BRUNSWICK — History has taught Brunswick that it should keep running the football when star running back Dylan Walton isn’t available to carry it, because backup halfback Jordan Rysdam can fill the void.
Lewiston’s defense did nothing to dissuade the Dragons during Friday night’s crucial Pine Tree Conference meeting between a pair of 1-1 teams.
Rysdam ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries as the Dragons scored on all five first half possessions in a 50-12 drubbing of the Blue Devils.
With four teams eligible for the PTC playoffs this year, Friday night’s game was seen as a turning point for both teams’ playoff hopes.
“We didn’t want to be the odd man out with two losses with the teams that we have left to play,” Brunswick coach Dan Cooper said. “This puts us one step closer to playoff contention.”
Brunswick (2-1) averaged 9.4 yards per carry while piling up 311 yards and 16 first downs rushing in the first half. Playing without four two-way starters for a mix of injury and disciplinary reasons, Lewiston (1-2) offered little resistance, playing back on its heels and missing gap assignments from the start.
With Walton on the sidelines nursing an ankle injury suffered last week, Rysdam, who replaced an injured Walton for much of last year, gashed the Devils for 98 yards in the first quarter.
“He did it all last year, too,” Cooper said. “He damn near got a thousand yards last year. We didn’t lose a whole lot there having him ready to go.”
Guards Justin Libby and Jesse Bennett, tackles Brett Lancaster and Robert Trimmer, center Colby Dwyer and tight end Sam Bessey mowed through Lewiston’s front line and Rysdam and fullback Keith Kitchens (10 carries, 130 yards, TD) were rarely touched at the line of scrimmage.
“You could drive a truck through those holes. That’s my favorite expression,” Rysdam said. “The line did a great job, picked up all their blocks, and that just led to our success on the first drive and drives to come.”
Brunswick’s first possession did indeed set the tone. Rysdam and Kitchens alternated carries on a four-play drive that chewed up 66 yards and ended with a 16-yard scoring run by Rysdam just 1:11 into the game.
The Dragons’ defense was stout, limiting Lewiston to four first downs in the first half because they contained tailback Jeff Turcotte (17 rushes, 76 yards).
The Devils’ first drive stalled at the Dragons’ 34. Brunswick promptly put together another 66-yard scoring drive, this time in eight plays, capped by Rysdam’s 3-yard TD run.
Lewiston had a chance to shift momentum when Brunswick bobbled a punt, but the Dragons recovered and went on a 12-play, 80-yard march to widen the lead. Jarod Jensen (nine carries, 54 yards, two TDs) got in on the act with four rushes, including a 15-yard scoring jaunt up the middle that made it 21-0 with 4:28 left in the first quarter.
“They were very good, and I’ve always thought they were very good,” Lewiston coach Bill County said. “I honestly believe their best runner didn’t play tonight. They had great speed. They had tremendous intensity. We had four kids out, but we should have showed up and put up a fight.”
Brunswick continued to pour it on before halftime with a 54-yard TD run by Kitchens and a 3-yard TD run by Rysdam for a 34-0 lead.
Lewiston opened the second half with its best drive of the game and got on the board on a 13-yard pass from Chris Madden to Caleb Johnson. Jensen answered with a 10-yard TD run. Gabe Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the Devils’ other touchdown.
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