As a junior, Brunswick High School running back Will Bessey was a key component in the Dragons’ march to the State Class B title game, rushing for over 1,600 yards.
In Friday’s Class B North opener against Hampden Academy, the senior touched the ball exactly zero times on Brunswick’s opening drive.
No worries Dragon fans, as Brunswick showed that it has several other weapons in rolling to a 54-0 victory over Hampden Academy.
Bessey did get his touches, racking up a game-high 112 yards on eight carries, and added for good measure a 47-yard catch and run to spark a 35-point second quarter.
“I have plenty of talent at all of our positions, at wingback, fullback, tailback, tight end, wide receiver and quarterback,” said Brunswick (1-0) coach Dan Cooper. “I feel like I am the luckiest guy in the league. I can call any play that I want, and I have guys who can knock it out of the park.”
Great opener
On that opening drive, Jesse Devereaux ran for eight yards, Hunter Garrett busted off a 29- yard gain, and quarterback Thomas Hanson found Alan Molnar for a 33-yard strike in the left corner of the end zone. The 70- yard, three-play drive was capped off by a point-after kick by Alex Larson (6-for-6 in the game) for a 7- 0 lead.
“The first drive was important, mostly because we wanted to make a statement that we are the team to beat,” said Garrett, who complimented Bessey with 92 yards on five carries and a score. “You have to give a lot of respect to our line, who made the blocks that allowed us to get to the holes.”
“If Will isn’t a 1,600-yard rusher, I am not able to get behind the safety, who pulled toward the line to stop him,” said Molnar of his first varsity touchdown reception. “Will makes everything a lot easier for us. “Our passing game keeps the defense on its toes a lot.”
Hampden (0-1) pushed back. After a 45-yard kick-off return by Dylan Frost set the Broncos up at the Brun-41, the Broncos picked up a pair of first downs behind the running of Billy Campbell and Jake Black. But, the Dragon defense stiffened, with Brunswick lineman Jaznel Burns pressuring Hampden quarterback Tommy Farrar (3-for-10, 58 yards) into an incomplete pass on fourth down.
Brunswick lost a fumble on its next drive and led just 7-0 after a quarter.
Enter Bessey, who opened the frame with a 35-yard scamper. Two players later, the senior darted into the end zone from 19-yards out for a 14-0 lead.
After a Hampden punt, Bessey, Devereaux and Garrett combined for 37 yards on the ground before Hanson rolled left and tossed a short pass to Bessey, who turned a short gain into a 47-yard TD and a 21-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Brunswick’s Christian Jensen recovered a loose ball to set the Dragons up at the H-37. This time Garrett made the Broncos pay, sprinting 42 yards to paydirt for a 28-0 lead.
Hampden’s next offensive possession went nowhere. The snap to the Broncos’ punter sailed high, and after running the ball down, had his desperation punt blocked by Burns. On the next play from the H-8, Bessey coasted into the end zone.
“The backfield this year, we have a triple threat, with me, Jesse and Bessey, and we have to be able to share the load and spread the love with the ball,” said Garrett.
Just before halftime, Brunswick running back Ben Palizay capped off the big second quarter with a 12- yard TD run for a 42-0 halftime lead.
With the Maine Principals’ Association’s new rule to have a running clock in the second half when there is a 35-point or more point spread, the second half breezed by, with the Dragons adding TD runs by Nelson Gay and Seth White to complete the 54-0 win.
Brunswick’s defense held Hampden to just 147 total yards from scrimmage, including 79 yards on 32 rushes.
“Our defense traditionally starts slow, but I knew they would knuckle down today after we were able to get some stops,” said Cooper.
Brunswick looks to have its hands full over the two weeks, with back-to-back road tilts at Lawrence (this upcoming Friday, 7 p.m.) and Cony (Sept. 18, 7 p.m.). Cooper feels his team is up for the challenge.
“They know what they need to do, keep working hard, stay the course and get better every day,” said Cooper.
Hanson was 3-for-5 in the air for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Carlton ran for 75 yards in the second half for Brunswick, while White added 40. Gabe Palizay and Jackson Gordon each had four tackles in the win, with Sullivan Boyd and Josh Goddard adding three stops each.
Conary Moore led Hampden with nine tackles.
Brunswick 54,
Hampden Academy 0
Friday night at Brunswick
Hampden– 0000–0
Brunswick – 7 35 0 12 – 54
First quarter
B — Alan Molnar 33 pass from Thomas Hanson (Alex Larson kick), 10:50.
Second quarter
B — Will Bessey 19 run (Alex Larson kick),
10:41.
B — Will Bessey 47 pass from Thomas Hanson
(Alex Larson kick), 6:46.
B — Hunter Garrett 42 run (Alex Larson kick),
6:30.
B — Will Bessey 8 run (Alex Larson kick), 4:35.
B — Ben Palizay 12 run (Alex Larson kick), :43.
Fourth quarter
B — Nelson Gay 6 run (run failed), 10:29.
B — Seth White 9 run (run failed), 4:13.
Records — Brunswick 1-0, Hampden Academy
0-1.
Up next for the Dragons — This upcoming Friday at Lawrence, 7 p.m.
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