SACO — A year ago, Cheverus was responsible for the only blemish on Thornton Academy’s schedule – a 48-41 loss in double overtime during the regular season.

The Golden Trojans rebounded from that defeat an went on to capture their second Class A state championship in three years. They’re widely considered the favorites again this season, and they showed why Saturday, rolling to a 57-0 win over Cheverus.

Thornton unleashed a powerful running game featuring Greg Ruff and Michael Laverriere and a defense that allowed only two first downs in the first half.

“We had lost to them the last two years,” said Ruff. “We didn’t want to lose to them again.”

For the Trojans (2-0), it was a little payback from two years ago, when Cheverus (1-1) won 56-7 on its home field.

Last year’s matchup was one of the best games in recent seasons, but the rematch was no contest.

Thornton has yet to be scored upon in two games.

“They are a much better team than we are,” said Cheverus Coach John Wolfgram. “But it’s one game.”

Thornton scored the first two times it had the ball and then again on its last two possessions of the first half to build up a 29-0 lead.

The Trojans handed the ball off to Laverriere early, and he responded with good yardage while dragging Cheverus tacklers with him. Then it was Ruff’s turn, and he proved just as effective, reflecting their dual importance.

Ruff, a senior, scored four touchdowns and gained 158 yards on 11 carries. A lot of his teammates had a hand in the scoring, and in different ways.

Laverriere scored one touchdown and rushed for 84 yards on eight carries.

Wide receiver Ben Lambert had a touchdown catch and a rushing TD. Cam Cadorette, a defensive back/place-kicker, scored on a 45-yard interception return and accounted for all the extra points, seven via kick and the other on a 2-point conversion pass from Austin McCrum.

McCrum did all his passing in the first half, going 8 of 15 for 148 yards. Late in the first quarter, he passed along the sidelines to Lambert, who juked a defensive back and scored on a 30-yard play.

McCrum also was effective running the ball, averaging five yards a carry.

About the only thing Coach Kevin Kezal could find fault with were three holding penalties and a blocking-from-behind penalty, all in the first half.

There was no letup in the second half. The Trojans received the kickoff and scored in four plays. Laverriere broke several tackles on a 38-yard run to the 17. Ruff went to the 4 on the next play and scored a play later.

“It was really a complete effort by our team,” said Kezal. “It was an impressive performance.”

Ruff scored on a 3-yard run to give Thornton a 7-0 lead. McCrum’s TD pass to Lambert made it 14-0.

The Trojans stalled slightly in the second quarter with penalties and McCrum overthrows, but they soon got back in gear. Ruff scored on another 3-yard run, and Laverriere capped Thornton’s big first half with a 6-yard TD run, set up by Ruff’s 38-yard run.

Cheverus’ deepest penetration was to the Thornton 39 late in the game when the reserves were in. The Stags were called for offensive pass interference on the next play.

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