TURNER — It’s easy to say that all 11 members of the Leavitt Hornets offense are the reason why the team is 11-0.

But for a group that’s averaging 45 points per game, it all starts in the backfield, and there’s been no better combination in Eastern Class B than Hornets quarterback Jordan Hersom and running back Jake Ouellette.

Together, Hersom and Ouellette have combined for 3,883 yards of total offense on the season, along with 51 touchdowns. They will showcase their skills one more time, as Leavitt takes on the Wells Warriors at Fitzpatrick Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday for the Maine Class B championship.

Running a spread, zone-read option (much like Thornton Academy in Class A), the Hornets have scored 490 points this season, trucking over the competition of the Pine Tree Conference. Leavitt has put up 50 points or more in five of its 11 games in 2011, and scored 60 or more points twice.

It starts with Hersom, who has a multi-generational football pedigree. His father, Jim, is an assistant coach on the Leavitt staff and has prior head coaching experience at Edward Little and Livermore Falls, leading both schools to regional championships. His grandfather, Lawrence “Doc” Hersom, led multiple Edward Little teams to state championships in the 1970s.

Hersom has rushed for 956 yards this season, and passed for 1,630 yards, and has scored 26 touchdowns ”“16 passing, 10 rushing.

“He’s a good double-threat, and he always has been,” Leavitt head coach Mike Hathaway said. “This year, he’s a much more accurate passer than the year before. He’s more familiar with the offense, and he’s settled down a bit. He’s a little more poised than last year. He’s just a good handle on things and he worked hard a passer over the summer, and that’s made a big difference.”

Hersom said he understands it’s his job in Leavitt’s high-powered offense to get the ball to its best athletes.

“The coaches put us in a great position by formation and play to try to expose our athletes in space,” Hersom said. “My job is to just to read what the defense gives us, try not to overthink too many things, and try not to force the ball. Read the pre-snap reads, especially in the pass game with their coverage, and just do my job so everyone else’s job can be a lot easier.”

Ouellette has had the ability to run free all over Eastern Class B this season, rushing for 1,297 yards on 155 carries ”“ an average of eight yards per carry ”“ and has scored 25 touchdowns.

“He’s a more physical runner than he was last year,” Hathaway said. “He can kind of anticipate where the cuts are going to be based on the schemes and the defenses that we’re seeing. He’s just a year bigger, a year smarter, and a year better.”

Throw running back Ian Durgin in the mix, who has 1,305 total yards this season (652 rushing, 653 receiving), and you have one of the most potent offenses in the state.

But the Hornets will face one of their toughest challenges of the season against Wells on Saturday. The Warriors (11-0) have allowed just 72 points this season, an average of less than seven points per game. If there’s any team in the state that can stop the train that is Leavitt’s offense, it’s Wells.

“They’re obviously good football players and tough, physical kids,” Hersom said. “They like playing defense and have done a great job this year. We’ve got to make sure everyone does their job so we have the ability to move the ball and get first downs and try not to hit the big play every play. First downs lead to touchdowns.”

It’ll be one of the best matchups in the state this season, and for Leavitt to win its second state championship in the past three years, it will depend on the play of two of the best offensive players in Class B.

“I’m looking forward to it, ready to get after it,” Ouellette said. “I’m sure they’re going to come with lots of intensity, their defense is going to be fired up. Our offense is going to be fired up. We’ll be ready to get after it, hopefully it will come down to a shootout.”

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow on Twitter @Dave_Dyer.