BRUNSWICK

There was one important element not on the line in Friday night’s high school football game between Brunswick of the East and Kennebunk of the West.

No matter the outcome, both the Dragons and Rams knew they were going to be the top seed in their respective regional tournaments, with Kennebunk leading the West and Brunswick the kings of the East.

Don’t tell that to these two prideful teams, which battled tooth-and-nail in Kennebunk’s 21-6 victory on Brunswick’s “Senior Night.” And, if the seedings hold in the postseason, a rematch may come in Orono on Nov. 22 with the State Class B Gold Ball on the line.

The Dragons were done in by after-the-whistle personal foul calls, six in all, each either ending promising drives or allowing Kennebunk (8-0) to keep a drive alive. In all, Brunswick was flagged 10 times for 120 yards, while the Rams were whistled for seven infractions for 45 yards, but only one of the 15- yard variety that plagued the Dragons all night.

“It was a competitive game and we just didn’t keep our composure,” said Brunswick (6-2) linebacker Jacob Duffy, who led the Dragons with eight tackles. “We played good defense and have a lot of confidence. We made some big plays out there, and we feel pretty good about our defense. We are a solid team, but just need to do a better job keeping our heads.”

“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked, and they made it challenging for us,” said Brunswick coach Dan Cooper, who will have two weeks to prepare his team for an Eastern B semifinal home game against the winner of the fourth-seeded Mt. Blue/fifth-seeded Hampden Academy contest this upcoming Friday. “My hat’s off to them. They played competitive and tough. The credit is all on them, and obviously they got our kids off track a little bit and we lost our composure.”

“Our one goal coming out was to go 8-0, and we were pumped,” said Kennebunk wide receiver/defensive back Austin Sandler, who caught two passes for 37 yards and picked off a Brady Larson pass, one of two interceptions by the Rams defense in the fourth quarter while protecting a 14-6 lead. “We know Brunswick is good, one of the best in the East, and we didn’t think this was going to be an easy game. It was a dogfight, and I respect them a lot. I will be looking for them in four weeks in Orono.”

Good start

Things began well for Brunswick. The Dragons elected to begin on defense, and on the second play from scrimmage, Logan Tupper pounced on a Kennebunk fumble, setting Brunswick up at the K-32.

Lucas McCue busted off a 10-yard run for a first down, and Ryan Maciejewski’s 7- yard scamper gave Brunswick a first-and-goal at the K-5. Two plays later, McCue dove just inside the pylon for an 8-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead.

After each team punted once, the Rams put together a drive to tie the game. The key play of Kennebunk’s 70- yard drive was a 33-yard Nick Emmons to Nicco DeLorenzo pass. DeLorenzo eventually scored on an 8- yard run, breaking two tackles along the way to the endzone for a 6-6 deadlock after a quarter.

Kennebunk’s next drive gave the Rams the lead for good. Emmons hooked up with Sandler for a 32-yard pass play, with Emmons later scoring on a 4-yard run with 11:23 remaining in the first half. Emmons ran in the 2-point conversion for a 14-6 lead.

Brunswick put together two solid drives in the second quarter. However, a personal foul ended the first, and two penalties on one play — a block in the back and a late hit — pushed the Dragons back as the Rams went to the half with a 14-6 lead.

In a fast-moving third quarter, neither team found the endzone. With Kennebunk needing one yard, Duffy made two big stops of Emmons to give the Dragons the ball on downs at the B-25.

Brunswick put together a 13-play, 6:24 drive that extended into the fourth quarter. Advancing to the K- 12, a personal foul pushed the Dragons back, and long second down play resulted in an interception by Chris Broadhead to end the march.

The Brunswick defense held and forced a punt. This time Sandler picked off a Larson pass with 5:13 remaining.

Kennebunk put the game away as DeLorenzo took an option pitch from Emmons, broke a tackle and rumbled 51 yards to paydirt for a 21-6 lead with 3:20 remaining.

“We are proud that we had a chance, an opportunity to drive and tie the game in the fourth quarter,” said Cooper. “We will learn from this and come back strong in two weeks.”

“It was two great teams going at it, and it just came down to who was the tougher team tonight,” said Sandler.

McCue paced Brunswick with 113 yards on 22 carries, with Maciejewski adding 77 yards on 15 lugs. Defensively, Cody Buchheit had a sack, while Larson, McCue and Alex Bandouveres each picked up five tackles.

DeLorenzo led the Rams with 92 rushing yards and 55 receiving for 147 all-purpose yards, with Emmons chipping in 73 yards rushing and 116 yards passing (7-of-18). Ben Bath had a game-high 12 tackles, with Liam Studley and DeLorenzo making seven stops.

Brunswick controlled time of possession, holding a 29:26-18:34 edge. The Dragons picked up 272 yards of total offense compared to Kennebunk’s 260.

Kennebunk 21,
Brunswick 6

At Brunswick High School
Kennebunk—6807—21
Brunswick— 6000—6
First quarter
B — Lucas McCue 8 run (kick
failed), 8:36.
K — Nicco DeLorenzo 8 run (kick
blocked), 3:22.
Second quarter
K — Nick Emmons 4 run (Nick
Emmons run), 11:26.
Fourth quarter
K — Nicco DeLorenzo 51 run (Jake
Lary kick), 3:20.
Records — Kennebunk 8-0,
Brunswick 6-2.
Up next for Brunswick — The topseeded Dragons will host the winner of the No. 4 Mt. Blue/No. 5
Hampden Academy quarterfinal
game on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.