BREWER, Maine — Every day, the members of the Brewer High School football team walk past the gold football from 2005 in the trophy case.
On Friday night, the Witches helped celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Brewer’s last football state championship.
Donning the same orange jerseys worn by their 2005 counterparts, coach Nick Arthers’ Witches unleashed a relentless rushing attack that overwhelmed Gardiner in a 47-8 Class B North victory at Doyle Field.
“They put together a complete game today,” Arthers said. “The defense stepped up when they needed to, our line finally is starting to click up front and our backs really ran the ball well tonight.”
Senior tailback Dylan Severance led the charge, carrying 12 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half.
“I was over on the sideline playing PAL football, not really paying attention, but I knew they won it,” Severance said of attending games in 2005.
“It’s nice to know that 10 years ago they won it and that gives us a lot of confidence,” he added.
The offensive line made up of Zach Caron, Jordan Wood, Alex Brooks, Austin Lufkin and Chris Crews punched big holes in the Gardiner defense as the Witches (3-0) cruised to a 34-0 halftime advantage.
“Our line was opening up great holes all night,” Severance said. “We know we can push them around and it gives us a lot of confidence to move the ball down the field and go score a touchdown.”
Other beneficiaries included powerhouse fullback Ray Wood (10 carries, 75 yards) and Garrett Ireland (10 carries, 82 yards). Quarterback Logan Rogerson (4 carries, 59 yards) broke a 47-yard touchdown run on the Witches’ first play of the second half.
Brewer amassed 320 rushing yards on 36 tries and spread the load among 10 different ballcarriers.
Wood said seeing the gold ball serves as motivation for this year’s team.
“It gives us an extra push, seeing it every day,” Wood said. “It makes us want it more and more, put 110 percent into practice. It pays off Friday night.”
Gardiner (0-3) had difficulty moving the ball, but did get on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter on Josh Farrin’s 31-yard burst. Farrin led the Tigers with 10 carries for 43 yards, while quarterback Eli Kropp completed 10 of 20 passes good for 78 yards.
The Witches dominated from the outset, scoring on five consecutive possessions. Severance raced 41 yards off right tackle and added the conversion rush to make it 8-0.
Brewer’s defense forced a three-and-out, setting up a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that Severance capped with a 4-yard run. Andrew Kiley’s PAT made it 15-0.
The Witches quickly got the ball back on a punt and scored in two plays as Severance peeled off jaunts of 20 and 30 yards to push the lead to 21-0. They scored again on their next try when Wood crashed into the end zone from five yards out.
Brewer added one more as the running of Wood and Ireland set up Rogerson’s 35-yard TD strike to Tyler Friel to make it 34-0 at intermission.