PORTLAND — Offense sells tickets; defense wins championships.

The Wells football team proved the old adage on Saturday night.

The Warriors held what was possibly the state’s best offense in check, beating the Leavitt Hornets 21-13, finishing the season with a perfect 12-0 record and capturing the Maine Class B championship in front of a packed house at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

It’s the second state title in school history for Wells. Wells beat Belfast 32-30 in 1997 for its first title.

“We knew Leavitt was great,” Wells head coach Tim Roche said. “We just hung in there and got the job done when we had to.”

Down 13-7 heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors rode their title hopes on the shoulders of quarterback Paul McDonough, who scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

McDonough, who’s been struggling with a foot injury for the past month, finished with 139 total yards on the night (67 passing, 72 rushing).

“I don’t think people realize how impressive he is,” Roche said. “He’s hurt, but he wasn’t going to let that (stop him).”

The Warriors also got a big night offensively from running back Louis DiTomasso, who rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown.

But the night was also about Wells’ defense, which had only allowed 72 points total in the previous 11 games. The Warriors kept the Hornets, who entered the contest averaging 45 points per game, to 277 yards of offense and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions off quarterback Jordan Hersom.

Wells scored the first touchdown of the game on its first possession, when DiTomasso capped a 5-play, 59-yard drive with a 9-yard run up the middle into the end zone, giving the Warriors the lead. McDonough’s 46-yard pass to running back Zach Deshaies set up the score. Deshaies, who was wide open down the middle of the field, ran the ball to the Leavitt 11-yard line. Joey Spinelli’s extra point put Wells up 7-0.

Leavitt tied the game 7-7 early in the second quarter. The Hornets ran a reverse to running back Ian Durgin, catching the Warriors off guard, as Durgin had 44 yards of open field to run for the touchdown. Dustin Moore kicked the extra point for Leavitt.

The Hornets almost scored again on the final drive of the half, moving to the Warriors’ 25-yard line. But on a fade pattern to wide receiver Brian Bedard in the end zone, Spinelli leaped high in the air in front of Bedard for the interception, keeping the scored tied as both teams headed to the locker room. The interception was Spinelli’s fifth of the season, all of which have come in the playoffs.

“I knew they were going to go deep,” Spinelli said. “They went at me before that play, and I thought they were going to go after me again. I just got myself in the best position to make the play on the ball.”

“That’s probably going to be forgotten about in the grand scheme of things,” Roche said. “But that was a huge play for us.”

Late in the third quarter, and deep in their own territory on a fourth down, the Hornets punted to Wells. But the Warriors muffed the kick, and Tyler Vallee of Leavitt fell on the ball, giving the Hornets a new set of downs in Wells territory. Leavitt took advantage of the opportunity as Hersom hit Bedard for a 35-yard gain, giving the Hornets a first-and-goal at the Wells’ 8.

Three plays later, Hersom kept the ball on a 3-yard keeper into the end zone for a touchdown. Moore’s missed extra point gave the Hornets a 13-7 lead.

But the fourth quarter was all about the Warriors. Better yet, it was all about McDonough.

“Paulie McDonough said ”˜Give me the damn ball,’” Roche said. “”˜Give me the ball, and let’s go.’ And I was like, ”˜okay.’”

On its next possession, Wells marched 64 yards down the field on seven plays, before McDonough kept the ball on a quarterback sweep to the left, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run. Spinelli’s kick gave the Warriors the 14-13 lead.

Six minutes later, with Leavitt at its own 14-yard line, Hersom, looking for Bedard, threw a pass that McDonough intercepted and returned to the Hornets’ 3-yard line. Two plays later, McDonough kept the ball on a 1-yard sneak for the touchdown. Spinelli’s extra point gave the Warriors some breathing room with the 21-13 lead.

Leavitt was well on its way to scoring another touchdown on the final series of the game, moving to the Warriors’ 26-yard line. But Wells safety Gavin Snapp intercepted Hersom, who was looking for a receiver on a seam route, with 19 seconds left in the contest, sealing the championship.

“We were in stay coverage, and we were in our deep thirds,” Snapp said. “We knew they were going to pass, so we just dropped deep. I saw (Bedard) coming across, and I knew that was (Hersom’s) main target, so I just had to jump up and go for the ball.”

Wells out-gained Leavitt offensively as the Warriors collected 297 yards on the night. Hersom was 9 of 16 for 117 yards, and added 35 yards rushing. Hornets running back Jake Ouellette rushed for 79 yards on 10 carries, and Bedard finished with five catches for 90 yards.

Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway praised the play of Wells after the contest.

“McDonough and DiTomasso made some great plays,” Hathaway said. “Those are some tough kids. If there was any little seam, it seemed like those kids found it.”

After the game, the Warriors accepted the gold ball trophy, and ran immediately toward the fans on the Wells side of the field. The Warriors had some celebrating to do.

“It’s incredible,” DiTomasso said after the game. “I’m speechless. I don’t even know what to say right now.”

— Contact Staff Writer Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @Dave_Dyer.