SACO – The Thornton Academy football team cruised to a 49-7 win over visiting South Portland on Saturday afternoon at Hill Stadium.
The Trojans once again delivered in all three phases, getting over 250 yards of rushing, a kickoff return touchdown, and holding the Red Riots’s offense to no points and under 100 yards of scrimmage.
“We’re good, we’re growing. We’re a young team, growth is never linear but these kids go out every week and work hard. I thought this week was our best week of practice that we’ve had,” said TA head coach Kevin Kezal after the win. “They know whats on the line this time of the year.”
Jason Montano would score two rushing touchdowns for TA in the first quarter. The first came at the 6:38 mark after C.J. LaBreck returned a punt to the South Portland 1-yard line. Ian Patry would later get an interception and once again set the Trojans up in the South Portland zone, and Montano finished the dive off from the 2-yard line.
The score would hold up until late in the second quarter, until Will Mitchell connected with LaBreck for a 17-yard score to put TA ahead 19-0 at the break.
LaBreck continued to impress, taking the second half kickoff 90 yards for the score.
“(The return game) is huge – we’ve been able to make plays, they’re working really hard. When you’re able to get those quick ones it’s a great way to get going,” said Kezal.
 South Portland’s lone score came on the ensuing kickoff when Spencer Houllette returned it for the score to make it 27-7.
TA would get two big touchdown runs late in the third, one coming from Anthony Bracamonte from 38 yards out and another from Mitchell for 46 yards.
“It was good, it was good to get the rushing game going, we kind of struggled earlier in the season with that but we played a lot cleaner today,” said Kezal.
The Trojans backups played a strong fourth quarter, and Isaac Ofielu. capped off the day with a 5-yard rushing score on top of his 45 fourth quarter yards on the ground.
Bracamonte led TA with 95 rushing yards, while Mitchell also added 66. LaBreck led TA with 42 yards receiving.
The TA defense held the Red Riots to under 100 yards of scrimmage, including less than 50 yards on the ground.
“They’re very good – offensively they’re a very good football team. Two weeks back they played 72 snaps against Scarborough so we knew we would have our hands full,” said Kezal. “I thought we played really good situational defense today, obviously our offense hogging the ball helped us today and come playoffs that’s what you want to do.”