Winslow football rolls past Freeport to continue dominant start

Winslow’s Hassan Hobbi, eludes Freeport defender Sam Willard during the Black Raiders’ 47-7 win on Saturday in Winslow. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

WINSLOW — After breezing to lopsided wins in its first two games, the Winslow football team was geared up for a bigger test when Freeport came to town.

Consider that test passed.

Winslow rolled to a 47-7 victory over Freeport in a battle of Class D hopefuls Saturday at Poulin Field. The Black Raiders racked up 349 yards on 37 carries and scored on every possession until their last as time ran out on their junior varsity unit.

“This is a big statement,” said Winslow senior lineman Nick McCann. “We’re so much better than people think. This team came in here thinking they could put the hammer down on us, but when they got here, I mean, look at the score; they couldn’t do anything.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Winslow ran at will. After rushing for 904 yards in their first two games, the Black Raiders (3-0), who passed just twice Saturday, were unstoppable again as the offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and the running backs burst through the holes.

• Winslow’s defense made plays, too. The Black Raiders were prepared for Freeport’s Andrew Thomas to throw and held him to 4 of 14 passing for 56 yards, one touchdown and an interception that Broddik Bimpson returned for a score. The Falcons (2-1) rushed for just 90 yards.

“After giving up 22 points to Belfast last week, our emphasis all week long was defense,” Winslow coach Wes Littlefield said. “We really were stifling up front, and in our pass (defense), I thought our guys really stepped up. We knew they were going to come out and throw the football, so it was a good showing.”

WHAT IT MEANS

• Winslow has outscored opponents 164-29. After blowout wins over Class D North foes Marancook (54-0) and Belfast (63-22), this win against a Freeport team that had beaten Mountain Valley and Medomak Valley showed the Black Raiders could also dominate against the South.

• The Black Raiders got a Homecoming performance they’ve been craving. After losing 35-3 to Foxcroft Academy on Homecoming last year, dropping a 41-35 contest to Belfast in 2023, and needing overtime to beat Belfast in 2022, this kind of showing in one of the biggest games annually was overdue.

“(The atmosphere today) was actually surprising,” Winslow senior Hassan Hobbi said. “I didn’t expect that many people to show it up, but it was our Homecoming game — we haven’t won one in (a few) years — and we all had this feeling that we were going to win.”

• Winslow held a moment of silence for Wally LaFountain, who passed away recently, ahead of the game. LaFountain was the head coach at Winslow from 1958-68 and led the Black Raiders to Class B state titles in 1958 and 1960.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“It’s a big football town. Everybody loves football — it’s football all the way — so it was really important to us to see that the stands were packed. It really impacted us in how we played. We love our team and our families, and we love to see that people love to come watch us play.” — Winslow’s Nick McCann

“It was all our linemen. … It’s amazing (to run behind this offensive line) because they’re all going down, and they just keep blocking. You just keep finding these holes, and it’s awesome.” — Winslow’s Hassan Hobbi

STAT LEADERS

• Freeport: Andrew Thomas (4 of 14 passing, 56 yards, touchdown, interception; 11 rushes, 34 yards), Bryson Jack (four carries, 33 yards; two receptions, 10 yards)

• Winslow: Hassan Hobbi (11 carries, 163 yards, three touchdowns), Michael Loubier (10 carries, 84 yards), Broddik Bimpson (five carries, 38 yards, touchdown; interception return for touchdown)