KENNEBUNK – Through two games, the Kennebunk High football team’s offense has fired on all cylinders.

No. 5 Kennebunk (2-0) has scored 118 points in wins over Cheverus and Westbrook/Waynflete. The Rams have made things look easy through two weeks, but a much more difficult task comes to town tonight in No. 2 Bonny Eagle (2-0).  

It’s a challenge Kennebunk has faith it can overcome. 

“We have a lot of trust in each other,” said senior quarterback Thomas Lazos said. “I have trust in what we’ve been doing all year, and I hope we can keep it going.”

Kennebunk graduated 17 seniors from last year’s team that went 10-1. The only game Kennebunk lost came against Marshwood in a 14-13 thriller in the Class B Regional Finals.  

Many of last season’s senior class were three-year varsity players – meaning younger guys such as Lazos and senior slotback Ryan Connors had to stay patient and wait for their opportunity to showcase their talents. 

But at Kennebunk you don’t mull around while you wait in the wings. You take advantage of the time on the bench and learn from the upperclassmen. 

Connors and Lazos both saw action last year. Connors served as the Rams’ field goal kicker, drilling a last-second field goal to beat Marshwood during the regular season. Lazos spent time as a free safety and cornerback while former Kennebunk quarterback Tripp Bush led the Rams offense. 

Now, in their senior season, the duo is putting those lessons to good use, and it’s been a seamless transition to the misfortune of their opponents. 

In the season opener, Lazos completed his first seven passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. That was just in the first half. In Week 2, the Rams rushed for more than 400 yards. Connors added an 89-yard touchdown run. 

Part of Kennebunk’s early-season success can be attributed to the connection the seniors in the backfield have built over the years. During the summer, Lazos and Connors tossed the football around with each other whenever they could. 

“We’re used to playing with each other,” Lazos said. “We’re very comfortable, and we’re good friends off the field which helps a lot.”

Sophomore running back David York, a key underclassman contributor on this year’s team, ran for four touchdowns and 229 yards. 

Kennebunk’s ability to find different players has allowed the Rams to rack up points. Their offensive line has done their part so far, as well, to make things easier for the rest of the offense. 

“It makes us very dangerous,” said Connors. “We’re getting a lot of play calls and it seems like our blocks are working and we’re just getting through holes.”

York also complimented the efforts of his blockers. 

“(The offensive line) made holes for me (last Friday),” York said.  “I want to thank the line because it was working for them as much as it was working for me.”

But, for all of the big plays and fireworks, Kennebunk head coach Joe Rafferty has put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball. 

“What disappointed me was giving up 30 points (to Westbrook/Waynflete),” Rafferty said. “We were down 8-0 about a minute in. They ran one play and scored on about an 80-yard touchdown … That drives me out of my mind.”

The defense will need to come together when the Rams play  Bonny Eagle tonight. But Rafferty should feel confident with his offense heading into the showdown with the mighty Scots. 

“This week, I’m saying ‘It feels like we’re playing the Patriots,’” Rafferty said. “(Bonny Eagle) is very, very good. They’re sound, they have a lot of athletes, they’re big, they’re physical. I’m looking forward to that. It’s like playing chess, and it’s a challenge, you try to be one or two moves ahead.”

Rafferty said while he likes the Rams’ ability to put up points in a hurry, there can be a downside to playing non-competitive games. Sometimes a team can lose their edge if they aren’t being challenged, and there’s also a balance of playing his star athletes in blowouts. He pointed to the fact that Connors only had three carries in Kennebunk’s win over Westbrook last week, and would’ve liked to use him more. That should change on Friday, though.

“Here’s the thing, you open up the paper Saturday morning and you see it’s 70-30,” Rafferty said. “You’re kind of blown away by the score. That’s a lot of points, and honestly I feel lousy after that game because I’d rather been in a three-point game, one-point game.”

Rafferty is expecting to welcome that opportunity Friday. Bonny Eagle enters confident after an 18-7 win over No. 4 Scarborough. The Scots defense has allowed 13 points total in two games.  

But with a deep rooted trust in the backfield, Connors is confident the Rams will be ready to roll.

“Coach is writing up a good gameplan,” Connors said. “It will be based off what we see, and if we execute, we think we can do really well.”

 

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