OAKLAND — Brady Doucette and Giovanni Caccamo had no idea what it was like to win a game as a member of the varsity football team at Messalonskee High School.
Dating to 2017, the Eagles kept finishing on the losing end, game after game, for 22 straight contests.
But that all changed Friday night.
Doucette and Caccamo, both seniors, helped lead Messalonskee to a 34-8 victory over Edward Little in a Class B crossover game. Doucette, a quarterback, ran for 111 yards on 14 carries, scoring four touchdowns. Caccamo, a running back, rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown.
“It feels really good, especially as a senior,” Caccamo said. “We lost every single game (before Friday). This is my first ever win, so it’s really emotional for me. It’s huge for us. The culture was just lose, lose every single game. Now, we’re turning it around.”
“It feels super amazing, the guys worked so hard in practice this week,” Doucette added. “Last week, we took (an 18-12 loss to Noble last week) to heart and this week we came out and smacked some people around.”
Running a triple-option offense out of a pistol-spread formation, the Eagles (1-1) had success almost immediately out of the gate. After holding Edward Little (0-2) on its first drive, the Eagles managed to get good field position, needing only to drive 40 yards before Caccamo marched into the end zone on a 2-yard carry for Messalonskee’s first score. Doucette hit Zachary Wilson on a pass for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
“The (offensive) line was really on point tonight,” Caccamo said. “Big props to them, I’m really proud of them.”
Edward Little quarterback Jack Keefe gets sacked by Messalonskee’s Haven Birch during a football game Friday in Oakland. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Doucette scored the first of his four touchdowns on a 10-yard run midway through the second quarter to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive. The Eagles went into halftime with a 14-0 lead.
Doucette took over in the second half, rushing for 78 yards and three scores. He led the offense on back-to-back scoring drives to start the second half, each capped with a touchdown run of three yards on an option keeper.
It wasn’t just the offense that stood out for Messalonskee, as its defense stepped up throughout the contest as well. The Eagles’ pass rush put lots of pressure on Edward Little quarterback Jack Keefe, sacking him four times and forcing an interception to Doucette – playing at free safety – in the third quarter.
“I was excited,” said Caccamo, who had a sack. “Everybody just wanted to make a tackle, get their name heard up on the intercom. It was just awesome.”
The Red Eddies fought throughout and managed to score a touchdown in the third quarter when running back Drew Smith scored on a 5-yard run. Smith, a sophomore, led Edward Little with 56 yards on the ground on 10 carries.
Messalonskee players cheered and surrounded the coaching staff in the end zone after the game, elated to overcome its longstanding burden. The Eagles were ready for a new streak. A winning one.
“It’s a brand new year and momentum’s flipped,” Doucette said. “And we’re not done.”
Dave Dyer – 621-5640
ddyer@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @Dave_Dyer
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