SACO — If there’s one player who knows just how difficult it is to get to a Maine high school football state championship game, it’s Thornton Academy’s Jimmy Remmes.

A senior defensive end/linebacker, Remmes had three older brothers ”“ Michael, Peter and John ”“ who all played at Thornton this century. Despite some close calls, none of them ever played on a team that made it to a state championship game.

On Saturday, Jimmy will be taking the turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland for not his first, but second state championship game experience as Thornton shoots for its second state title in three years when it meets Windham.

The youngest of the Remmes boys knows just how lucky he is to have the experience.

“My brothers all played football and they all got so close but didn’t make it,” Remmes said. “Just the fact that I get to play in a second one is amazing.”

Kevin Kezal also knows to relish weeks like this in the lead-up to state championship game. Now in his 15th season as Thornton’s head coach, Kezal has had plenty of good teams and great players in the past, many of whom didn’t reach this point.

That, he said, should only sharpen the focus of this squad heading into Saturday.

“You’ve got to learn to really cherish it, because you never know what’s going to happen,” Kezal said. “We were fortunate enough (in 2012) to win one, and last season we thought we’d have a great chance, but five minutes into the season we lose the best player in the state for the season.

“Stuff happens like that. You’ve got to be good and you’ve got to be lucky, so when you do get the chance you want to make the most of it.”

Whether it’s Thornton or Windham ”“ both of which enter the game at 9-1 ”“ that will get its hands on the Gold Ball is largely a toss-up on paper, made even harder to prognosticate than usual as the teams have not played each other for two years and share only two common opponents this season.

All the same, here are some things to watch out for in different phases of the game in Saturday’s matchup, which kicks off at 11:06 a.m.:

When TA has the ball

Undeniably the most interesting chapter of the game on paper, and likely it will end up being the most important as the unstoppable force rams heads with the immovable object.

Thornton’s offense is one of the most complete and balanced in the state. The Trojans are averaging 47.4 points a game this season and have been held under 40 just once.

On the other side, Windham’s defense has been on of the stingiest in the state, allowing just 10.5 points a game ”“ including 21 total over 96 total minutes of regulation play against a Cheverus offense that cut through many other defenses like a hot knife through butter.

“It’s one of the best defenses we’ve played. They’re big, they’re athletic and they tackle very, very well,” Kezal said. “We’ve got to generate first downs. A lot of times in games like this your offense is your best defense and if you can play keep away and hog the ball, that’s a big key to success.”

Thornton has been able to get it done both through the air and on the ground, making them a tough team to game plan against. Five players have gained at least 200 yards rushing for Thornton, led by Demel Ruff’s 1,043 yards at 8.5 yards per carry.

Ruff started last week’s regional final against Bonny Eagle strong, gaining nearly 50 yards on the first two drives of the game, but ended with only 56 in all as Thornton’s ground game slowed as the game progressed.

“We definitely have to establish the run game early again against Windham,” Ruff said. “That will open up things later passing the game. It’s all about staying physical throughout the game so we can keep pounding the ball, because (Windham) stops the run game very well.”

Quarterback Austin McCrum has also been a threat running the ball, gaining 306 yards at 6.1 yards a pop. But McCrum’s greatest contribution has come through the air thanks to a strong and accurate arm; McCrum is 74 of 127 for 1,483 passing this season for a cool 20 yards per completion. His strengths as a passer were on full display last week against Bonny Eagle, when he was 13 of 17 for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Tight end Kevin Barrett caught both of those touchdowns but is just one of a trio of targets McCrum has relied on as Thornton has spread the completions around. Corey Hart has caught 23 passes for 638 yards and four scores, while Barrett also has 23 catches for 473 yards and seven touchdowns and Ben Lambert has caught 26 catches for 323 yards and three TDs.

It will be up to a Windham secondary that has played well all season, but hasn’t faced a passing attack quite like Thornton’s, to slow McCrum and his deep group of pass catchers down.

“The defensive backs, they’ve played well all year,” Windham coach Matt Perkins said. “As I told them, everybody talks about how good the pass is for TA, and no one gives any credit to our guys. We got a real good defense, and they play together as one, and they’re going to definitely have to on Saturday.”

Add in Thornton’s full house backfield set that features three running backs ”“ Greg Ruff, Owen Elliot and Michael Laverriere ”“ who are otherwise primarily defensive players, and it’s the kind of offensive depth that few teams in Maine possess. Whether or not Windham’s fantastic defense can slow the Trojans’ scoring machine should go a long way in deciding the game.

When Windham has the ball

Windham’s offense hasn’t been quite as explosive as Thornton’s, but it’s been plenty effective regardless. Like Thornton, Windham’s offense has been well balanced, as was on display in last Saturday’s 21-20 win over Cheverus in the Eastern A final.

The Eagles gained 221 yards of offense against the Stags, 80 of them on the ground thanks to 16 carries by junior running back Dylan Koza. Quarterback Desmond Leslie added 62 yards on 10 carries and was also 10 of 14 for 114 yards through the air, hitting five different receivers.

Koza has been Windham’s workhorse all season, gaining 876 yards in all this season, while Leslie, a sophomore who has made major strides this season, has thrown for 928 yards behind an offensive line that has been the Eagles’ offensive strong suit all year.

“They’re just a big, physical team,” Remmes said. “They have a simple game and they’re going to try to beat you by pounding the rock. We have to be aggressive and physical for all four quarters. If we can match that, we’re just as big as them so it should get the job done.”

Windham’s ground-and-pound style is a stark contrast to what Thornton has seen in the playoffs so far. Scarborough was a rare pass-first team whose quarterback Jack Hughes threw for 252 yards and three interceptions against the Trojans in the regional semifinals. Bonny Eagle was also a spread team, but one based on running the ball that is built on speed and misdirection at the point of attack.

“It’s a different animal trying to prepare for Windham,” Remmes said. “We have to be ready for everything.”

Getting off the field, something Thornton did a great job of on third downs against Bonny Eagle, will also be crucial for the Trojans’ defense on Saturday, Kezal said.

“We’ve got to win on first down,” said Kezal. “You can’t give (Windham) second and shorts, third and shorts and that’s all about winning first down. We’ve got to make them drive the field and earn everything.”

Special teams

Windham features one of the best kickers in the state in senior Josh Dugas, who is 9 of 9 on field goal attempts and 29 of 31 on extra points this season. If the game is close, or if any Windham drive stalls anywhere in close, Dugas’ left leg will play a key part.

Thornton’s sophomore kicker Cam Cadorette has had plenty of practice on extra points, attempting 65 of them and converting 53, but hadn’t kicked a field goal before last week, when he booted a clutch 33-yarder just before halftime to give Thornton a 17-6 lead.

Thornton also hasn’t had to punt very much this season but as done a reasonably good job when forced to do so; Rome Pura has averaged 34 yards on his 24 punt attempts, and is yet to have one blocked.

Coaching

Both Perkins, in his 13th year as Windham’s head coach, and Kezal have led teams to state championship glory in the past. Both also won against teams led by Maine coaching legends in last week’s regional finals, and Kezal said that due to their longevity in their positions, he doesn’t expect there to be too many surprises come Saturday.

“Both staffs have been there for a long time,” Kezal said. “We played them quite a bit a few years ago and we know them quite well. They know what we’re going to do, too. We can look back and get some ideas on what they might do.”

History

While it will all come down to approximately two and a half hours of what happens on the field Saturday, Thornton does have the past on its side.

The Trojans have topped the Eagles in all four previous matchups between the two schools, all of which came between 2008-2012.

Thornton won 35-28 in the Western Class A semifinals in 2008 in Saco, and in 2011 won a regular-season game in Saco 7-0. Later that season the Trojans beat the Eagles 21-9 in the quarterfinals in a game also played in Saco, and a year later pounded the Eagles 35-14 in a game at Windham.

Windham, whose football program only started at the varsity level in 1999, will be making its second-ever trip to the state championship Saturday. The first came in 2009, when the Eagles defeated Bangor 35-21.

Thornton has had a football program for more than 100 years longer than Windham and will be playing for its seventh state title since 1954. Thornton went 24 years between 1988 and 2012 without a state championship game appearance, and now has made two trips in the past three years.

TA’s 20 seniors who have been there for the entire ride know not to waste this chance so many others before them never had.

“It’s exciting, but at the same time all it really is another game,” Remmes said. “You’ve just got to go out there and do your job.”

— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or [email protected].