Two-time Class B regional champion Brunswick High has pummeled its first three opponents by an average of 41.7 points per game, including last week’s 58-14 win over Cony.

“My kids haven’t played more than a half yet this year, whether it was a scrimmage or an exhibition or these first three games,” said Brunswick Coach Dan Cooper.

Easy Street has ended for the Dragons. Starting with Friday’s game at Messalonskee, Brunswick plays three straight games against fellow Class B North teams that are currently 3-0. Skowhegan and Brewer are up next.

“I’m looking forward to find out if the kids are capable of getting better week to week and playing even harder against these better teams,” Cooper said.

Messalonskee is looking for similar answers.

“We haven’t had a real physical game yet,” said Eagles Coach Brad Bishop. “It’s just hard to tell how good we are.”

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Through the first three weeks, Brunswick has a 159-34 cumulative scoring edge. Messalonskee’s advantage is 140-42, Brewer’s is 109-22 and Skowhegan’s 108-44. Skowhegan is the only team among the four to be in a competitive game, edging Lawrence 33-32 in the season opener.

Cooper says going to Oakland to face Messalonskee will be a true test.

“They beat us two of the last three years (2013 in Oakland, 2014 in Brunswick) and both times we were undefeated,” Cooper said. “It’s their homecoming. Not many schools choose us to be their homecoming game. Their kids won’t fear us at all.”

Brunswick has gotten big plays in bunches from running backs Jesse Devereaux and Ben Palizay, 6-foot-5 tight end Corban Teel and 6-foot-3 wide receiver Jackson Gordon. Running the show is senior quarterback Christian Jensen.

“He’s really played much better than I ever thought possible,” Cooper said. “He’s running and throwing the ball as good as anyone in the state. He’s a wrestler, too, so he doesn’t mind contact. It’s like I have two fullbacks with him and Devereaux.”

CLASS B NORTH is not the only division with an obvious divide between the haves and have-nots. Last weekend, five of 36 games played statewide were decided by 8 points or less. Twenty-four games had victory margins greater than 17 points. Twelve were decided by at least 30 points. Bonny Eagle’s 70-7 defeat of Bangor topped the blowout scale.

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CHEVERUS SENIOR Jack Casale was prepared to earn the role of starting quarterback this fall. Perrin Conant, a junior, also wanted the spot.

“I knew (Coach Mike Vance) was going to give the other guy a shot but I felt like I knew the offense, I’ve been here, I’ve been doing this stuff, and just that I had the mental toughness and the skill to do it so I was ready,” said Casale, who backed up Isaac Dunn last season.

Casale’s plans were slowed when he was diagnosed with mononucleosis on Aug. 19. His spleen was not enlarged (a common and potentially dangerous side effect of mono) but he still missed two weeks of practice and did not play in the Stags’ first two games. Casale returned to action last Friday, throwing two touchdown passes to his younger brother, Dominic, in a 28-20 win at Lewiston.

“Just being back around them at practice was good and to get a big win in the first game back was obviously great,” Casale said.

Vance said Conant acquitted himself well, going 1-1 in his two games as the starter.

“If Jack Casale never came back we would have been in a great situation with Perrin Conant,” Vance said. “Really the difference between them is that year of experience. It’s hard to define but Jack has savvy. He has it in basketball, baseball and all the sports he plays. Not to mention that he has a very strong arm and an accurate arm.”

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Cheverus (2-1) plays Edward Little (2-1) in Auburn on Friday and will get junior fullback/safety Max Coffin back in the lineup for the first time. Coffin also had mono. It’s a key game for the Stags, who still have Portland, Scarborough and Windham on tap.

“If we go in with the mindset that we have to play tough, we can go up there and get the win,” Casale said.

PORTLAND COACH Jim Hartman said standout linebacker/running back Nick Archambault’s availability for Saturday’s home game against Oxford Hills/Buckfield was uncertain as of Thursday. Archambault left last Thursday’s 42-21 win at Windham late in the first quarter after hurting his left knee. Portland will have running back Jake Knop, also bothered by a knee injury, back for the game.

After Portland had a 19:06-to-4:54 edge in time of possession during the second half at Windham, Hartman called his offensive line (tackles Charlie Egeland and Nick Giaquinto, guards Benjamin Levine and Richard “Koa” Farnsworth, center Dylan Wike, and tight ends Ethan Hoyt and Nathan Kapongo) “the best I’ve coached here at Portland.”

Levine, a 150-pound sophomore, is noticeable for his lack of size and his ability to drive block.

“He’s committed. He’s always in the weight room. He’s very, very strong and he’s a wrestler. That really helps him. And he’s bright,” Hartman said.


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