FALMOUTH — Messalonskee kept up with Falmouth’s high-powered offense in the first half Friday night, but the home team made some adjustments and eventually wore down the visitors.

The result was a convincing 42-14 victory for the Yachtsmen, who have won two straight against solid opponents since a loss to undefeated Kennebunk.

Falmouth (4-1), one of the top Class B South teams, led 21-14 at halftime against a Messalonskee team that scored 122 points in its previous two games while climbing to the top of the Class B North standings. The Eagles (3-2) generated 146 yards in the first half but were limited to less than 75 yards after intermission, and also committed a turnover.

“On the defensive side of the ball, we made some adjustments in the second half and it was a huge difference in the game,” Falmouth Coach John Fitzsimmons said. “I am proud of how well the defense played.”

Messalonskee scored on two of its first three drives, then managed only 88 yards the rest of the way.

Coleman Allen led the Falmouth defense with 10 tackles, followed by Noah Barney and Josh Allen with eight and seven. Shane Allen blocked field goal and Antonio Pardi recorded an interception.

“I was a little nervous at the beginning (because it was close), but we came back after the half and really shut them down,” said wide receiver Griffin Aube, who finished with seven catches for 59 yards. “They came in here and played well, but we were ready for them.”

Falmouth quarterback Jack Bryant passed for three touchdowns and ran for another. He finished 17 of 27 for 205 yards and added 81 yards on the ground.

“They’re a good team,” Messalonskee Coach Brad Bishop said. “They were good at what they had to do tonight.

“They really spread us out (in the passing game). We have young kids, and that was tough to defend.”

Messalonskee took the lead on its opening drive. On third-and-15, Deklan Thurston found Tyler Lewis for a 31-yard gain to the 7. Two plays later, Alden Balboni crashed in from the 6, and the Eagles had a 6-0 lead just 3:28 into the game.

It didn’t take long for Falmouth to answer – four plays to be exact – as Bryant hit Brady Douglas in stride down the left sideline for a 47-yard touchdown. The first of six John Walker PATs gave the Yachtsmen a 7-6 lead.

Falmouth made it 14-6 with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that carried into the second quarter. A perfect 8-yard fade pass to the back left corner of the end zone landed in Emilio Micucci’s arms.

The Eagles responded with a long drive of their own, going 61 yards in 12 plays. Lewis scored on a 4-yard sweep to the left, and a 2-point conversion tied the game.

The Yachtsmen quickly regained the lead, however. After Nick Ryer fielded a squib kick at the Falmouth 44, Bryant moved his team into red zone with a 23-yard pass to Aube, whose twin brother, Garret, eventually scored from the 1 to give Falmouth a 21-14 halftime lead.

A 4-yard keeper by Bryant and his second scoring pass to Micucci (17 yards) pushed the lead to 35-14 with 8:22 remaining.

Freshman Sam Kidder capped the scoring with a 29-yard run.

“Jack was really good with his passing tonight,” Griffin Aube said. “The last couple weeks he had been running a lot, so I don’t think (Messalonskee) knew what to do.”

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