BRUNSWICK

If one wants to put their finger on it, the run started all the way back in the 2013 high school football season.

For the first time ever, Brunswick was home for a regional final, hosting high-powered Cony on a crisp Friday night in front of a solid crowd, still unsure of what to think of the Dragons.

On that night, Dan Cooper’s squad fell to the Rams, 48-38, and watched as Cony went to Orono to win the State Class B title over Kennebunk, 30-23.

Fast forward three years. In all, Cooper watched as 21 seniors, players who parlayed their trade on the Brunswick freshman squad back in 2013, came full circle to capture the team’s first state title since 1963, 28-6 over Kennebunk on Friday night at Alfond Stadium at the University of Maine.

“This has been a three-year quest with a group that we knew was special,” said Cooper. “They busted their humps on varsity these past three years. That is a good Kennebunk football team over there, but our defense was so good tonight. This whole town, the community, the kids, the parents, we are so proud.”

Here is a group of young men that have been through the trials and tribulations during their football careers here in the Midcoast.

Figure, in 2014 the Dragons were able to get over that regional hump, advancing to the State Class B title game against an extremely strong Marshwood team. Brunswick was humbled that November Saturday night at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland, 44-18, by the purple-clad Hawks.

Then came the 2015 season, with a Dragons squad that was loaded from top to bottom — quarterback Thomas Hanson, running back Will Bessey, a defense that had shut out both Mt. Blue (40-0) and Brewer (49-0) on the way to a second straight title game in Portland.

But once again, Marshwood stood between Brunswick and the elusive “Gold Ball,” a championship the Dragons had not felt in 52 years. And once again, the Dragons had to watch a Hawks celebration in a 21-14 defeat for Brunswick. It was a game of two halves, with the Dragons owning the second half, but running out of time while trying to fix a 21- 0 deficit that came in a disastrous first half.

“We overachieved in 2014, and thought we had a good team last year,” said Brunswick senior lineman Sullivan Boyd. “Nothing beats this team this year. We knew that we had to stick to blocks and get the job done.”

Was the talk of those five-plus decades without a football title wearing the Dragons down? Was it a lot to put on the broad shoulders of these young Dragons and Coach Cooper?

Undefeated

Then came this year, the 2016 season. Gone was a solid group of seniors, including Hanson and Bessey, along with a good core of offensive and defensive lineman.

Quite frankly, some worried. Could the Dragons stop the run? Could the offensive line create holes? Was the backfield deep enough to replace Bessey, a young man who deservedly so was a finalist as the state’s top high school football player last year?

To answer. Yes! Yes! Yes! After an undefeated and mostly unchallenged regular season, Brunswick hit the playoffs running, rolling to a 44-7 victory over fifth-seeded Messalonskee.

Then came a rematch with No. 2 Brewer as the Dragons advanced to their fourth consecutive regional title game. During the regular season, Brunswick handled the Witches easily, 42-12. Go back a bit further, to the 2015 regional final when the Dragons whipped Brewer by that 49-0 count.

But this time around, Brewer stayed with the Dragons, pushing Brunswick throughout in the hopes of the upset. Instead, the Dragons prevailed, 14-12, giving those 21 seniors another chance at redemption.

This time around, there was no mistake, no bad half, no over-matched opponent. It was the time, the year when the Dragons gave their fans what they had hoped for — a State Class B title and that elusive “Gold Ball.”

“It means the world,” said Brunswick running back/ linebacker Jesse Devereaux, who to many is the very definition of what a Dragon is all about.

Over these past three years, Cooper changed Devereaux’s position three times. Devereaux never wavered, playing every down as if it were his last. That statement alone can be repeated about many of these 21 seniors on this year’s Dragons’ squad.

“We have been working all year and this was a goal from the start,” said Devereaux. “We had great depth this year. When you have 21 seniors, that is hard to stop. Playing football at Brunswick means the world to me. There is a family and brotherhood in football. To lose twice in the state final, and then to get back here and win it really says something about Coach Cooper and this coaching staff.”

Devereaux was also quick to point out that over the past three season, the Dragons were perfect at home, undefeated, unblemished and unstoppable.

“Someone like Jesse Devereaux, is not the only one who I can say great things about. We moved people around to be the best that we could be,” said Cooper.

Defensively, the Dragons hit on all cylinders all year, but especially on Friday night in Orono. A very good Kennebunk Rams offense, led by the likes of Tripp Bush, Patrick Saunders and Jake Littlefield, were ground down, worn out by a Dragon defense that refused to quit.

One of those players is Jaznel Burns. Here was a kid that was injured last season and forced to do the toughest thing any athlete has to do — watch his brothers from the sidelines during his senior year. Ask any high school athlete, they will say that is the worst thing to go through, helpless when the times get tough, other than to provide encouraging words.

On Friday, Burns was quite frankly a “B-E-A-S-T!” There is no other way to say it. Burns hit Bush so many times, that as Kennebunk coach Joe Rafferty said, “I think Tripp’s going to be sore for a little while.” Burns’ strip-sack of Bush and subsequent fumble recovery solidified Brunswick’s win.

“To play with my brothers and to win a state championship is all that I can ask for,” said Burns.

“When Jaznel came back, he showed what he is made of,” said Brunswick senior defensive end Jackson Gordon. “He chases people down and makes big plays, and he did that again tonight.

“It feels so good to do it in front of our friends and family. It was 1963 that this town celebrated a football championship. We are glad that we were able to bring it home.”

There were others on defense Friday night. Gordon swatting passes away, Christian Jensen keeping Kennebunk receivers frustrated, Sam Dorval getting his licks in on Ram runners, Devereaux around the ball on every single play … the list goes on and on.

Special teams were just that — special! Ben Palizay returned the opening kick of the contest 70 yards, leading to a quick 8-0 Brunswick lead.

“Us 21 seniors, it was great tonight. We wanted to win it here. Just a great feeling,” added Palizay.

Even when the offense struggled, turning the ball over three times in the third quarter — four times in all— the defense was there, putting up a force field that ran across the Brunswick 35- yard line, a place the Rams crossed exactly one time after a second-quarter fumble at the Brunswick 17-yard line led to the Rams’ only score.

“I am so happy for these kids,” said Cooper, with a smile on his race that will likely extend until next fall. “They have been so much fun to coach and have done everything that we have asked them.”

Dick Leavitt

Lastly, let’s not forget about former Brunswick football coach Dick Leavitt.

Here is a man that from 1995-2004, put his heart and soul into this Brunswick program.

It was during those years that Leavitt, who was fighting health problems, groomed a young Cooper for the head coaching role.

Leavitt stepped down after the 2004 season due to his health, one year after the Dragons had advanced to the 2003 State Class A title game, falling to Deering.

For a couple seasons, Leavitt worked with Bill County in Lewiston High School’s football program. Cooper went to Leavitt and asked him to return in whatever capacity that he could.

Most of the time, Leavitt is seen riding in a golf cart, with Brunswick players surrounding him, looking for his advice, guidance and decades of football wisdom.

On Friday, Leavitt was in the press box, high above the field at Alfond Stadium, giving suggestions to Cooper and his coaching staff. After the final horn, Leavitt was riding in his trusty golf cart, smile on face and hugs for every single Brunswick player.

“ He is a special man, loves Brunswick football and will do anything to help this program, and he has,” said Cooper.

“ Coop and I are so close,” said Leavitt. “ He was my right-hand man for eight years, and we developed a pretty intense friendship. From my health battles to losing my wife to cancer, Coop has been right there. He is a dear friend and supporter.

“At Lewiston, he kept saying ‘ come on back, come on back,’ so two of the years I came back for the playoffs and this year I was there from day one.

“I am speechless, to see the community and reflect on the hard work, from the Brunswick Youth Football program getting started to where this program is at right now at the varsity level. I think Dan is one of the top coaches in this state.”

Leavitt, the veteran of many close games, said watching the clock tick down to zero was a thrill for him along with the Brunswick community. And, being around the kids … “ They help keep me young,” Leavitt laughed as another Brunswick player zeroed in for a hug. “It was so nice to see that scoreboard clock tick down. It is as much a benefit for me to be here as it is for them.”

No matter how you slice it, the 2016 Brunswick High School football team will have a special place in all of our hearts.

GO DRAGONS!

BOB CONN is The Times Record sports editor. He can be reached at bconn@timesrecord.com.