KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk started fast, finished strong, and, for a change, avoided any fourth-quarter drama against archrival Marshwood.

With a punishing 27-carry, 340-yard effort from senior fullback Austin West, the Rams rushed for a whopping 510 yards on 49 carries and put away the Hawks, 54-21, in a Class B South football showdown Friday.

Kennebunk also put a rare 20-0 loss at Westbrook firmly in the rearview mirror and will stay atop the Crabtree standings.

“We just didn’t have effort (against Westbrook), and today the effort came out. We came out flying,” West said.

Kennebunk (6-1), the two-time defending regional champion and the No. 7 team in this week’s Varsity Maine poll, finishes its regular season next week against Biddeford. Marshwood (4-3) will be at Class A Sanford.

A BIT OF HISTORY

In their three most recent meetings prior to Friday, Kennebunk prevailed by stopping a Marshwood 2-point conversion, including in last year’s regional semifinals.

Kennebunk’s loss at Westbrook was its first to a Class B South opponent in Keith Noel’s three seasons, stopping a 20-game streak. Kennebunk is 26-3 under Noel.

GO WEST, YOUNG RAMS

West had a Senior Night to remember. He started the game with a 50-yard kickoff return, and three plays later he was the lead blocker on Grisam Shields 22-yard touchdown sweep just 1:34 into the game.

Kennebunk then recovered a short kickoff, and barely four minutes into the game was up 12-0 on West’s 17-yard score.

Before the half was over, West had 204 rushing yards, including a 69-yard touchdown. He also threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jaiden Homa as a Wildcat QB, and intercepted a pass.

“He made a statement today. Hopefully it gets noticed, because he’s a very special player, on both sides of the ball,” Noel said.

West credited his offensive line of center Jimmy Spinney, guards Timothy Laflamme and August Brenden-Dodson and tackles William Finley and Colin Qualey

“All glory’s to them. Those holes were wide open,” West said. “I would get through and all I had to do was make one guy miss and I was gone.”

West is a powerful runner who does most of his damage between the tackles. He finished the scoring when he took a simple run off tackle for a 74-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Spinney said the linemen know West will work for extra yardage.

“Sometimes things happen down in the trenches and he has to run a couple guys over,” Spinney said. “He does that really well. A lot of heart. A lot of hustle. A great leader overall.”

Quarterback Sam Matthews added 52 rushing yards and scored on runs of 25 and 4 yards. Max Nass had a 2-yard TD run in the first half. Laflamme, the right guard, gained 14 yards and two first downs on two carries out of a three-back, short-yardage set during the Rams’ 12-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up over five minutes in the fourth quarter.

Marshwood’s offense generated 279 yards. Quarterback Michael Sbrizza (10 of 19 passing, 170 yards) and wide receiver Brady Isabelle connected seven times for 144 yards and touchdowns of 23 and 28 yards. The latter came on the Hawks’ opening possession of the second half and trimmed the lead to 40-21.

Kennebunk’s next two possessions ended with a Matthews fumble and then an interception. In the recent Kennebunk-Marshwood games, similar mistakes fueled Marshwood comebacks.

This time, Kennebunk’s defense stiffened, and the fourth-quarter scores by Matthews and West put the game away.

“We talked about that. ‘Guys, it’s Marshwood. That always happens,'” Noel said. “So we have to keep on going. We can’t let them get back in. It made the fourth quarter a little easier for me.”

THEY SAID IT

• “We didn’t stop their run at all. I don’t know what they averaged on belly alone, but they gained 10, 12 yards on nearly every play.” — Alex Rotsko, Marshwood coach

• “Overall, it’s just having fun. We’re so lucky and fortunate to be able to play this game. … Last year, I was hurt and I couldn’t play. I missed the entire season. There’s no better feeling than playing football with your friends.” — Jimmy Spinney, Kennebunk center and captain