KENNEBUNK — Marshwood football coach Alex Rotsko told his team in the postgame huddle Saturday that he was a little discouraged after the first few games of the season because he didn’t see a lot of improvement, but things have changed in recent weeks.

He also told his players there’s still room to get better – a scary thought for others teams in Class B South in light of their 61-14 dismantling of previously unbeaten Kennebunk.

The Hawks (5-1) set a physical tone right from the start along with a rapid pace. Running back Zach Doyon and quarterback Cole McDaniel each scored three touchdowns, and Marshwood’s defense had four interceptions – two each by Kyle Glidden and Nick Tice.

Linebacker Zach Mitchell led the aggressive Hawks defense with numerous tackles.

“The first couple weeks, we weren’t improving like we wanted to, but in the last three weeks we’ve hit our stride,” said Doyon.

“Beating Leavitt the way we did two weeks ago was a huge confidence boost. If we want to be good and win another state title, we have to keep working.”

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Doyon scored all his touchdowns in the first half, when he gained 199 yards on 10 carries. He finished with 244 yards on 15 carries.

“Zach runs hard every week,” said Rotsko. “He has good speed. He’s a good-sized kid. When he gets in the open field he’s tough to tackle.”

Doyon started both ways last year, when the Hawks went unbeaten en route to the Class B state championship, playing in the backfield along with Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Brett Gerry.

“I learned a lot playing in that backfield,” he said.

The game was originally scheduled for Friday night but was postponed because of rain. Doyon said the extra day of practice helped the Hawks better prepare for Kennebunk’s option offense.

Marshwood scored on its first three possessions. Doyon went 52 yards to get Marshwood on the board, then scored again from the 14 moments later after Glidden’s first interception.

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It was 28-7 after the first quarter.

McDaniel’s first touchdown – an 18-yard run on fourth-and-4 – made it 20-0.

After Christian Putnam of Kennebunk recovered a fumble at the Marshwood 19, Justin Wiggins passed to Noah Hyde on first down in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

The Hawks answered quickly, though, with Doyon’s 74-yard touchdown run.

It was 35-14 at halftime, and then Marshwood scored on its first three possessions of the third quarter.

Kennebunk was overmatched from the get-go against the stronger and faster Hawks. The Rams are a young team whose schedule through the first half of the season was favorable.

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“It was a long day,” said Kennebunk Coach Joe Rafferty. “Marshwood punched us right in the mouth at the start and we didn’t respond. They put the throttle down and kept it down. They were faster and more physical.

“Marshwood is good. It was a huge game for them and they went out and got it. I kept looking for us to step up and we just didn’t.”

Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH


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