You have read 1 story of your 3 free stories per week.
We hope this complimentary time has helped you with information about COVID-19 and our community.
Please consider supporting our news staff with a subscription going forward so we can continue to bring you breaking news and sports, while keeping us solvent.
Please consider supporting our news staff with a subscription going forward so we can continue to bring you breaking news and sports, while keeping us solvent.
Smiles, laughter, passes, catches, TDs for Windjammers
Camden Hills student-athletes enjoy level of 'normalcy' in intrasquad game
By Ken Waltz | Oct 26, 2020
Photo by: Ken WaltzScene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport. Battling for the ball on a pass play are, from left, Windjammers Will Thorn, Enzo Russillo and Louis Mainella. Back left is Ethan Butler.
Rockport — It resembled an organized backyard pickup football game between friends, but, in this case, also schoolmates, classmates and teammates.
The student-athletes wore red or white numbered jerseys, shorts and a skinny black belt with red or yellow plastic strips, or flags, around their waist. And, of course, in this time of an unwavering, life-altering, global pandemic — face masks.
And the teenagers did their best to be, well, children, trying their best to have fun playing a game while they practiced social distancing and other necessary safety protocols.
Watch video and see more photos below.
While the Camden Hills football team has not participated in interscholastic play this fall due to COVID-19, the Windjammers have continued to hone their skills at practices and, on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Don Palmer Field, the program divided into players into two groups to play an intrasquad game.
There was plenty of fine play and athleticism displayed in the 6-on-6 game (normally games are 7-on-7), as players made strong, accurate throws, tough, contested catches and nifty runs through and away from defenders.
There was no tackling and blocking, and no pads or other protective gear needed, as would be for traditional football.
And no matter the outcome of an individual play, the smiles and laughter were abundant as the teammates simply enjoyed time on the field playing the game they love — and worked diligently to secure bragging rights and create lasting memories.
First-year Windjammer head coach Chris Christie said the game was less about the final score or which side won, but a chance for coaches to see the student-athletes in live head-to-head action after weeks of conditioning and skill work.
Christie said the coaches decided to play 6-on-6 instead of what has been more traditional 7-on-7 play around the state because Camden Hills was going to play in the regular eight-man division this fall if a season had been held and the 6-on-6 format seemed to fit better with the team's available roster.
"It really was a fun day," Christie said. "The athletes have done almost 10 weeks of conditioning ... they were pumped to be on the field playing the game they love. I have so much respect for the athletes and coaches. Even though we knew we were not going to have a season, they show up every day determined to make this program better. So good."
The team was to hold another intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m., but has been cancled. That event was to include a senior celebration. The Windjammer seniors are Dyllyn Anderson, Jordan Durkee, Landen Stearns, Will Thorn and Ethan Cleaveland.
Camden Hills football scrimmage
Camden Hills plays intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 24 in Rockport. (Video by: Ken)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
Scene from Camden Hills on Oct. 24 in high school football intrasquad scrimmage in Rockport.
(Photo by: Ken Waltz)
If you appreciated reading this news story and want to support local journalism, consider subscribing today. Call (207) 594-4401 or join online at knox.villagesoup.com/join. Donate directly to keeping quality journalism alive at knox.villagesoup.com/donate.
Comments (0)
If you wish to comment, please login.
Note: If you signed up using our new subscriber portal, your username is the email address you registered with and your password is in all caps
Staff Profile
Ken Waltz Sports Director 594-4407, extension 29 Email Me
Ken Waltz has been a media member 37 years and has received hundreds of press awards for writing, photography and page design. He lives in South Thomaston with his wife, Sarah. He has an adult son, Brandon, and granddaughter, Audrey. Ken loves to golf, ride his motorcycle, exercise and follow his beloved New England pro sports teams. He also has had a lifelong passion for the mysterious and all things paranormal/cryptozoological. On his career, he said: "It has been a privilege and honor to tell the stories of generations of athletes. Staying connected to the community is one of the most important aspects of my job. Thank you for your continued trust and cooperation."
