FALMOUTH — There were a lot of impressive statistics put up Saturday in the Class B South championship game between Marshwood and Falmouth, but one really stood out: 5.
As in five turnovers.
Top-ranked Falmouth lost the ball five times on turnovers – two fumbles and three interceptions – and could never recover as third-seeded Marshwood overwhelmed the Yachtsmen 48-22 to win its second consecutive regional title.
The Hawks played relentless defense, harassing Falmouth sophomore quarterback Jack Bryant from the first series and never letting up.
Marshwood converted both fumbles and one of the interceptions into touchdowns. The Hawks also scored after a botched snap on a punt.
Zach Doyon scored on three short touchdown runs while rushing for 101 yards, quarterback Cole McDaniel scored two touchdowns and rushed for 93 yards, and Ryan O’Neil returned a punt 56 yards for another score.
“I thought the kids did a great job,” said Marshwood Coach Alex Rotsko. “I think Falmouth kind of shot themselves in the foot in the first half. I think we had a short field every time we had the ball.
“We made some good plays on defense in the pass game. Defensively I thought we played very well.”
The Hawks (9-2) will play Brunswick (9-1) for the Class B state championship next Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland – a rematch of last year’s game won by Marshwood, 44-18.
This will be Marshwood’s third appearance in the state championship game in the last four years.
“That’s amazing,” said Doyon. “I can’t even believe it.”
Marshwood’s playoff experience maybe have been a factor. This was Falmouth’s first appearance in the regional final.
The Yachtsmen (9-2) had beaten Marshwood 22-20 in the regular season.
Marshwood’s defense set the tone on the first series. With Falmouth facing a second-and-14 from its 38, Bryant was sacked from behind and fumbled, with Zach Mitchell of Marshwood recovering at the 40. That led to Doyon’s first touchdown, a 1-yard plunge, with 5:11 left in the first quarter. Jonathan Stacy passed to Austin Boyle for the conversion and it was 8-0.
Two plays later the Hawks had the ball again as Doyon intercepted Bryant – his first of two interceptions – and returned the ball to the Falmouth 4. It took two plays before McDaniel scored on a keeper to the left. Max Horton’s PAT kick made it 15-0 with 3:39 left in the first.
A botched snap on a Falmouth punt gave Marshwood the ball at the Falmouth 21 early in the second quarter. Six plays later, Doyon had his second 1-yard touchdown run and it was 22-0.
Five minutes later, O’Neil returned a punt 56 yards down the right sideline and the Hawks enjoyed a 28-0 lead.
“The turnovers with a terrific team put us in a hole big-time,” said Falmouth Coach John Fitzsimmons. “And we did it early in the game. And then we were going into the (22 mph) wind, which made it even more complicated to settle down. Then once we settled down we played OK for a while, then we’d commit another turnover.”
Falmouth rallied within 28-16 early in the third quarter when Connor Aube returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown and Bryant threw the conversion to George Gilbert.
“You could feel it, there was some nice energy, followed by a (defensive) stop … and then a fumble,” said Fitzsimmons.
The fumble, by Aube, gave Marshwood the ball at Falmouth’s 21. That led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Justin Stacy and Horton’s PAT that made it 35-16.
“I think we just knew we had to play our best today to beat this team because they’re good,” said Doyon. “We were just flying and getting to the ball. We were making plays.”
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