PORTLAND — When Lawrence’s Jake Doolan took the opening kickoff of the Class A state championship 89 yards for a touchdown, it was a sign of things to come for how the game would be played. Neither the Bulldogs nor the Thornton Academy Trojans were at their best on the offensive or defensive sides of the ball, but both teams made plays in the underappreciated special teams that shaped the title game.

The Bulldogs came into Fitzpatrick Stadium on Saturday with a chip on their shoulder. They got walloped by Cheverus in last year’s state final, and they were out to prove that this year would be different. Conversely, the Golden Trojans hadn’t been to a state final in 24 years, so no one knew exactly how they would respond to the stage.

Doolan’s return touchdown was a shock to fans on both sides of the field, but Thornton head coach Kevin Kezal wasn’t ready for the play to determine the game just 10 seconds in.

“I give credit to our kids how they responded. We run about a six-minute drive, and drove the field and scored,” said Kezal. “It was a great, great feeling.”

Interestingly enough, Lawrence started off the 1988 Class A final in the same fashion against the Trojans ”¦ and lost that game. Twenty-four years later, and history repeated itself.

But that wasn’t the only key special teams play in the game.

With the game tied 14-14 late in the second quarter, the Bulldogs were forced to punt deep in their own territory. Chad Martin took the direct snap from his own end zone, but he was swarmed by three Trojans before he could get the punt away safely. The ball bounced out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

“Dave LePauloue coming up big again,” said Dakota Tarbox, referring to LePauloe’s blocked extra-point in the regional final. “We knew we could get it, because we watched a lot of film. We saw that the line was weak. It was big. It was a good momentum swing.”

It was also a short momentum swing. The Trojans got the ball back and promptly went three-and-out. The Bulldogs then got the ball and moved it down to the Thornton 19-yard line in six plays for one last play before the half. Martin then nailed a 36-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 17-16 lead.

The big plays on special teams continued in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, Andrew Libby fielded a punt at his own 43 and took it back for a touchdown. It was Libby’s fourth punt return touchdown of the season, but his first since week three.

“It was a huge momentum swing. You just see the whole lane open up for you, because everybody just started blocking for you, and you just go for it,” said Libby.

Kezal said those momentum-shifting plays are something you just have to deal with during a game, whether it’s your team or the opponent.

“That’s part of football. When you have the emotion, you want to ride it. When your opponents have it, you have to work your tail off to try and break it,” said Kezal.

The final big play on special teams was a blocked extra-point by LePauloue after Lawrence cut the lead to 30-23. Just like the week before, he came from the left and got his big mitt in the way. And just like last week, it stunted the Trojans’ opponents’ momentum. Though the number of noteworthy plays in the third phase of the game was unusually high, Kezal said it’s due to the caliber of players playing for a championship.