Everyone knew about Gorham’s high-powered offense. But now everyone also knows that the Rams can play some pretty good defense as well.

The Gorham football team traveled to South Berwick on Saturday afternoon where they faced off against second-seeded Marshwood in a Western Maine Class A semifinal. The third-seeded Rams took their 8-1 record south hoping to knock off the unbeaten Hawks and move into the regional final.

And knock them off they did as the Rams claimed a hard-fought and very low-scoring 6-0 victory thanks to a defense that held the speedy Hawks in check.

Gorham was averaging more than 37 points a game with their double wing offense and many observers thought the Rams would be able to move the ball on Marshwood. But neither team’s defense allowed the opposing offense to control play.

Junior running back Justin Villaci scored the game’s only touchdown in the final two minutes of the first half as he scampered into the end zone on a seven-yard run.

Defensive back Ryan McMullen made the another big play for the Rams when he intercepted a Marshwood pass in his own end zone to end a Marshwood scoring threat midway through the first half.

Gorham will now host fourth-seeded Deering for the West A title on Saturday. The winner will get to play for the Class A state title on Nov. 18 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. The two teams battled in week five of the regular season with Gorham coming away with a decisive 33-12 win.

The last time either team reached a state championship game was three years ago. Deering won the Class A state title back in 2003. And in that same year, Gorham reached the Class B state championship game where they lost to Belfast.

Deering made amends for a regular season loss at Bonny Eagle with a big upset victory over the two-time defending state champions on Saturday in Standish. The Rams rallied for a 28-20 win that sends them to Gorham this Saturday to play for the Western Maine Class A championship.

Bonny Eagle got on the board first with Stan Watts going in from a yard out giving the Scots a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter. Deering answered with a drive that ended with a 39-yard touchdown run from Brian Sandora.

The Scots regained the lead on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Scott Proudman to Ben Delcourt. The point after kick failed and Bonny Eagle held a 13-7 advantage at the half.

Deering seized the momentum in the second half with three straight scores to take control of the contest.

The Rams tied the score at 13-13 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Nick Dunn to Ernie Salamone. Sandora then gave the Rams the lead for good with a 16-yard touchdown run in the late stages of the third quarter. (The two-point conversion was successful as Dunn completed a pass to Sandora.)

Deering added to their lead with another Dunn to Salamone touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of play.

Bonny Eagle tried to bounce back, but a Ryan Walker to Adam Costa touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation proved too little too late.

It was the first loss of the season for the Scots who finish the year at 9-1.