Brunswick has been knocking on the door of a state championship game in recent years, with three appearances in the regional finals in the last six years.

The Dragons finally smashed through a week ago with a dominating 48-19 win over Lawrence in the Eastern Class B final and now will finish their storybook season with a win over Marshwood in the Class B state final.

In 2003, I said it was time for Deering to finally win a state title after a 44-year wait. The Rams did. Their opponent in that Class A final was Brunswick.

Now I say it’s time for Brunswick to win a state title. The Dragons’ last championship was in 1963.

Brunswick and Marshwood are very similar. Both teams prefer to run the ball and play physical football.

In 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior fullback Alex Bandouveres (1,105 yards, 13 TDs) and junior halfback Will Bessey (1,476 yards, 15 TDs), the Dragons have a powerful running combination.

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With its line and the Killer Bs, Brunswick will be tough to stop. If Marshwood stacks the middle, quarterback Thomas Hanson (35 for 66, 657 yards, 11 TDs) will connect with his pair of 6-foot-4 targets, wide receiver Ricky Klatt (nine receptions, 211 yards, seven TDs) and tight end Corban Teel (five receptions, 105 yards, two TDs). Bandouveres and Bessey are also dangerous coming out of the backfield for passes.

The Dragons are averaging 37.1 points. As underdogs, there’s no pressure on Brunswick.

Marshwood’s one-point win over York in the Western Maine final opened a few eyes. While admitting they have a tough assignment, the Dragons are ready to pounce.

The final: Brunswick 20, Marshwood 19


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