Back-To-Back State Titles For MCI Huskies

The Maine Central Institute Huskies won their second title in as many years by beating the Cape Elizabeth Capers in the Class C State Title game in Orono by a score of 30-13.

It was the first Class C championship that the Huskies have received in the program history, after the team bested Lisbon in Class D Title game a year ago to win that title.  The win becomes the fourth ever championship for MCI, with the other titles coming in 1973 and 1974.

Seniors Pedro Matos and Adam Bertrand combined for over 300 yards on the ground and three touchdowns on way to the win.  Bertrand scored the first two touchdowns for the Huskies on 52 and 1 yard runs in the first quarter of play.  Matos chipped in a 94 yard score in the third that would effectively put the game out of reach for the Capers.  With the win, MCI moves to 8-4 overall.

The Capers were led by running back Ryan Weare who had 82 yards on 22 carries and junior QB Andrew Hartel who threw for two scores in the game.

The Huskies opened up the scoring early on the contest with a 52-yard score by Bertrand, which was quickly answered back by Cape Elizabeth with a Hartel pass to Jacob Brydson from 15 yards out.  Bertrand would drive in on a a play a half of a yard outside of the goaline for his second score, putting MCI up 14-7.

The Capers would answer back in the second with a 10 yard pass by Hartel to tight end Matt Conley, but would miss the 2-point conversion on an incomplete pass.  The Huskies later would drive the ball down the field with under two minutes remaining in the half and capped the scoring drive with some trickery and a Ryan Friend TD pass to Andrew Whittaker.

Matos would extend the lead in the third quarter with a 94-yard TD to give MCI the 28-13 lead and then Hartel would be called for a safety after committing an intentional grounding call in his own end zone late in the contest.

The three remaining title games will be played in Portland on Saturday, starting with Class A in the morning session.

*Live coverage of the Class D Title game between Foxcroft Academy and Wells can be heard on The Ticket starting at 2:30 p.m.