently got her T-shirt.
Milestones
There have been a couple of fall sports milestones in recent days.
Yarmouth junior field hockey star Maya Nasveschuk reached the 100-career point plateau Tuesday in a victory over Gray-New Gloucester/North Yarmouth Academy.
Greely senior volleyball standout Annabelle Talley produced her 500th career kill in Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Wells.
Features
Every Monday, HHSS, in conjunction with partner cPort Credit Union, will name a "Player of the Week." This week's selection is Yarmouth football standout Stephen Connolly, who attends North Yarmouth Academy and plays football for the Clippers.
Michael Hoffer
Each Tuesday, HHSS releases Super-Six polls for football, field hockey, boys' soccer, girls' soccer and volleyball. Here's this week's rankings:
Michael Hoffer
Media
Last Friday's spot on Middays with Mannix and Mannix:
https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MMM-9-18-26-Michael-Hoffer.mp3
Tuesday's WGAN spot:
https://wgan.com/morning-news/hoffers-high-school-sports-34/
Predictions
This week's popular, prescient Patriots pick (2-0 to date):
Jaguars 21 Patriots 17
Until the Patriots prove proficient on offense, it's hard to take them in a tough road spot like this. There were some positive steps last week, but the Steelers aren't very good. The injuries are a problem and Drake Maye is becoming a concern. Hopefully he'll have a solid performance and we'll get a much-needed victory with a trip to Buffalo looming.
Closer to home, here are my picks for this week's high school football games (8-2 last week, 25-8 to date):
Cape Elizabeth over Telstar
Deering over Lewiston
Falmouth over Biddeford
Greely over Nokomis
Portland over Edward Little
Bonny Eagle over Scarborough
South Portland over Cheverus
Thornton Academy over Westbrook
Bangor over Windham
Yarmouth over Ellsworth
Kennebunk over Gorham (Saturday)
Freeport over Winslow (Saturday)
Upcoming
Looking ahead, the next week features an abundance of compelling games.
Friday afternoon brings the latest installment of the Cheverus-Biddeford field hockey rivalry, as the teams square off in Portland at 4:30. The Tigers have come oh-so-close to beating the Stags in recent seasons, but have yet to get over the hump. They feel that their time is now, but Cheverus takes an 81-game regular season unbeaten streak into the contest. There's a few football games to keep an eye on as well, as Thornton Academy goes to Westbrook in a battle of reigning champions, Falmouth hosts this year's surprise team, undefeated Biddeford, and Cheverus visits South Portland in a pivotal inter-class battle.
Saturday, weather permitting, Gorham goes to Falmouth for a boys' soccer test and a couple of surprise girls' teams in the early going square off, as Deering travels to South Portland. Even if it rains cats and dogs, rest assured that Yarmouth's volleyball team will host defending Class B champion Washington Academy.
Monday sees Falmouth playing at Thornton Academy in boys' soccer and Cheverus hosting South Portland.
Tuesday, can't-miss contests include Cheverus at Gorham volleyball, Thornton Academy at Cheverus field hockey and Scarborough at Gorham and Windham at Falmouth girls' soccer.
Wednesday is highlighted by South Portland at Falmouth boys' soccer.
Thursday, which is somehow the first day of October, Greely's boys' soccer team hosts Edward Little in an inter-class showdown. Greely at Cape Elizabeth is a compelling Class B volleyball match.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone. See you right back here, next Friday.
Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com
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