BRUNSWICK, Maine — When Brewer knocked off previously unbeaten Brunswick in a Pine Tree Conference regular-season football game Oct. 9, the Witches won the line of scrimmage battle and quarterback Logan Rogerson had more than 300 yards of total offense.
Friday night’s rematch was the total opposite.
The Dragons exploded for 21 first-quarter points and knocked Rogerson out of the game late in the opening frame en route to a dominating 49-0 victory in the Class B North regional final.
The win sends top-seeded Brunswick (9-1) to next Saturday’s State Class B final for the second straight season, where the Dragons will meet Saturday’s Marshwood/Falmouth winner at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
Brewer, the No. 3 seed playing without two suspended starters, finished 9-2.
“These kids are very hard workers and getting back to state was their goal from Day One,” said Brunswick coach Dan Cooper. “They didn’t enjoy losing to Brewer up there and were excited for this rematch.”
For Brewer coach Nick Arthers, it was a tough way to end a superb season.
“I am so proud of my guys, the way that they responded after last year and being able to come out and have the preseason that we had, then to have the progression week to week was incredible,” said Arthers. “It is a tribute to the senior leadership on this team.
“Brunswick is a heck of a team, and it is always tough to come to Brunswick and play a game, especially in the playoffs. We are the new kids on the block. Once those first two touchdowns went in, we were playing on our heels.”
After the Brunswick defense forced a three-and-out by Brewer, it appeared the Witches were going to return the favor, as the Dragons faced a fourth-down-and-seven from the Brewer 40. But Jaznel Burns picked up 15 yards on a fake punt and Will Bessey staked the Dragons to a 7-0 lead four plays later on a 17-yard TD run.
A penalty forced the Witches to punt on their next drive and Brunswick punt returner Hunter Garrett picked up the ball and slashed his way for 43 yards to the Brewer 24. On the next play, quarterback Thomas Hanson threw to wide-open tight end Corban Teel, who turned the catch into a 24-yard touchdown, with Alex Larson’s point-after kick giving the Dragons a quick 14-0 lead.
Brewer moved the ball for the first time on its next drive, with Rogerson darting for seven yards and finding Ray Wood for a 26-yard pass and catch three plays later. Facing a fourth down on the Brunswick 40-yard line, Rogerson was chased down by Burns for a 14-yard loss. Rogerson stayed down with what Arthers described as a hip injury.
“We had just had a good play, and their defense stepped up after that,” said Arthers. “It was a tough loss so early in the game. Just a tough break.”
Brunswick quickly struck again, with Teel and Hanson hooking up for a 34-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 25 ticks left in the opening quarter.
“I have a lot of confidence in Thomas Hanson. He is very good back there and always seems to hit somebody in the hands,” said Cooper of his quarterback, who was 6-for-7 in the first half for 128 yards and four TDs, including a pair of touchdown tosses to Jackson Gordon in the second quarter as the Dragons put the game away by halftime, 42-0.
Jesse Devereaux opened the second quarter by going 83 yards for a score straight up the middle through the Brewer defense. At the 10-yard line, he shrugged off two Brewer defenders before finishing the run. Devereaux finished the contest with 180 yards rushing.
The only setback for Brunswick on the evening was the loss of Bessey, who went down with a lower body injury after picking up 47 yards on eight carries.
Brunswick outgained the Witches 362-34 in the first half.
“Our defense had been great for us all year, but Brunswick had a great gameplan and took advantage of the big plays,” said Arthers.
Ray Wood led the Brewer offense with 47 yards rushing, while Dylan Severance ran 13 times for 27 yards and paced the Witches’ defense with 13 tackles.