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KENNEBUNK — Falmouth High’s football team had been the talk of the preseason. The Navigators had routed Class B last season, going 11-0 and winning the state title, and returned a ton of talent.

That left Kennebunk, the 2023 champion that lost to Falmouth in the 2024 final, with something to prove, especially after graduating a ton of talent of its own.

Prove it the Rams did Friday night, with a defense that matched Falmouth’s equally strong unit hit-for-hit and an offense that found just enough ways to score two second-half touchdowns to pull out a Class B South season-opening win, 14-10.

“Oh, yeah, we had a chip on our shoulders. Everyone doubted us,” said senior Austin West, a wrecking force as an edge rusher. “Everyone’s like, Falmouth’s the team this year. We lost 18 seniors and we were like, ‘No. We’ve got dudes and we know we can compete.’ And I think that chip on our shoulder the rest of the season is what’s going to make us a great team.”

Falmouth lost for the first time under coach Spencer Emerson. The Navigators also suffered significant injuries. Nose guard Harlem Harrison, a returning all-conference player, was injured in the first half. The offensive line ended the game down three starters, with senior right tackle Sam Liu not dressing with an ankle injury, and senior Thomas Willoughby and then junior Max Dillavou having to take a seat in the fourth quarter.

How it happened

Falmouth led 10-0 at the half on a 28-yard field goal by Peter Kearns and an 8-yard run by Tres Walker. Its defense did not allow a first down in the first half and held Kennebunk to minus-3 yards of total offense.

But when Falmouth opted to forego a field-goal attempt from the 10, and was stopped when Walker’s fourth-down pass was broken up by Brady Roy, momentum quickly shifted.

Kennebunk senior quarterback Sam Matthews, making his first varsity start, opted to keep the ball after faking a handoff to West and skirted outside for a 20-yard gain, the Rams’ first first down of the game with 4:40 to play.

“It was a big momentum change. It was a really good play for us, made the right decision and got some yards,” Matthews said.

Three plays later, Matthews threw deep over the middle to Jaiden Homa, who went up and wrestled the ball from a Falmouth defender, broke a tackle and raced to the end zone for a 73-yard score. Zachary Fine’s point-after kick cut Falmouth’s lead to 10-7 with 2:11 left in the third quarter.

Fine’s hard, line-drive kickoff caromed off a Falmouth player who was unable to make the catch and was recovered by Kennebunk. The Rams put together an 11-play, 53-yard drive, aided by a pass interference call on fourth down, with Matthews scoring on a 6-yard run.

Falmouth got inside Kennebunk’s 15 on its final two possessions and each time turned it over on downs as the Rams’ pass defense held up.

Statistical leaders

Falmouth: Ben Robbins, 4 punt returns for 128 yards, 4 catches for 68 yards; Luke Roy 3 catches, 63 yards; Owen Ross, 19 carries, 38 yards; Eli Bush, 1 TFL plus 1 QB sack. Quarterback Tres Walker finished 10 of 32 for 144 yards.

Kennebunk: Sam Matthews, 11 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD and 4 of 8 passing for 85 yards and 1 TD; Austin West 12 carries, 12 yards, and 4 TFL plus 1 QB sack; Jaiden Homa, 2 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD.

They said it

“Our defense, we gave them a different look than (Falmouth) had seen and credit to our kids, they adjusted to the scheme well and they played lights-out football. It was awesome. … They had some injuries. We had some injuries and it was like Rock ’em, Sock ’em Robots.” – Kennebunk coach Keith Noel.

“We had four chances in the red zone and then we had four plays in the red zone at the end of the game to win it, and we just didn’t execute and kudos to (Kennebunk).” – Falmouth coach Spencer Emerson.