SACO — Greg Ruff broke a 7-7 tie with a 68-yard run early in the second half, then added a 63-yard run late in the game as top-ranked Thornton Academy held off No. 3 Bonny Eagle to capture the Class A South football championship with a 24-14 win on a cold and windy Saturday at Hill Stadium.
The defending state champions (9-1) advance to next Saturday’s state championship game at Fitzpatrick Stadium against Portland (10-0), the Class A North winner. It will be the Golden Trojans’ third title game appearance in the last four seasons.
The game time will be announced Monday.
“We’re excited to be back,” said Ruff, who finished with 276 yards on 27 carries.
Bonny Eagle (7-4) gave Thornton all it could handle. The game was in sharp contrast to their regular-season meeting on Oct. 24, in which Thornton jumped out to a 24-0 lead and won 45-21.
Bonny Eagle scored first this time, and it was tied 7-7 at halftime and 14-14 after three quarters.
This was the third straight year the teams have played for a regional title.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Thornton Coach Kevin Kezal. “Kevin Cooper had them ready to play. Bonny Eagle gave us a stout defense and made it tough.
“We played a great second half. It was a typical Thornton Academy-Bonny Eagle football game.”
Ruff said the coaches were calm at halftime.
“We wanted to pound the rock and get to the outside,” he said.
And that’s exactly what the Golden Trojans and Ruff did.
On the second play of the third quarter, Ruff broke off tackle and went 68 yards for a touchdown to give the Golden Trojans a 14-7 lead.
“We made one bad play on the Ruff run and that was the difference,” said Cooper.
“On his second long run, we were forced to take chances. I have to give credit to Thornton Academy. They made some plays in the second half and that’s why they are the defending champions.”
Cooper said the difference between the regular-season meeting and the rematch was “our guys were a little more determined.
“We weren’t happy with the way we played last time. We gave it our best shot and felt good at halftime.”
Even after Ruff’s long touchdown, Bonny Eagle fought back.
Late in the third quarter, Nick Thorne intercepted a pass by Thornton quarterback Austin McCrum. On the next play, Zack Brannon passed to Eben Cram for 44 yards to the Thornton 13. Brannon scored from the 10 on second down, and Christian Napolitano’s point after tied it at 14-14 with 1:45 left in the quarter.
The Golden Trojans had the wind at their backs in the fourth quarter, though, and drove down to the 21, setting up Cam Cadorette’s a 38-yard field goal that broke the tie.
Ruff soon followed with his second long run. He broke outside and went 63 yards before being hauled down at the 9. Owen Elliott ran eight yards on first down and scored on the next play.
“Greg has had a phenomenal senior season. We certainly relied on him today,” said Kezal.
The Scots took a 7-0 lead early in the game when Brannon went 77 yards after faking a handoff. Moments earlier, the Scots had stopped Thornton on fourth-and-1 from the 22.
“Sometimes, teams come out harder than you,” said Ruff. “You just have to adjust.”
The Golden Trojans tied the game four minutes later on a 21-yard run by McCrum, who broke several tackles on the way to the end zone.
Later in the first quarter, the Scots were moving the ball effectively on the ground but wasted an opportunity to regain the lead. On third down, Rome Pura of Thornton Academy stripped the ball from a Bonny Eagle carrier, and Thornton recovered at the 4.
“Pura made a great play,” said Cooper. “If we had scored at that point, things might have gone our way.”
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