Telstar is the team to beat as eight-man football season hits its midpoint. The Rebels defeated Boothbay, 30-18, Sept. 28, springing them to the top of the league standings with a 3-1 record. Boothbay had won its two previous games, including a strong performance last week versus Traip. But the Seahawks came into the game without some key defensive personnel. Defender Michael Cusumano was injured against Traip and Kaeden Davis didn’t play in the first half against Telstar. And midway in the first quarter, Nicholas Morley was lost for the season after breaking his ankle on a 43-yard pass play. 

The injured Seahawks struggled offensively as they only gained 201 total yards. Seventy-five of those came on their first scoring drive. On a gadget play, quarterback Hunter Crocker scored on a 75-yard pass from receiver Stephen Bennett to pull the Seahawks to within two points, 8-6. But two Rebel touchdowns in the second quarter built an insurmountable 22-6 lead.

Boothbay’s defense pulled the Seahawks within 10 points in the fourth quarter on Bennett’s 75-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, but Telstar responded with one of its own. A Telstar 10-yard touchdown run was capped off with a two-point conversion giving the Rebels a 30-12 lead. Boothbay scored a late touchdown on a 24-yard Crocker touchdown pass. 

Boothbay is 2-2. The Seahawks host Sacopee Valley (1-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 as their homecoming game. Sacopee Valley lost 42-0 to big conference foe Ellsworth/Sumner.