BRUNSWICK — Jesse Devereaux’s resilience on the football field is nothing new to his father.
Dan Devereaux recalled a particularly foreshadowing incident from Jesse’s childhood. At age 3, the future Brunswick High linebacker was running around the living room when he fell and hit his head on the corner of a coffee table – leaving a sizable dent.
“He was stunned but he didn’t cry,” said Dan Devereaux, who is an assistant coach with Brunswick’s football team. “He just carried on with what he was doing, running around with a dent in his forehead.”
The Dragons have benefited from Jesse Devereaux’s energy and toughness this season. The 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior has played a critical role in helping them advance to the Class B state championship game for the third consecutive year. Brunswick (10-0) will play Kennebunk (11-0) on Friday night in Orono, with the Dragons seeking their first state title since 1963.
“I’ve always been small,” Devereaux said. “But, I don’t know, if you have heart, you can do anything.”
This season Devereaux has 72 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and 11 hits for losses.
Devereaux doesn’t view his size as a disadvantage. He’s quick and agile, and said he can hide behind defensive linemen out of the opposing blockers’ sight.
“If you just use your head, you can kind of outthink kids,” Devereaux said before pausing. “It’s definitely not an advantage to weigh 100 pounds less than the kids you’re getting blocked by, though. I try to stay away from the big guys.”
On offense, Devereaux’s speed is an asset at running back. He has rushed for 741 yards and 10 touchdowns, thrown for two touchdowns and has another 100 yards in receiving. In his three years on offense, he has 20 touchdowns and 1,882 total yards as a runner, passer and receiver.
“He’s one of those kids that can do everything,” said Coach Dan Cooper, adding Devereaux is one of the few players on his team who plays offense and defense.
“He may be the smallest guy on the field but he’s probably the toughest guy out there. He’s athletic, fast, smart – he’s a coach’s dream.”
As a coach, Dan Devereaux said Jesse’s “fearless mentality” and “reckless abandon” as a football player is good. But as a parent?
“It’s nerve-racking – he takes some pretty good hits,” Dan Devereaux said. “But he’s worked hard and taken his lumps.”
Jesse Devereaux recently injured his ankle, which Cooper said won’t keep him from playing Friday night. Aside from that, Devereaux said he’s been fortunate with injuries this year. Last season he suffered a torn quad muscle and a broken hand or – as he described – “nothing serious.” He didn’t miss a game and played in the 2015 playoffs with a cast.
His teammates said Devereaux isn’t much different off the field. When asked about Devereaux’s personality, Sam Dorval didn’t hesitate.
“Hardcore – go hard or go home,” said Dorval, a junior linebacker.
“Jesse is tremendous. He’s just a leader and makes everyone play the best they can. He always tries to rally everyone up. If someone makes a bad play, he encourages them.”
Or yells at them, as another teammate noted – whatever the situation needs. Devereaux said he’ll “be in your face trying to get you pumped up” or “trying to get the crowd going if given the opportunity,” though he’s rarely on the sideline.
“The defense is solid and Jesse is that spark,” Dan Devereaux said, “but he wouldn’t be anywhere without the linemen who block for him.”
Devereaux is quick to credit his teammates – particularly defensive tackles Sullivan Boyd, Garrett Compton and Bailey Pelletier – with making him “look a lot better.” Brunswick has held eight opponents to 15 points or fewer. But for a team best known for not punting in nine straight games and averaging 53 points in the regular season, its defense gets overlooked.
“It’s exciting to watch teams score, but we take a lot of pride in our defense,” Devereaux said. “If we can keep them out of the end zone, I know we can win.”
Big stops on 2-point conversions earned the Dragons their 14-12 victory over Brewer for the Northern Maine title as well as the opportunity to end their two-year state final losing streak. It was also Devereaux’s last home game – a “bittersweet” moment. In his three years on the team, the Dragons have never lost on that field.
“If we can win with 14 points, our defense is doing something right,” he said. “They say offense wins games and defense wins championships.”
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