BIDDEFORD — After losing its opening game, the Kennebunk High football team knew it needed a win this week. Perhaps more important, the Rams needed to find their identity.
Friday night, they did both.
Senior David York led a powerful running game with 291 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Kennebunk routed Biddeford 41-13 in a Class B South game at Waterhouse Field. Austin St. Jean also scored two rushing touchdowns for the Rams, who pulled away with 34 consecutive points after the Tigers had tied the game at 7-7 on the first play of the second quarter.
“I think we were trying to find our identity this week and we proved we can run the ball,” said Kennebunk senior quarterback Keegan Andrews, who rushed for one touchdown and threw for another. “We can throw the ball, we know that. David, the line made some great holes. We did what we needed to do.
“We had a rough week one (a 30-18 loss to Portland). But we’re not going away.”
Both teams are now 1-1. Biddeford was playing without starting quarterback Jacob Landry, who was out with an illness.
This was a close game for one quarter. Kennebunk led 7-0 after one but Biddeford answered – a 5-yard run by Ivan Ramos (who set it up with a 45-yard run on the previous play) – to tie the game at 7-7.
Kennebunk regained the momentum with a long kickoff return following that score, leading to a 12-yard touchdown run by St. Jean. The PAT kick was blocked by Ramos, and Kennebunk led 13-7.
“That was a very big momentum change for us,” said York. “I feel that’s a big key to this team – confidence and momentum. Once we get a head of steam and we keep the energy up, we can contend.”
The Rams got the ball back two plays later when Max Andrews intercepted a tipped ball (by St. Jean) at the Biddeford 43. Following a 5-yard illegal motion penalty, York ran for 44 yards to the 4. From there, St. Jean went in for his second score. Keegan Andrews threw the two-point conversion pass to Matthew Moore and it was suddenly 21-7 with 9:30 left in the second quarter.
“We didn’t overcome the two stomach punches,” said Biddeford Coach Steve Allosso. “And you have to do that. … But I think we learned our lessons. We have really good kids, we got a lot of heart in our team.”
Kennebunk would add a 6-yard touchdown pass from Keegan Andrews to Jacob Morris with 22 seconds left in the second quarter, then York put any suspense away in the third with two touchdowns, of 3 and 76 yards. York had runs of 59, 44, 76 and 44 yards during the game.
Kennebunk Coach Joe Rafferty said that was good to see.
“He’s got some good speed but he can also be physical,” said Rafferty, noting a play when he took on a tackler. “I saw that and said, ‘That’s David.’ You know, after being away from football for so long, it’s hard to understand the physicalness of the game.”
Friday night, the Rams rediscovered it.
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