Bonny Eagle traveled to Scarborough Saturday afternoon, where Zach Dubiel and Matt Smith (as they’re wont to do) turned in stellar performances – that’s a hat trick of rush TDs for the former and a pair for the latter. Their points alone would’ve more than sealed the deal, though a number of other Scots also hammered nails in the Red Storm’s 49-6 coffin.

Bonny Eagle’s road win bumps them to 3-1 on the season. After opening their schedule with a big win over Biddeford, Bonny Eagle dropped a game to South Portland. They’ve since recovered, and appear to be gaining momentum. Cooper agrees:

“I think so. After the South Portland loss, we rededicated ourselves to practice, I think. We’ve had some very good practices since, and I think you’re seeing the results on the weekends. Football season’s not won or lost. I told our guys, ‘They’re not giving a gold ball,’ when we lost to South Portland. ‘So we need to keep getting better.’ And our guys have really done that.”

Meanwhile, Scarborough’s loss drops them to 0-4. The Red Storm are rebuilding this season, after losing a number of key seniors to graduation in June. Those growing pains showed Saturday – though not immediately, as they looked strong, especially defensively, in the early going.

“I’m pretty proud of how our guys responded today,” Bonny Eagle head coach Kevin Cooper said. “Scarborough came up; they were ready to go, early. Made it tough for us. Held us on the goal line.”

Midway through the first, however, and directly after taking over on downs, the Red Storm offense fumbled deep in their own territory. Bonny Eagle’s Wiley Hollen recovered, giving Dubiel the ball mere feet from the promised land. He arrived there but one play later, waltzing up the middle for his first, but not his last, TD of the afternoon. 6-0.

Much to their credit, Scarborough didn’t fold, not yet. They straightaway charged back with a pair of Zach Carreiro carries, a Jack Hughes QB keeper and a Hughes-to-Griffin Madden long bomb to advance all the way to Bonny Eagle’s one-yard line. Carreiro completed the drive with a quick dash across the goal line. 6-6.

But the Scots ran away with the scoreboard from there. Dubiel scored again on the follow-up series, built once more on his and Smith’s runs, and Smith scored as the second quarter slid toward its conclusion. After a superb Cam Theberge carry for 36 yards, Smith broke away from the pack and shuttled the ball the remaining 34 into Scarborough’s end zone for 20-6.

“Again, I’m proud of our guys,” Cooper said. “After giving up a touchdown, we refocused, regathered ourselves, had a good rest of the first half to kind of take a commanding lead. And then in the second half, being able to just keep doing what we do.”

The Red Storm pushed forward into Bonny Eagle’s 50 yards on their next series, and came within inches of converting a fourth down to continue the drive. They couldn’t manage, though, and turned the ball over with 1:31 remaining before the break.

That minute and a half gave Dubiel and Smith plenty of opportunity to generate more points. Smith ran massively, knocking 43 yards off the 60 standing between his squad and yet another Scots TD. Dubiel did the rest, then completed a two-point conversion pass to Antonio Bruni for 28-6.

By the time the bout wound down, Bonny Eagle had extended their advantage still further. And though Scarborough might be struggling, they’re not without their weapons, meaning Bonny Eagle’s sizable, 49-6 margin of victory is assuredly a confidence-boost, even for the reigning state champs.

“We’re just trying to play our style of football,” Cooper said. “To be honest, we weren’t focused on Scarborough as much as we were focused on Bonny Eagle. When we did things right, the way we want to, we had success today. When we didn’t, Scarborough was able to make some plays.”

Bonny Eagle next faces last-place Noble (0-4); kickoff is at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3. Scarborough hosts No. 4 Biddeford (3-1) that same evening, at the same time.

Bonny Eagle’s Parker Gammon lines up to snap the ball to Zach Dubiel during Saturday afternoon’s win in Scarborough.Keegan Meyer runs interference for Zach Dubiel in the Scots’ 49-6 throttling of Scarborough.Scot Dylan Ricci launches into a tackle; Scarborough ball-carrier Zach Carriero preps himself for the hit.Unstoppable Scots runningback Matt Smith celebrates after scoring in Saturday’s win over Scarborough.Scarborough’s Jack Hughes and Zach Carreiro take down Bonny Eagle QB Zach Dubiel.Red Stormer Milani Hicks lays a brutal, end-zone hit on Bonny Eagle’s Antonio Bruni – but Bruni holds onto the ball for two points anyway.Bonny Eagle’s Cam Theberge halts hard, trying to escape Red Stormer Jack Hughes.Scarborough’s Milani Hicks gets plenty of air, but not enough ball.The Red Storm’s Zach Carreiro hurries to secure a pass catch before the Scots’ Mason White can reach him.Bonny Eagle’s Jake Cook hauls down Scarborough’s Griffin Madden.