Round two against Cheverus this season was substantially more competitive for Lewiston, even if the scoreboard doesn’t show it.
Beaten by 52 points in Week 2, the No. 6 Blue Devils trailed the No. 3 Stags by only two touchdowns with a minute remaining in the first half Saturday.
As is the Stags’ championship tradition, however, they can tilt the table in a hurry. Two scores before the horn effectively sealed the deal in a 42-0 Class A North football quarterfinal verdict at Boulos Stadium in Portland.
Cheverus (6-3) will travel to No. 2 Windham for the semifinals next week. Lewiston’s season ends at 2-7.
Freshman Tre Fletcher ran for three touchdowns to lead the Stags.
The Devils lost 68-16 on the same field six weeks ago, and that theme prevailed early when Fletcher raced 48 yards to the end zone on Cheverus’ third play from scrimmage.
He added another from 7 yards out with 53 seconds remaining in the period.
Lewiston’s defense fought valiantly and kept Cheverus off the board for most of the second quarter. Justin Johnston capped a Stags’ drive for a 2-yard TD and a 21-0 lead with 37 seconds remaining.
Then came the hammer, with Isaac Dunn stepping in front of a Jared Rubin pass and dashing 54 yards for the pick-six. Cheverus converted the two points and took a 29-0 lead into the halftime huddle.
Fletcher saved his most electrifying run for last. A 58-yard, broken-field masterpiece hastened running time in the third quarter.
Rylan Benedict capped the scoring from 28 yards away.
koakes@sunjournal.com
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