SOUTH BERWICK — Zach Doyon and Cole McDaniel each rushed for two touchdowns and third-seeded Marshwood pulled away in the second half for a 34-12 over No. 7 Greely in a Class B South football semifinal Friday night.

Doyon carried 19 times for 129 yards as Marshwood (8-2), the defending state champion, advanced to the regional final against top-seeded Falmouth.

Greely (4-6) upset Falmouth in its final regular-season game to qualify for the playoffs, then stunned No. 2 seed Leavitt in the quarterfinals. But the Rangers fell short in their bid for a third straight upset.

“Greely played tough. Definitely one of the hardest teams we’ve played all year with how physical they were and how hard they attacked the line,” said Doyon.

Doyon’s first touchdown came with 4:32 left in the first half and gave the Hawks a 13-0 lead. His 25-yard run set up a 3-yard touchdown on the next play.

Doyon went up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown that made it 27-6 in the third quarter.

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The game was close at halftime, with Marshwood leading 13-6. Greely received the second-half kickoff but mishandled the snap on the first play. The ball was recovered by defensive lineman Loukas Coussoule at the 13.

“That was the biggest play of the game,” said Marshwood Coach Alex Rotsko.

After three runs by Doyon and a facemask penalty, quarterback Cole McDaniel went 5 yards on a bootleg for a touchdown that extended Marshwood’s advantage to 20-6.

“We knew we had to take advantage of that (turnover) and score, and just turn it on in the second half,” said Doyon.

“It’s always nice to get a turnover and a quick score. That was probably the difference (in the game),” said Rotsko.

McDaniel’s second touchdown was a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter.

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Greely showed good fight, especially in the first half. After falling behind 13-0, Greely went 79 yards, sparked by quarterback Nick Gauvin’s 59-yard pass to John Riolo down the left sideline. Two plays later, Gauvin found Joey Cassella for a 16-yard gain, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Sam Peck.

“The kids (worked hard). Marshwood is a good team. … Our kids really stepped up and improved from the beginning of the year,” said Greely Coach Dave Higgins.

“It’s a tribute to the kids, it really is.”

Gauvin was 12 of 19 for 180 yards and an interception. He added a 19-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the game.

“The kids played their hearts out and we just faced a better opponent today. Our glass slipper broke today,” said Higgins.

Marshwood will play at top-seeded Falmouth next week for the Class B South Final.

“We have to work hard,” said Doyon. “They’re a great team. The know what we have, we know what they have, and it’s just going to be who wants it more.”


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