KENNEBUNK — The Class B champions are going back to defend their crown.

Kennebunk High weathered a strong first-half effort by Deering and then rolled in the second half, winning another Class B South title with a 35-14 victory Friday night.

Kennebunk (10-0), the No. 1 seed, will play North champion Falmouth for the state championship at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Falmouth (10-0) defeated Lawrence, 35-7, in the North final.

“We’re going to go to states, go to Fitzy and hopefully bang that out,” said Ethan Burr, one of four Kennebunk running backs to score a touchdown.

Moose Keys opened the second half with a 67-yard run to the Deering 3, and Brady Stone scored from the 1 two plays later to break a 14-14 tie. With the third of Max Andrews’ five extra-points, Kennebunk led 21-14.

“We locked in at halftime and we talked about it and we changed our mentality,” Keys said. “Before, we were playing their game, and we had to play our game. The difference is, honestly, it’s just the mentality of who wants it more.”

Before the third quarter was over, Keys and Austin West scored on similar counter plays, from 36 and 21 yards.

Kennebunk was playing in its sixth regional final in 11 seasons.

Deering (8-2), the No. 2 seed, had not played in a regional final since losing to Cheverus in the 2010 Western Class A final. Deering’s last state title was in 2003.

In the first half, which ended tied, 14-14, Deering responded to both Kennebunk touchdowns with a score of its own.

It looked like the visitors were primed to do it again after Stone’s touchdown. Deering recovered an attempted onside kick, then a 15-yard run by Zeke Dewever with a 15-yard late-hit penalty moved the ball to the Kennebunk 23. A holding penalty wiped out another good run by Dewever, though, and after a sack and a pass in the end zone that wasn’t caught, the drive ended with a missed 36-yard field goal by Deering quarterback Tavian Lauture (3 of 9 passing for 34 yards, 36 rushing yards).

“Kennebunk’s a team you can’t make mistakes against, and we had a key holding call when we were driving down the field trying to tie it up again,” said Deering Coach Brendan Scully. “We had a couple of passes dropped that were right on guys’ hands, one of them in the end zone. A couple of untimely penalties, and they’re very good, so you just can’t do that.”

For the third time in the game, Kennebunk went on an 80-yard march for a touchdown. Senior quarterback Sam Haley (7 of 8, 81 yards) completed passes to Jaiden Homa, Keys and Andrews (four receptions, 38 yards) before Keys found a seam and scooted virtually untouched for his touchdown.

Kennebunk forced a turnover on downs on Deering’s next possession, and West finished the ensuing drive with his TD run.

In total, Kennebunk ran for 218 yards on 27 carries. Deering’s interior defense, led by tackles Christian Kanana, Deshawn Lamour and Garnet Bululu, with good linebacker support from Joey Foley, was able to hold Kennebunk’s fullback, Stone, to 38 yards on 15 carries. But Burr (six carries, 58 yards), West (seven carries, 89 yards) and Keys (eight carries, 138 yards) were able to get big chunks to the outside.

“The offensive line is a big part of that,” Burr said. “They give us all our blocks and make the runs happen.”

In the first half, Kennebunk scored first after a Deering three-and-out, capping an 80-yard drive with a 5-yard run by Keys.

Deering responded with its own 80-yard scoring march. Foley, who gained 104 of his 115 rushing yards in the first half, did the lion’s share of the work, and Dewever finished with a 3-yard run.

Kennebunk came right back with another 80-yard drive. Burr scored on a 26-yard burst off tackle after three Haley completions gained 24 yards.

Deering again responded on the ensuing possession, tying the game 2:50 before halftime on Dewever’s 4-yard run. Foley’s 44-yard run on a third-and-4 set up Deering inside the 10.

At halftime, the total yards were nearly even. Deering had 156 yards, all on the ground, while Kennebunk had 154. Kennebunk finished with 299 yards while holding Deering to 227 – just 71 in the second half.

“It came down just to execution,” said Kennebunk Coach Keith Noel. “We talked through a few things (at halftime) and they knew it. Defensively and even offensively, there were a couple of things where, ‘Hey, if you stay on this a little longer, you’re going to make a play.’ Credit to the kids. They did what we asked them to do and they made some plays.”