Following a devastating 50-22 loss to Sacopee Valley on Oct. 6, Boothbay football coach Ed Crocker believed his team could still beat the Hawks despite such a lopsided score. The late season loss relegated Boothbay to a road playoff game Oct. 20 in Hiram to face Sacopee Valley for the second time in three weeks.

And the coach’s prediction almost proved true, as it took a fourth quarter Sacopee Valley touchdown to earn a come-from-behind playoff victory, 22-20, in 8-man Football Small Conference action. 

Boothbay led 20-16 in the fourth quarter before Sacopee Valley scored a touchdown with two minutes remaining, to defeat Boothbay. Seahawk running back Maddox Cusumano scored two touchdowns and Aidric Canada added another late in the third quarter, giving Boothbay a 20-14 lead. Sacopee trimmed the lead to 20-16 after their defense scored a safety. 

In the fourth quarter, Sacopee Valley extended a drive by hitting a 30-yard pass on third-and-long, and eventually scored the game-winning touchdown. “We played well,” Crocker said. “Our pass defense was very good, but a couple of mistakes really hurt us.”

Boothbay finished the season with a 3-5 record. No. 4 Sacopee Valley (5-3) advances to play undefeated Old Orchard Beach (8-0) in the semifinals next weekend.