SACO — Justin Boure and Demel Ruff chewed up yards on the ground and the Thornton Academy defense was air tight.

And despite an earlier than usual start, the Golden Trojans rolled to a 47-6 win over South Portland in a Western Class A game Saturday.

The game was played at 10 a.m. because of the threat of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

“We only play eight regular-season games, not 50,” said Thornton Academy Coach Kevin Kezal. “Everyone should be able to adjust.”

Boure scored two touchdowns and rushed for 115 yards on 11 carries. Ruff had one touchdown and 63 yards. Meanwhile, quarterback Austin McCrum showed his passing and running ability. McCrum, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior, completed 4 of 9 passes for 65 yards.

Thornton took the lead when McCrum threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Barrett (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) on the opening drive.
Sophomore Michael Laverriere also contributed some nice runs in the red zone. The Golden Trojans used Laverriere in the wildcat formation and Laverriere, another big back at 225 pounds, plowed over defenders.

The Golden Trojans showed their scoring depth with six players reaching the end zone.

“Teams really can’t concentrate on one or two of us on defense because of our depth,” said Boure.

Thornton Academy, one of the favorites in Western Class A, scored on four of its first five possessions and led 28-0 at the half. With the sun beating down, both teams and the officials made sure there were water breaks.

“It was tough playing in the heat, but that shouldn’t be an excuse. Austin McCrum of Thornton is a good quarterback,” South Portland wide receiver/defensive back Hayden Owen said.

Owen scored the Red Riots’ lone touchdown when he was inserted at quarterback for a series at the start of the second half. He found a hole and raced 97 yards for a touchdowns.

“I had open field and just had to run,” he said.

South Portland didn’t cross midfield until it put together two first downs late in the second quarter. To make matters worse, the Red Riots lost all-around player Matt Stearns, a running back/defensive back, to an injury just before halftime.

“We’re not ready for the upper level in this conference yet,” South Portland Coach Steve Stinson said “Bonny Eagle and Thornton Academy are the upper level. The rest of the teams fall in somewhere behind. We’ll use this game as a teaching moment and get better as the season goes along.”

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