NOV. 21: Thornton Academy jumped ahead 14-0, gave up 14 points, then pulled away from Portland for the Class A football state championship on Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
NOV. 21: Coach Kevin Kezal and the Thornton Academy football players have that golden glow Saturday after winning the Class A championship for the third time in four seasons with a 24-14 victory against Portland at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
NOV. 21: Thornton Academy quarterback Austin McCrum has the football and the joy of his teammates after scoring the fourth-quarter touchdown that put the game away.
NOV. 21: Portland quarterback Issiah Bachelder is unable to avoid a Thornton Academy defensive surge that includes Evan Russell, top, and Owen Elliott.
NOV. 21: Michael Laverriere, left, and Ben Lambert of Thornton Academy combine to knock away a first-half pass intended for Dylan Bolduc of Portland. Thornton led 14-0 at halftime before Portland rallied to tie.
NOV. 21: It never gets old. It just never does. The Gold Ball is the ultimate prize and the Marshwood High football team earned it for the second straight year Saturday night by beating Brunswick.
NOV. 21: Zach Doyon, left, and Chris Sarzynski of Marshwood celebrate in the end zone after Doyon caught a touchdown pass during the 21-14 victory against Brunswick in the Class B state final at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
NOV. 21: Zach Doyon and Marshwood ran their way to a second straight Class B state title with a 21-14 win over Brunswick.
NOV. 21: Marshwood assistant coach Larry Kinch celebrates with the team after beating Brunswick in the state championship game again.
NOV. 21: Marshwood sophomore Matthew Goodwin takes down Brunswick junior Hunter Garrett during the Class B state final Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
NOV. 21: Marshwood quarterback Cole McDaniel looks for an opening during the fourth quarter against Brunswick.
NOV. 21: Nat Beckwith of Winslow takes his turn giving the Gold Ball a kiss after the Black Raiders beat Yarmouth, 24-10, for the Class C title.
NOV. 21: That’s two straight Class C football state championships for Trenton Bouchard and his Winslow teammates after their 24-10 victory against Yarmouth.
NOV. 21: Alex Clark, a four-year starter, hoists the Gold Ball as he and his Winslow teammates celebrate another Class C state championship.
NOV. 21: Remi LeBlanc, center, of Yarmouth celebrates with teammates after a 49-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was the only touchdown for Yarmouth, which had its bid for an undefeated season spoiled by Winslow.
NOV. 21: Jack Snyder of Yarmouth tries to avoid Dylan Hutchinson during the second half of Saturday’s Class C state championship game at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
JNOV. 21: acob Trask of Winslow intercepts a pass intended for Jack Snyder in the fourth quarter, helping the Black Raiders secure their victory.
NOV. 20: Just as they did the previous two years, Oak Hill players ended their football season with a championship celebration after a 34-21 win over Maine Central Institute in the Class D state final Friday night at the University of Maine.
Nov. 14: Marshwood Zach Doyon dives just shy of a touchdown at Falmouth High School in Falmouth, ME on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Whitney Hayward/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Marshwood players hold the Maine South Regional Final plaque after a win over Falmouth High School Saturday. Whitney Hayward/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Marshwood running back Joe Taran runs towards Falmouth's defensive line at Falmouth High School Saturday. Whitney Hayward/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Marshwood Zach Doyon (cq) scores a touchdown and runs through a pack of Falmouth defense at Falmouth High School in Falmouth Saturday. Whitney Hayward/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Falmouth running back Connor Aube is tackled by Marshwood defensive back Joe Taran at Falmouth High School in Falmouth on Saturday. Whitney Hayward/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: The Yarmouth clippers celebrate their Class C regional championship win against Wells. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Wells junior Jordan Cluff makes a diving catch Saturday while Yarmouth sophomore Henry Venden goes for the tackle during the 2015 Class C regional championship. The late-game catch energized Wells, but it wasn't enough. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Wells senior Jacob Lareau sacks Yarmouth quarterback John Thoma during the 2015 Class C regional championship. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Reece Hall (from left), Noah Eckersley-Ray and Devlin Kenny celebrate the Clippers' Class C regional championship win against Wells. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Wells junior Jordan Cluff makes a diving catch Saturday while Yarmouth sophomore Henry Venden takes him down during the 2015 Class C regional championship. The late-game catch energized Wells, but it wasn't enough. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Byron Bergeron (54) and Henry Venden (12) celebrate a win by the Yarmouth Clippers for the 2015 Class C regional championship against Wells. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Stacen Doucette, Oak Hill coach, talks to his players after the Raiders beat Lisbon in the Class C South championship.
Nov. 14: Yarmouth senior Jack Snyder runs the ball Saturday during the 2015 Class C regional championship against Wells. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Yarmouth senior Jack Snyder makes big gains Saturday during the 2015 Class C regional championship against Wells. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Wells junior Riley Dempsey takes down Yarmouth senior Jack Snyder during the 2015 Class C regional championship. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Wells junior Jordan Cluff makes an interception Saturday against Yarmouth freshman Noah Eckersley-Ray during the 2015 Class C regional championship. (Photo by Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer)
Nov. 14: Oak Hill quarterback Dalton Therrien celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Class D South final Saturday against Lisbon. Therrien rushed for 130 yards and three TDs in a 21-20 win.
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy players celebrate with fans after beating Bonny Eagle for the Class A South title Saturday in Saco. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy team members celebrate after beating Bonny Eagle for the Class A South regional championship on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy DB’s Michael Laverriere (16) and Cameron Cadorette team up to take down Bonny Eagle QB Zack Brannon during the Class A South regional championship on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy FB Owen Elliott (34) is embraced by teammates Austin McCrum (L) and Nick Bartholomew after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown to beat Bonny Eagle in Class A South regional championship on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy RB Greg Ruff rumbles for a 63 yard run, to set up touchdown, to beat Bonny Eagle in Class A South regional championship on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy LB Michael Laverriere tries to take down Bonny Eagle WR Eben Cram during the second half of the Class A South regional championship on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Bonny Eagle WR is taken down in the open field by Thornton Academy DB Cameron Cadorette during the second half of the Class A South regional championship in Saco on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Nov. 14: Thornton Academy team members hoist the Class A South regional championship trophy after beating Bonny Eagle on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
NOV. 13: Portland's Joe Esposito, center, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown on an 80-yard run in the first half of Portland's 24-7 win over Windham.
NOV. 13: Portland's Joe Esposito runs up the middle against Windham's defense in Friday night's Class A North championship game.
NOV. 13: Jesse Devereaux, right, and Hunter Garrett show off the championship plaque after Brunswick captured its second straight regional football title Friday night with a 49-0 victory over Brewer in the Class B North final.
NOV. 13: Brunswick's Jesse Devereaux looks back on his way to score a touchdown on an 84-yard run in the first half of the Dragons’ 49-0 win over Brewer in the Class B North final. Jill Brady/Staff Photographer
NOV. 6: Bonny Eagle receiver Cam Theberge hauls in a pass against Deering cornerback Sambath Sao late in the first half Friday night in a Class A South semifinal at Deering High. Bonny Eagle couldn’t score, but the Scots shut out Deering in the second half and rallied for a 20-19 win.
NOV. 6: Deering quarterback Max Chabot is sacked by Bonny Eagle linebacker Nick Thorne as Bonny Eagle defensive back Christian Napolitano follows.
NOV. 6: Bonny Eagle running back Nick Thorne breaks free for a 43-yard touchdown run in the first half. The Scots will play for the regional title next weekend.
NOV. 6: Connor Aube, who rushed for 137 yards on 14 carries, breaks away from Ytbarek Hailegiorgis of Westbrook to score a touchdown Friday night – part of the offense that propelled top-ranked Falmouth into the Class B South final with a 32-0 victory.
NOV. 6: Falmouth's Jack Bryant drives through a gap in Westbrook's defense in Friday night's playoff game. Falmouth advanced with a 32-0 win.
NOV. 6: Will Bessey, who gained 218 yards Friday night for Brunswick in a 40-0 victory, runs over Nate Pratt-Holt of Mt. Blue to score one of his four touchdowns. Brunswick will meet Brewer for the regional title next Friday night at home.
NOV. 6: Windham’s defense tackles Cheverus’ Justin Johnson during the Eagles’ 28-0 win in a Class A North semifinal on Friday in Windham.
NOV. 6: Windham's Tanner Bernier gets some running room on an end sweep in Windham's 28-0 win Friday night over Cheverus in the Class A South semifinal.
OCT. 30: Scarborough quarterback Jack Hughes, left, tries to avoid Haris Layn of Sanford during the Red Storm’s 28-0 win Friday in Scarborough. Hughes scored two touchdowns. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
OCT. 30: Frank Veino of Sanford looks for room to roam while being chased by Owen Garrard, 42, and Josh Reed of Scarborough during the secnd period of Scarborough’s 28-0 victory Friday night. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
OCT. 30: Westbrook's Bailey Sawyer tries to elude Biddeford defenders, from left, Nick Phillips and Cody Ramos on Friday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer
OCT. 30: Westbrook's Zack Hutchins tries to block a pass by Biddeford's Joey Curit.
OCT. 30: Cony’s Reid Shostak drags Mt. Blue defender Christian Whitney toward the end zone Friday night in a Class B North quarterfinal. Mt. Blue rallied late for a 35-34 victory.
Thornton Academy players Greg Ruff, left, Benjamin Lambert, 10, and Cameron Cadorette celebrate in the second quarter after Lambert intercepted a pass in Saturday’s Class A state football championship at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
The statistics are there – nearly 500 yards rushing in two playoff victories – but what has made Greg Ruff of Thornton Academy special is the way he adapted to offense this year, and to an injury to a fellow running back.
San Jose’s Patrick Marleau, back left, celebrates his goal with teammate Joe Thornton (19) in the second period.
Thornton Academy players and fans celebrate after beating Bonny Eagle in Class A South regional championship on Saturday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
There are no surprises when Bonny Eagle plays Thornton Academy. This will be their third straight meeting in a regional final and every yard is earned, as Michael Laverriere of Thornton discovered in their regular-season game. Jill Brady/Staff Photographer
Austin McCrum, Thornton Academy quarterback. The senior has 18 TD passes with 1,602 yards passing and another 227 yards rushing.
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