RUMFORD – On the opening kickoff, Falmouth’s Aaron Rogers ran the ball back 26 yards. That was it for the Yachtsmen’s momentum.

Mountain Valley dominated Falmouth again, for a 43-6 victory Friday night in a Western Class B semifinal game.

Running back Taylor Bradley rushed 20 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass, and ran back a kickoff 80 yards for a score.

Top-seeded Mountain Valley (10-0) will play host to No. 2 Wells (9-1) next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. for the Western Class B title.

The Warriors advanced with a 47-7 win over No. 3 Cape Elizabeth.

Wells gave the Falcons their closest game this season, a 14-6 decision on Sept. 17 in Rumford.

No. 4 Falmouth (6-4) also played Mountain Valley in the regular season, losing 38-0 on Oct. 15. Unfortunately for the Yachtsmen, Friday’s outcome was not much different.

Before Falmouth could run its seventh play from scrimmage, the Falcons led 18-0.

“They come to play,” Falmouth Coach John Fitzsimmons said.

If Mountain Valley showed a weakness, it was conversions — making only 1 of 7 Friday night. You would think the Falcons would be better at it, given the practice they’ve had.

Mountain Valley ran 68 plays to Falmouth’s 29, outgaining the Yachtsmen 445 yards to 62. On the ground, the Falcons pounded away for 359 yards.

Quarterback Cam Kaubris attempted only six passes but completed three of them for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

But the story was Bradley, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior. He follows his blocks but also breaks tackles on nearly every run.

Falcons Coach Jim Aylward said, “Seniors tend to kick it in this time of year.”

Defensively and on special teams, the Falcons stymied Falmouth. The Yachtsmen lost two fumbles on kickoff returns.

Falmouth scored early in the second quarter on a 73-yard drive. Zach Alexander hit Ryan MacDonald for a 26-yard touchdown pass. It was only the fifth touchdown allowed by Mountain Valley this year. Alexander completed three passes for 43 yards.

Mountain Valley needed only four plays to drive 76 yards for its first score.

The Falcons recovered a squib kick that bounced off a Falmouth player on the front line, and then drove 46 yards for a score.

After Falmouth again went three plays and out, the Falcons drove 73 yards for an 18-0 lead.

After Falmouth got on the board on Alexander’s TD pass, Bradley broke two open-field tackles and returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and 24-6 lead.

The Yachtsmen fumbled the next kickoff, and the Falcons drove 49 yards for the touchdown, and a 30-6 advantage.

The Falcons score once more before halftime and once in the third quarter. They then drove to the Falmouth 20-yard line, before sending in the subs with 11:30 to go. Now Mountain Valley prepares for the Warriors.

“We stole one from Wells last time,” Aylward said. “They know it. We know it. We have to play better or they will beat us.”

As Aylward gathered his team to tell them this week’s practice schedule, Fitzsimmons huddled his players one last time.

“I’m proud of my boys. They played hard,” Fitzsimmons said.

 

Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or: kthomas@pressherald.com