ORONO

When Brunswick’s Ben Palizay fielded the opening kickoff of Friday night’s State Class B high school football game on University of Maine’s Alfond Stadium, he saw the opening.

In a quick burst of speed, Palizay darted through a giant hole, cut right and ran all the way to the Kennebunk 15-yard line.

It was the kind of start the Dragons were hoping for, and when Palizay sprinted for a short touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, he finished what he started as the Dragons captured a 28-6 victory and the program’s first “Gold Ball” in 53 years.

In a game of solid defensive play from both squads, the special team gems, including a 39-yard kickoff return in the second quarter by Palizay, were huge.

“Ben’s returns were unbelievably huge, especially as Kennebunk’s defense became stout as the game wore on,” said Brunswick coach Dan Cooper. “We started to move the ball a little bit, but this was a game of defense and special teams. Special teams have been huge all year. Ben is one of the best cornerbacks in the league, one of the best running backs in the league, returns kickoffs, punts. He just did it all for us.”

“(The kickoff) gave us a lot of momentum. I found the hole and went 70 yards and it gave us momentum throughout the game,” said Palizay, who added 45 yards on 11 carries along with two big touchdown runs.

After Palizay’s first big return, four runs followed, with Palizay punching through the Kennebunk (11- 1) line for a 2-yard TD run. Hunter Garrett ran in the 2- point conversion for a quick 8-0 Dragons lead.

“We always talk about getting off to a good start, getting that first hit, and we have done great on special teams all year long,” said Kennebunk coach Joe Rafferty. “They punched us in the face right from the get go and we were stunned. They came right at us and challenged us. Give them a lot of credit. They did a good job.”

Defense rules

Neither team found an offensive rhythm throughout the first half. Kennebunk gained just 17 yards in the opening 24 minutes, while the Dragons had an uncharacteristic

104 total yards, including 67 on the ground on 23 carries.

“Our defense was a game-changer tonight, and we just destroyed their offensive scheme,” said defensive end Jackson Gordon, who pressured

Kennebunk quarterback Tripp Bush throughout the contest.

Palizay’s 12-yard punt return set Brunswick (11-0) up at the Rams’ 39-yard line late in the first quarter. Quarterback Christian Jensen (2-of-6, 37 yards) lofted a pass to Garrett for a 29- yard gain to the K-8. Three plays later, Garrett found the end zone on a 4-yard run, with Gordon hauling in a Jensen pass for a 16-0 lead.

Kennebunk received a break midway through the second quarter when Christian Putnam recovered a Brunswick fumble at the Dragons’ 17-yard line. It took six plays and nearly three minutes for Kennebunk to find the end zone, with Patrick Saunders following his blockers for a 1-yard score.

The Rams went for two, but game-long standout Jaznel Burns chased Bush down to keep Brunswick up by two scores.

Burns, who missed a significant part of the regular season while recovering from an injury, was a force that Kennebunk had trouble dealing with throughout the contest.

“Jaznel brought a ‘don’t let it near me because you’re going to pay’ mentality, and when you can do that it is impressive to watch,” said Cooper. “How many times did he hit the quarterback and cause an errant pass? I am glad that he had this moment. He makes everybody better. He is a game-changer.”

Kennebunk kicked off after the touchdown, and Palizay made the Rams pay again, finding an opening and scooting 39 yards to the K-44. The big play on Brunswick’s short touchdown drive was a 17-yard run by Seth White to the K- 12. Facing a fourth down at the K-5, an offsides call and a pair of quarterback sneaks by Jensen made for a 22-6 halftime lead for Brunswick.

Turnover trouble

Little went right for the Brunswick offense in the third quarter. Three times the Dragons turned the ball over, with Putnam and Andrew Bouchard each recovering a fumble and Garrett Philbrick intercepting a pass from Jensen.

Kennebunk, which ran just 20 plays in the first half, ran off 19 snaps in the third quarter and three times advanced inside Brunswick territory, utilizing the option to pick up five first downs.

However, the Dragon defense refused to break as the Rams lost the ball three straight times on downs. After Philbrick’s interception, Burns came through again, stripping Bush of the ball then recovering the fumble at the K-26.

“We hit a rough patch on offense, but the defense kept it going,” said Burns. “To play with my brothers and to win a state championship is all that I can ask for.”

“Defense won the game for us, especially in that third quarter,” added Cooper. “We had several fourth-down stops. One play from Kennebunk turns the tide, but our defense came through.”

“The third quarter won us the game,” said Brunswick’s Jesse Devereaux. “If they sweep momentum there, it is a different game. The defense just came up big again.”

“They were a very good football team that played great defensively,” said Rafferty. “We never got it going offensively at all. They took away just about everything that we had. They were quick up front, got off the ball offensively and defensively very well. I was impressed.”

“The defense won us the game,” said Brunswick’s Sullivan Boyd. “Offensively, we turned the ball over a bunch. But the defense never wavered.”

Kennebunk’s defense, led by 11 tackles from Saunders and eight from Dante DeLorenzo, gave the Rams one more chance, stopping Brunswick early in the fourth quarter on downs. But, 10 plays took five minutes off the clock and netted the Rams just 30 yards. Brunswick took over on downs at the K-47 and put the game away. Nelson Gay picked up 15 yards on a run, and Palizay broke off an 11- yard rumble to the K-16. Palizay swept left and into the end zone two plays later to complete the scoring, with Cooper given a cold water bath as the time ticked away.

“We knew if we scored one more time it was the game, and I was able to push through behind great blocking,” said Palizay.

Cooper put the victory into perspective.

“The difference was 21 seniors. Those other teams had around 13 seniors, and there were a lot of good ones here. We had kids go down this year, even tonight, then had others step up. Their confidence, focus, was there for three years. They expected to be here tonight and they expected to win. I am glad the hard work paid off.

“Those last three minutes were special. I was so happy for those kids, just truly amazed. The support we received was so special.”

Jake Littlefield led the Rams with 58 yards on 15 carries, while Saunders chipped in 30 yards on 11 runs. Bush was hounded all night, completing 6-of-21 passes for 59 yards. The Rams finished with 120 yards of offense and picked up just eight first downs.

Gay paced the Dragons with 47 rushing yards, with Garrett adding 40 on 11 lugs and Jensen 20 yards on seven carries. Defensively, Jensen made seven tackles and provided solid coverage with four passes swatted away. Sam Dorval, Gordon, Devereaux and Garrett Compton had six tackles each.

Brunswick 28,
Kennebunk 6

State Class B Football Championship Friday, at University of Maine-Orono
Brunswick—  8 14 0 6 — 28
Kennebunk— 0 6 0 0 — 6
First quarter
B — Ben Palizay 2 run (Hunter Garrett run), 10:47.
Second quarter
B — Hunter Garrett 4 run (Jackson
Gordon pass from Christian Jensen),
9:46.
K — Patrick Saunders 1 run (run
failed), 5:15.
B — Christian Jensen 1 run (run
failed), :51.
Fourth quarter
B — Ben Palizay 2 run (pass failed),
3:17.
Records — Brunswick 11-0; Kennebunk 11-1.
Note— This is Brunswick’s first state
title since 1963.