PORTLAND — Whether it was by design or by accident, one can hardly blame the Brunswick defense for focusing a lot of attention on Marshwood High School running back Brett Gerry.
The Hawks running back came into Saturday’s State Class B football championship at Fitzpatrick Stadium with over 2,000 yards this season, a big reason for Marshwood being undefeated and the Western B champions.
But, the Dragons found out why teams had trouble with the high-flying Hawks this year. Key on one, and the rest will hurt you.
The end result was a 44-18 Marshwood win, ending Brunswick’s successful campaign as Eastern B champs at 9-2. This was the Dragons first appearance in a state football championship since the Dick Leavitt-led squad fell to Deering back in 2003.
Though Gerry got his yards, rushing 19 times for 164 yards, he only broke off one long run — a 57-yarder in the fourth quarter. But, Hawks quarterback Luc Blanchette was a different story. He only carried the ball six times, but he picked up 208 yards. Along with the running of Zach Doyon (six carries, 64 yards) and Jackson Howarth (7-40), the Hawks rushed for 497 yards in the win.
“Their play action is so good, and you think one guy has it where another guy has it,” said Brunswick coach Dan Cooper. “We just didn’t have an answer. They are fast and physical. Their linemen are good and it is a tough offense to slow down. They deserve to be the champs.”
The senior Blanchett, who also threw for 38 yards (3-for-4, one interception), felt both teams respected each other in the fast-paced game.
“They are a great team. I love teams like that, just really nice guys. It is the best when you have mutual respect for each other. They are just like us, play 100 percent and they came out to play. We just emerged,” said the quarterback.
After both teams punted on their first possessions, Marshwood (12-0) found its offensive flow. The big play was Blanchette’s 52-yard run, with Gerry finishing off the quick drive with a 3-yard TD run. Blanchette threw to Doyon for the 2-point conversion and an 8-0 lead with 5:10 remaining in the opening quarter.
Brunswick had trouble getting its offense going. The Hawks outgained the Dragons, 127-15 in the first frame, and quickly went up 16-0 on a Doyon 10-yard run and a Blanchette to Holden Lebel 2-point hook-up.
Three straight incomplete passes ended Brunswick’s next drive at the M-35, and Blanchette made the Dragons pay on the next play, weaving along the Marshwood sideline on the way to the end zone. Gerry ran in the 2-pointer for a 24-0 halftime lead.
“We couldn’t make the plays that we needed to make, and we left some opportunities on the table,” said Cooper, whose team was outgained 308-107 in the first half. “We just couldn’t make that play or that block that we needed to.”
Brunswick came out determined to get back into the game, and the Dragons produced a solid 10-play, 59-yard drive with Will Bessey (19 carries, 96 yards, TD) scoring on a 6-yard run. The Dragons went for two, but a Tom Hanson pass fell incomplete as Brunswick drew to 24-6.
“We made some adjustments at halftime, and coach made some good calls,” said Brunswick wide receiver Ricky Klatt.
The Brunswick momentum continued as the game slipped into the fourth quarter, with Klatt hauling in an 11-yard TD pass from Hanson to make for a 24-12 contest.
“I thought if we could stack some plays on them that we could stay with them,” said Cooper.
But, Marshwood had other ideas. This time Gerry found a hole and rumbled 57 yards to the B-13. Blanchette showed his speed again, sweeping right and into the end zone for a 30-12 advantage.
“We do have a bunch of quick kids on this team, and once you get outside and get a taste of it, you want to keep doing it,” said the Marshwood quarterback.
Hunter Garrett gave the Brunswick faithful reason to believe on the ensuing kick-off, sprinting 55 yards to the M-20. Two plays later, Hanson, who was 6-for-11 in the air for 95 yards, threw to senior Cam Berry for a 15-yard score to close the Dragons to 30-18 with 6:31 remaining.
Again Marshwood had an answer, with Blanchette picking up 44 more yards to the B-9, with Howarth finishing off the quick drive for a 36-18 lead.
Blanchette forced a turnover on Brunswick’s next possession, and Howarth completed the scoring with a 10-yard run, with Doyon converting another 2-point conversion.
“It was a little too late,’ said Cooper of his team’s second-half rally. “The fourth quarter they hit a couple big plays and kind of wore us down. We couldn’t get that one score closer to put some pressure on them. But, we had to make some amazing plays just to move the chains.”
“If we would have played like that in the first half, it might have been different tonight,” said Klatt, who had three receptions for 50 yards. “They have so many players who are so good, and if you focus on one guy, the next guy will just beat you down the field. We knew that they had a lot of weapons. They are a great football team. But, just to make it here was a lot of fun, and we are better than the scoreboard shows.”
Senior running back Alex Bandouveres completed his Brunswick football career with 31 yards on 12 carries. Also playing their last Dragons football game were seniors Pearson Cost, Kyle Maillet, Klatt, Andrew Arnold, Andrew Settle, Berry, Kievone Washington, Josh Mays, Devin Hewson, Tristan Graves, Nick Osbourne and Evan Murray.
“These kids have done everything that I have asked them for 15 weeks,” said Cooper. “If you told them they could play these guys again tomorrow, they would no doubt dust themselves off and be back here tomorrow. They are great kids and we are going to walk out of here with our heads held high.”
Marshwood middle linebacker Zach Mitchell had a game-high 15 tackles, with Brian MacDonald and Howarth adding eight each. Jonathan Stacy added an interception, with Blanchette making six tackles.
For Brunswick, Logan Ouellette had six tackles, with Graves, Jaznel Burns, Goddard, Washington and Jesse Devereaux adding five stops apiece. Garrett picked off a Blanchette pass for Marshwood’s only turnover.
The Hawks outgained the Dragons, 535-269 and held a 16-11 first-down advantage.