SACO — It was a knockout punch that was telegraphed but never actually thrown.

Even so, on a miserable rainy afternoon that left the Paul Hill Stadium turf a mucky mess and left both offenses fighting with one hand tied behind their backs, a TKO would do just fine.

Thornton Academy built up an early two touchdown lead then clung to it for a 14-6 triumph over Scarborough in a downpour, Saturday afternoon.

“We were up,” said running back Zach Sheehan. “But we shot ourselves in the foot a lot of times. Toward the end of our game, we got back our emotion and started playing with some heart.”

Said Trojan lineman Sam Lalezari, “We did not play as well as we should have. It was tough.”

Sheehan accounted for both Golden Trojan scores by slogging for runs of 18 and 11 yards, both of which were punctuated by Alex Howard extra point kicks.

“When you’ve got sloppy conditions,” Sheehan said, “you’re thinking twice as much as usual about (keeping) two hands on the ball, making good cuts, and making good reads.”

In Week 1’s 63-7 rout of Kennebunk, it took the Trojans just :10 to grab the lead.

Against Scarborough, it took them a “whole” :51 seconds to jump out ahead.

Red Storm running back Zach Bean fumbled the slick football on the first play of the game, which was jumped on by Thornton’s Chris Dolewa at the Scarborough 18.

Sheehan ran the ball in on the first play, crossing the goal line standing up.

With 2:10 remaining in the quarter, Sheehan scored again, finishing his run with a dive to the right side pylon.

Given the deteriorating field conditions, another Thornton score would have all but sealed the result early on.

Indeed, the Trojans drove deep into Scarborough territory three times before the end of the half and came away empty-handed each time.

“We couldn’t run a lot of our plays,” said quarterback Steve Trask, “because of the conditions. It was hard to hold on to the ball. It was like trying to run around with a bar of soap.”

Early in the second quarter, a 36 yard quarterback scramble by Steve Trask gave Thornton a first and 10 at the Red Storm 4. However, that gilded opportunity went uncashed when the Trojans were thwarted on four straight plays.

Another drive died out when Trask was intercepted at the goal line by Scarborough’s Jack Adams.

Then, in the waning seconds of the half, a 31 yard field goal try by Howard was blocked at the line.

“When you’ve got a two touchdown lead,” said Thornton coach Kevin Kezal, “the next touchdown is huge. On a day like today, things would be pretty much over. If they score, then you’re in a dog fight. And that’s what happened.”

Scarborough drew within striking range with 4: 57 left in the third quarter via fullback Zach Bean’s 1 yard TD run.

However, Bean’s point after kick was blocked, and the Thornton defense was able to preserve the eight point lead the rest of the way.

Next up for Thornton is a trip, Friday, to Noble.

“We definitely won’t take them lightly,” said Lalezari. “We’re going to play our hearts out.”

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.