SOUTH PARIS

Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School looks to its defense to set the tone for its entire team. After Friday night’s Eastern Maine Class A football shutout of Mt. Ararat, it’s easy to understand why.

The Vikings limited the Eagles to eight yards of total offense and two first downs, and maintained complete control throughout in a 28-0 victory at Gouin Athletic Complex.

Dexter Turner led the suffocating defense with two sacks and also scored a pair of touchdowns. Nick Bowie and Wolfe Raasumaa had rushing touchdowns for the Vikings (1-1).

“They’ve got some good linebackers,” said Mt. Ararat (0-2) coach Frank True, whose team returns to action at home this upcoming Friday at 7 p.m. against Cony. “They’ve got a returning allconference player there (Jordan Croteau). They’ve got great size and speed. It was tough for us to match up tonight.”

“My message after the game was: ‘When you play like that defensively, we can be in any game,’” said Oxford Hills coach Mark Soehren, whose team faces unbeaten Lawrence next week. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game, but we can be in games and we can compete.”

“We just played sound defense,” Turner said. “We contained them well. We need to work on a few things, but we’re ready for Lawrence.”

Early turnover

Turner announced the defense’s presence early Friday night with a strip sack of Mt. Ararat quarterback Jake Liedman on the Eagles’ first possession. Bill Leahy scooped up the fumble and carried it down to the MA-8.

“I just came around the outside and I got his hand and Billy picked it up,” Turner said.

Turner scored from a yard out three plays later, and Oxford Hills quarterback Ryan Godin added the 2-point conversion for a quick 8-0 lead.

Mt. Ararat’s offense never crossed midfield.

The Eagles did take over possession twice in Viking territory, once on a turnover on downs and once after an Alex Laurelez interception and return to the OH-45, but failed to get past the OH-40. They managed just one first down in the first half. Their only first down in the second half came as a result of a penalty by Oxford Hills.

Eighteen of the Eagles’ 32 rushing attempts went for zero or negative yardage.

“We’re physical,” Godin said. “The defense sets the tone, no doubt.”

Croteau, Turner and the defense provided the offense with great field position again, this time at the MA-48. Raasumaa finished off the short drive with a 6-yard TD run, with Bowie adding the 2- point conversion for a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Turner cashed in on the Vikings’ first possession of the second half with the longest run of the game, a 58- yard sojourn for a 22-0 lead.

“Coach called a good play because the tackle was lined up on the outside of the guard and I just ran right up the middle through a big hole,” Turner said.

A Mt. Ararat fumble gave the Vikings the ball the MA-9, and Bowie scored two plays later to finish off the 28-0 victory.

The Vikings picked up 227 yards on offense, with all but one yard on the ground.

Godin directed the triple option and led the Vikings with 68 yards on 14 carries. Turner finished with 67 yards on four rushes. Bowie had 41 yards and Malik Geiger 28 to balance out the attack.

“It’s a tough offense, but all of us are picking it up quick,” said Godin, who led the Vikings with 68 yards rushing on 14 carries. “There are reads here and there we just have little mistakes that we have to fix. But other than that, we’re getting there.”

Mt. Ararat (0-2) is scheduled to host Cony Friday night at 7 p.m.

FOR MORE, see the Lewiston Sun Journal at www.sunjournal.com