KENNEBUNK—Deering’s football team is off to its best start in 16 seasons, but the Rams came crashing back to earth Saturday afternoon at reigning Class B state champion Kennebunk in a battle of unbeatens.

The host Rams set the tone by driving 78 yards on 10 plays and going in front to stay on a 15-yard touchdown run from bruising senior captain Brady Stone.

After recovering a fumble, Kennebunk struck again, as junior Austin West scored on a 5-yard run, making it 14-0 after one quarter.

The York County Rams didn’t let up in the second period either, as Stone scored on a 3-yard run, then burst in from the 2, capping long drives in both cases, and Kennebunk was in command at halftime, up, 28-0.

Deering was never able to get much of anything going on offense and Kennebunk put it away, as senior Ethan Burr scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter, then senior quarterback Sam Haley scored from the 1 in the fourth to put the finishing touches on an emphatic 41-0 victory.

Kennebunk improved to 5-0, further secured its status as the team to beat in Class B South and in the process, dropped Deering to 4-1.

“We just didn’t show up,” lamented Deering coach Brendan Scully. “It’s pretty clear. We didn’t have anything in pregame. We didn’t have anything in the first couple series and they’re a very good football team and they pushed us around.”

Wakeup call

Deering’s best start since 2008 featured victories at Marshwood (35-6), at home over Biddeford (56-7) and reigning Class C champion Leavitt (35-6) and at Massabesic (21-14).

Kennebunk, meanwhile, has been tested in its title defense, but has come out on the right side of the scoreboard each down, beating Westbrook (33-7), Gorham (30-14), Marshwood in an overtime thriller (37-35) and Sanford (48-20).

A year ago, Kennebunk beat visiting Deering, 28-6.

Saturday at Memorial Field, on a gorgeous afternoon (70 degrees and sunny at kickoff), in front of a capacity crowd (Kennebunk athletic director Joe Schwartzman estimated it as over 1,000), the host Rams left no doubt that the road to the Class B pinnacle still goes through them.

Deering won the opening coin toss but deferred possession to the second half and by the time it saw the ball, it was already behind.

That’s because Kennebunk took over at its 22 and in a drive that chewed up 5 minutes, 8 seconds, it set the tone with a touchdown.

After Stone gained four yards on first down, breaking an initial tackle in the backfield and making something out of nothing, Haley threw incomplete, but on third-and-6, Stone pushed the pile for seven yards and a first down at the 33. West was held to two yards on his first carry, but Deering jumped offsides before Stone broke free for 14 yards and a first down at the other side of midfield, at the 46. West then moved the chains with a 13-yard scamper and after Stone was held to three, West bounced out left and gained 10 more for a first down at the 20. After Stone picked up five, he got the ball again and with 6:46 to go in the opening stanza, he broke one tackle and dragged another tackler into the end zone to complete the 15-yard scoring play. Senior Max Andrews added the extra point to make it 7-0.

“We challenged our kids to come out with a fire,” said Kennebunk coach Keith Noel. “Deering’s a very good opponent with some very good athletes. Testament to the kids for accepting the challenge right from the start.”

Deering hoped to answer when it began at its 29, but the visiting Rams went three-and-out, as senior quarterback Tavian Lauture gained six yards on first down, but after junior Joey Foley was held to no gain by senior Cooper Samson, junior Zeke Dewever picked up only two yards on third-and-4, necessitating a punt.

After Andrews returned the punt 36 yards to the Deering 34, Kennebunk found itself in business again, but this time, for the only time all afternoon, it would shoot itself in the foot.

Stone ran for one yard, then he caught a pass from Haley out of the backfield and picked up 17 more to the 16. Stone was held to no gain by Deering senior DeShawn Lamour and junior Corbin Burke, then Kennebunk tried some trickery, as West got the handoff and looked to throw, but he was intercepted by Lauture at the 3.

Deering couldn’t take advantage, as after Foley gained five yards, the got the ball again and coughed it up after a two-yard gain with Andrews pouncing on the loose pigskin and returning it for an apparent score, but the touchdown was wiped out due to a block in the back penalty.

Kennebunk kept possession regardless, starting at the 12 and in just two plays, it doubled its lead.

After Stone ran for seven yards, West did the rest, racing left and beating the pursuit to the end zone for a 5-yard TD with 43.2 seconds showing. Andrews again added the PAT for a 14-0 lead.

Deering’s second drive saw the Rams begin to move the ball as the first quarter gave way to the second.

Deering started at its 33 and Lauture twisted and spun for 11 yards. Foley then gained one on the final play of the opening stanza. On the first play of the second period, Lauture threw deep and while the pass fell incomplete, pass interference was called on Kennebunk and the Rams’ took over at the Kennebunk 40. Deering couldn’t finish, however, as after Foley ran for four yards, he was dropped for a one-yard loss by senior Maddox Ralls and after Lauture was held to no gain, he threw deep on fourth-and7, but it was just off the mark and the hosts took possession back.

Kennebunk started at its 37 with 9:34 left in the first half and in nine plays and 5:05, drove to expand its lead even further.

West ran for five yards on first down, then Haley hit Andrews for five more and a first down. After West gained four yards, Haley hit sliding senior Jon Hines for seven yards to the Deering 42. After Stone was held to no gain by sophomore Gdilson Lukoki, Noel dug into his bag of tricks again and this time, it worked like a charm.

Haley connected with junior Jaiden Homa a short pass to the right, but as a defender bore in, Homa pitched the ball back to West on the hook-and-lateral and West raced all the way to the 19 before being tackled. Stone then ran for 12 yards to set up first-and-goal and after West gained four yards to the 3, Stone did the rest bulling in over the right side with 4:29 to go before halftime. Andrews’ extra point made it 21-0.

After a touchback, Deering hoped to get back in the game, but instead, after Foley gained one yard, Lauture threw incomplete, then Lauture was dropped for a one-yard loss by junior Tim LaFlamme, forcing a punt.

That gave Kennebunk an opportunity to score one more time before halftime, as it started at its 44 with 2:50 on the clock and in seven plays and 1:53, the Rams moved easily down the field to paydirt.

After Stone ran for three yards, Haley hit Homa for 18 yards on a slant to Deering’s 35. Stone ran for 11 yards, then after Homa caught a pass for six yards, Stone picked up four more for a first down at the 14. Stone nearly broke it on the next play before being tackled at the 2, but on the next snap, Stone capped the drive by fighting his way into the end zone. Andrews’ PAT made it 28-0, a score that held after a sack by LaFlamme on the final play of the half.

In the first 24 minutes, Kennebunk had an overwhelming edge in yardage (227-47) and got 103 yards and two touchdowns rushing from Stone in 17 attempts.

Deering began a promising drive to start the second half, despite having to start at its 6 after a block in the back penalty on the kickoff. After Foley ran for three yards, he broke free for 20 more, his best of the day, for a first down at the 29. Lauture kept the ball for five yards, then threw incomplete and Foley was held to two yards on third-and-5, seemingly necessitating a punt, but out of punt formation, Lauture instead threw downfield on a fake to Burke for 29 yards and a first down at the Kennebunk 35. But one play later, Lauture overthrew his intended receiver and senior Owen Quitog caught the ball just inches off the turf and his interception set the home team up at its 7 with 8:20 left in the third quarter.

Kennebunk’s best drive then ensued, as it marched 93 yards in 11 plays and 6:45.

Stone only picked up one yard on first down but after Deering jumped offsides, Ralls gained nine for a first down at the 22. West ran for two, then Homa made a tremendous one-handed catch for nine more yards and a first down at the 33. After West gained three yards, Ralls spun and picked up 13 more to the 49. After West’s eight-yard run moved the ball into Deering territory, Haley found Andrews for 26 yards down the right sideline to the 17. Stone then ran for four yards before picking up 10 more to the 3 and Burr finished it off with a touchdown run to the right with 1:35 to play in the quarter. Andrews hoped to induce the 35-point, mercy rule running clock, but his extra point clanked off the right upright, keeping the score, 34-0.

Deering got the ball back at its 40 and after Dewever was dropped by Samson and Quitog for no gain, Foley picked up two yards on the final play of quarter number three. On the first play of the fourth period, Lauture threw incomplete and Deering had to punt.

With 11:47 remaining, Kennebunk took over at its 12 and managed to drive the field again, this time needing nine plays and 4:48.

Stone was held to no gain, but on the next snap, West got free for a 17-yard rush. After Haley hit senior Jack Mosser for eight yards, Foley dropped Burr for a one-yard loss, but on third-and-3, West ran for three yards. After a two-yard West pickup, Stone produced his final highlight, racing up the middle, bouncing left and running all the way to the Deering 6, a gain of 55. After Ralls ran to the 1, Haley kept the ball and scored on a sneak from the 1 with 6:59 to play. This time, Andrews converted the PAT for the game’s final point.

With 6:12 left, Deering got its final possession and the Rams moved the chains, as Foley ran for eight yards, then picked up four more. After Lauture and Foley each ran for one yard, Lauture threw incomplete, but on fourth-and-8, Lauture connected with Foley for 10 yards and when a facemask penalty was tacked on, Deering was at Kennebunk’s 27. Foley then ran for three yards, but with the clock running, when Lauture threw incomplete, it ticked down to zero, making Kennebunk’s 41-0 victory official.

“Deering’s a good team,” Stone said. “They have some big kids up front, but our line handled them well. We made some good plays in the backfield and on defense. We stopped them. It was a good team win. We played together. It was nice. We had the whole town out to support us.”

“The guys up front did a really good job and the backs ran hard and that’s all we can ask for,” said Noel. “They executed the game plan. I’m proud of their effort.”

Kennebunk finished with 408 yards of offense, only turned the ball over once and committed just two penalties for 30 yards.

Stone was given the Frederick Nedeau award, as the MVP of Kennebunk’s Homecoming Game, after rushing for 173 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns.

“The award is special, but I couldn’t do it without my guys up front, so praise to them,” said Stone.

West gained 91 yards and scored a touchdown on 12 attempts.

Burr had three carries for 8 yards and a TD and Ralls, in his return from injury, gained 27 yards on three attempts.

“We’re very fortunate to have a lot of guys who can touch the ball,’ said Noel. “We have Brady, we have Austin. Ethan Burr stepped up today and Maddox came back this week. They all run hard.”

Haley completed 9-of-10 passes for 119 yards.

Deering, meanwhile, mustered just 149 yards of offense, turned the ball over twice and was flagged three times for 31 yards.

Foley ran for 55 yards, but it took 15 attempts.

Lauture completed 2-of-9 passes for 39 yards with an interception.

“I’m not going to make any excuses,” Scully said. “It was Saturday for them too. They wanted it more and played hard and deserved it. We’re a young team in terms of the guys haven’t experienced a lot of success. When things start not going our way, we have to learn how to fight back. We’d been able to run the ball and chew the clock, but we had that done to us today. Pretty one-sidedly.”

Three weeks left

The regular season is more than halfway done for both teams and they each have some challenges upcoming.

Kennebunk stays home to take on 2-3 Cheverus Friday night. The teams didn’t play last year.

The Rams then close with games at Massabesic and Biddeford as they seek homefield advantage for the playoffs.

“We’re coming back for more, but we have a ways to go,” Stone said. “We have to keep playing how we’re playing and we can’t let up.”

“We’re just looking at next week,” said Noel. “We’ve got our focus on Cheverus next Friday night. They’re a team that’s up-and-coming. We’d love to keep playing here. We’ve had great community support. The students show up in droves. It’s outstanding. ”

Deering looks to bounce back at home against 0-5 Westbrook Friday night. The Rams lost twice to the Blue Blazes in 2023, 29-12 at home in the regular season finale and 30-22 at Westbrook in the Class B South quarterfinals.

Deering then hosts Gorham before closing at Cheverus.

“It’s just week five, we’re healthy and we’ll focus on next week,” Scully said.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.