Any chance of a Mt. Blue letdown after a thrilling win over Leavitt last week was laid to rest in the early moments of Saturday’s Class B football game with Morse on Saturday.

The “host” Shipbuilders, who had to move their original McMann Field game to Brunswick because of unplayable field conditions in Bath, were far too charitable from the get-go.

The Shipbuilders fumbled the ball four times in the first quarter — two on kickoffs — en route to a 28-0 deficit and the 7-0 Cougars rolled to a 42-13 win.

Mt. Blue, which had toppled Leavitt 20-12 last week in a battle of the unbeatens, was able to throw the ball seemingly at will as quarterback Jordan Whitney had all day to pass (linemen Drew Blanchard, Chris Wells, Travis Stuard, Connor Farrington, Tyler Sennick and others were the reason), completing nine of 15 passes for 156 yards and four TDs through three quarters.

When not shooting themselves in the foot, the Shipbuilders had a hard time moving the ball, chalking up just 74 rushing yards in 32 carries. Quarterback Kevin McKellar was 7-for-15 for 89 yards, a score and a pick.

In the first quarter alone, Bradley Jackson scored from 14 yards out with 10:47 left, Chad Luker hauled in a 13-yard strike six minutes later, Nate Backus scored on a 71-yard pass with 1:56 left and Kindle Bonsall’s 18-yard reception with 20.2 seconds remaining put the Cougars up 28-0.

Nick Hyde also caught a 23-yard TD midway through the second period for a 35-0 lead before McKellar scored on a 1-yard sneak with his PAT kick making it 35-7 at intermission.

Mt. Blue, stung a bit by penalties (seven for 50 yards), was able to chew up the clock in the second half, mainly staying on the ground and wound up with 147 yards on 30 carries. Calan Lucas had six carries for 33 yards.

“Truth be told, we have guys who are banged up,” said Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin. “It (Leavitt) was a very physical game … and it was cold this week. Our pregame practice Friday was awful. But, our guys have been focused all year. We’re getting one of our big tackles (Colin Richards) back and we’re looking to play our game next week with all of our players.”

Of the Morse miscues, Parlin said, “We were able to take advantage of one, but we didn’t on another. Even with that we were able to keep good field position. We did play a lot of kids because we have some good depth, some good kids who can rotate.

“And, our seniors have been great. At the halftime, it was hard to refocus. I think our kids thought they were going to go out and play maybe a series, but kudos to Morse because their kids came out in and played hard in the second half.”

The opening kickoff paved the way for Morse’s demise as the kick was fumbled out of bounds at the Mo-3 and on the very next play from scrimmage, McKellar fumbled after an 11-yard run and recovered by the Cougars at the Mo-14. Four plays later, Jackson ran it in from 14 yards out and Anthony Franchetti made the first of his six PATs.

Morse also fumbled on the next kickoff and Mt. Blue recovered at the Mo-16. However, an apparent Luker TD run was called back because of an illegal block.

Late in the first quarter, a 31- yard run by Luker set up a Whitney to-Luker pass of 13 yards and the Cougars were off and running.

Mt. Blue 42, Morse 13

Eastern Maine Class B football
First quarter
MB — Jackson 14 run (Franchetti kick), 10:47.
MB — Luker 13 pass from Whitney (Franchetti kick),
4:20.
MB — Backus 71 pass from Whitney (Franchetti kick),
1:56.
MB — Bonsall 18 pass from Whitney (Franchetti kick),
00:20.2.
Second quarter
MB — Hyde 23 pass from Whitney (Franchetti kick),
8:21.
Mo — McKellar 1 run (McKellar kick), 1:28.
MB — Jackson 6 run (Franchetti kick), 00:32.4.
Fourth quarter
Mo — Myers 16 pass from McKellar (kick blocked),
11:36.
Records — Mt. Blue 7-0, Morse 2-5.