READFIELD – It took a big pass play from Maranacook in the first half to loosen up Freeport’s defense and create a little running room for Luke Emery. A little running room is all Emery needs.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns to lead the third-seeded Black Bears to a 30-6 win over No. 6 Freeport in a Western Maine Class C Campbell Conference playoff game Friday.

Emery scored a touchdown in the first half, set up a second score by faking a punt and rushing 14 yards in the third quarter and broke the game open with a 56-yard scoring run in the fourth period.

“I’m wicked pumped to win a playoff game on our home field,” Emery said.

The Black Bears (8-1) face the winner of today’s game between No. 2 Traip Academy and No. 7 Dirigo next week on the field of the higher remaining seed. Freeport finishes at 5-4.

The Falcons played well in the first half by keeping the Bears defense off balance with a variety of quick-hitters and off-tackle plays. Dan Burke staked them to a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter with a 1-yard plunge that capped a 66-yard drive. The big play in the drove was a 38-yard pass play from James Purdy to senior end Chris Farley.

Maranacook responded with a two-play scoring drive late in the half, the big play a 72-yard pass from Caleb Castonguay to Andrew Lachance that carried to the Freeport 1.

“He was wide open, I hit him and he made some great moves,” Castonguay said.

Emery bulled over from the 1 and rushed the conversion to give the Black Bears the lead for good.

Maranacook’s defense, led by linebacker Ian Palmer, dominated the second half. Palmer was in on a dozen tackles as the Black Bears held the Falcons to 83 yards over the last two quarters.

“We made some adjustments at half with our tackles and we did some stunting with our ends and outside linebackers that luckily they never adjusted to,” Maranacook Coach Joe Emery said.

Luke Emery kept a 60-yard scoring drive alive in the third quarter when he faked a punt and ran for 14 yards on fourth down to the Freeport 25. Castonguay capped the drive with a 3-yard sneak.

Emery scored on Maranacook’s next possession when he broke off-tackle and cut back for a 56-yard score.

“The was just an adrenaline boost, really,” he said. “I just saw the hole, made a few cutbacks and just ran as hard as I could.”

Jesse Evans completed the Maranacook scoring with a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter and rushed the conversion.

Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Gary Hawkins can be contacted at 621-5638 or at:

ghawkins@centralmaine.com