Dan Baker didn’t waste any time getting the feel of running the ball in a varsity game.

The first time he touched the ball Saturday, he scored on an 18-yard run to give Cheverus an early lead against Oxford Hills/Buckfield.

Baker, a senior, scored two more touchdowns in the first half as Cheverus jumped to a comfortable lead and went on to a 42-14 win in a Class A North football game at Boulos Stadium in Portland.

Baker was a starting cornerback last season, but had never run the ball on offense in a regular-season game.

His first two touchdowns came on the same sweep play.

The Stags’ running game has flourished in the past on dives, counters, off-tackle plays and sweeps. But the sweeps that Baker scored on had a different look than past Cheverus plays. Baker got the ball deeper in the backfield and ran wider.

“It’s a new play,” said Baker.

Having graduated several key players from last year’s team that reached the regional final, the Stags are working to find their own identity.

“I have to give credit to the line,” said Baker. “They just got it done. They were focused on one play at a time.”

Frank Curran, a two-way tackle, is one of two returning line starters for Chev-erus.

“Frank made the key blocks that gave me the running room,” said Baker.

“We probably lost more players from last year than any other team. We’re also probably the smallest team in Class A, but we do have speed. We’re experienced in that area. Our team is very young, but we’re tough.”

After Baker scored to make it 7-0, Jacob Spinhirn of Oxford Hills returned the kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.

Then Justin Johnston did the same for Cheverus, going 88 yards to put the Stags ahead for good.

With a minute left in the first quarter, Baker scored from 25 yards. Jack Casale’s extra point made it 21-7.

After holding Oxford Hills/Buckfield to no yards on three plays and forcing a punt, Cheverus extended its lead as Baker scored on the second play of the second quarter, this time on a counter play. Baker broke outside and outran the Vikings’ defense down the sideline for a 72-yard score.

With the sun beating down and the humidity high, several players cramped up in the second half. Baker said he experienced the worst cramp he’s ever had in his left calf.

“I hydrated before and during the game,” he said, noting that he felt OK after the game. He finished with 144 rushing yards in less than three quarters.

“I think he was pretty spent after those scoring runs,” said Cheverus Coach John Wolfgram.

Wolfgram liked the team effort and the improved blocking and overall play in the second half.

“We got contributions from a lot of people,” he said. “I thought we played much better in the second half. We blocked much better. They were the same blocking schemes, but we executed them a lot better. We talked about doing that at halftime.

“We lost a lot of key players from last year. We’re green. We have to develop a new chemistry, a new rhythm. You have to do it in games.”

Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH