SOUTH PORTLAND — To no one’s surprise, Bonny Eagle High features another contending football team.

The Scots bring back several skill players.

They also have a new guy, a junior named Alex Sprague, and he can accelerate.

Sprague scored five touchdowns, including three on kickoff returns, as Bonny Eagle romped past South Portland 60-20 Friday night at George E. Martin Memorial Field.

Sprague played on the junior varsity last year.

“He was close (to varsity), but we didn’t think he was quite ready,” Bonny Eagle Coach Kevin Cooper said. “But what Alex Sprague did tonight is no surprise to anyone wearing a green helmet.

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“People talk about (other veteran players) and for good reason, but I think Alex Sprague had a coming-out party tonight.”

Sprague’s kickoff returns were 78, 90 and 80 yards. He rushed only seven times, but for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

“Sprague is a crazy back, an animal,” said senior quarterback Cam Day.

Day rushed for a touchdown and threw for another. He finished with 46 yards rushing and 55 passing. Nick Thorne rushed five times for 35 yards and a touchdown.

How dominant were the Scots? Every possession by the first-team offense ended with a touchdown.

“Everything was just running smooth,” Day said. “We made some good reads. I had a lot of time to throw the ball. It feels good to come out and beat them.”

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Last year, South Portland upset the Scots in the season opener. This time, Bonny Eagle jumped to a 19-0 first-quarter lead and extended it to 26-0 in the second quarter on Day’s 20-yard pass to Cam Theberge.

Three of the first four South Portland series ended in turnovers – a fumble and interceptions by Kordell Menard and Theberge.

The Red Riots got on the board with a 67-yard drive, capped by Matt Crockett’s 6-yard slant pass to Zinn Zachman with 30 seconds left in the half. Crockett finished with 229 yards passing (18 of 26), with Zachman the primary target (12 catches, 158 yards).

But South Portland managed only three net rushing yards against Bonny Eagle’s starting defense. The interior line of Kirby Morrell, Zach Klein and Alex Smith, with support from linebackers Thorne, Parker Gammon and Aaron Hodgman, could not be moved.

“We poked and prodded in the middle, and I don’t know if we gained an inch,” South Portland Coach Steve Stinson said. “That’s why they’re one of the better teams.”

After the Red Riots’ first score, their momentum vanished quickly when Sprague returned the kickoff 78 yards for a 33-6 halftime lead.

Sprague kept the rout going, taking the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards for another touchdown.

When Sprague scored on a 15-yard run with 6:52 left in the third quarter, the Scots led 45-6 and the game went to a running clock.

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