Hawks return to form

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — It wasn’t melodrama this week. It was reality.

The Marshwood High School football team walked onto the field to face Leavitt on Friday with a sub-.500 record for the first time since 2011. Two hours later, players walked off the field with their heads up a little higher.

The defense ruled the night in Marshwood’s 31-6 win that evened its record at 2-2 in Class B and reinvigorated its hopes of being a player in the league this year.

“I wasn’t really looking forward to playing for a 1-3 football team,” said senior linebacker Holden Jackman. “I don’t think anyone was.”

Chris Sarzynski rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and Kyle Glidden scored rushing and receiving touchdowns for the Hawks, the two-time defending champions in Class B who were coming off one of their most lopsided recent losses a week ago at Westbrook.

“Defense did a great job in the first half, actually the whole game,” said Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko. “We gave a up a few pass plays, had a couple guys miss a line. But for the most part I thought we pursued pretty well and played hard, which is good.”

Leavitt, the second-place team in Class B last year that graduated a ton, dropped to 1-3 in Class B, struggling on offense. They gained just 163 yards all night.

“They’re really stout on the interior of their defense,” said Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway. “They can defend the interior without overloading it. They’ve got some big bodies in there, so they loaded up on the outside. They made it tough for us to use our speed. They played a great game on defense.”

Standout back Hunter Sirois managed just 37 yards on 12 carries and the Hornets were intercepted twice when they took to the air.

“I think we were both in the same situation,” said Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko. “It’s two teams that have had a lot of success in recent years and two teams that were 1-2 coming in. Both teams want to win the football game. It comes down to, how bad do you want to win it?”

The teams traded stops into the second quarter, with Leavitt owning the field position edge but not reaching the red zone. A D’Andre James interception that gave the Hornets a first down at the Hawks’ 43 went for naught when the defense stuffed three straight running plays and defended a pass on fourth down.

What followed that was a 12-play, 61-yard drive — all on the ground — with Glidden, Sarzynski and quarterback Cole McDaniel sharing carries and Glidden punching it in from 3 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

A drive before halftime stalled at the 13, but Max Horton let the Hawks cash in with a 30-yard field goal that made the score 10-0.

“The first quarter and a half we just didn’t establish anything,” said Rotsko. “Then, at the end of the half, we started to move the ball and do what we do best, which is come right at you, I guess.”

After a stop to begin the second half and a penalty that set them up at midfield, the Hawks drove for another score. On third-and-goal from the 9, McDaniel sold the play-action, rolled left and found an open Glidden near the goal line for a 17-0 lead.

“Coach drew up a play action and they bit a little bit,” said Glidden. “Cole got time from his linemen, I broke away free and Cole laid a perfect ball.”

The lone mistake the Hawks made after halftime was a fumble that set up Leavitt with a short field and let them score to make it 17-6. But on their next possession, Glidden stepped in front of a pass at cornerback and set his team up close to the goal line with his return.

Sarzynski, a senior captain who was tackled awkwardly during last year’s game against Leavitt and broke a vertebrae, forcing him to miss the rest of the season, got the touchdown from a yard out.

“Before the game he was nervous; he was sitting by himself, no one was talking to him,” said Glidden. “He made good cuts, he kept his head up, and he came back and played hard.”

The Hawks should have a lay-up next week at Gorham, and then finish the season with three games against formidable foes that will determine how high up they’ll finish in the standings: Kennebunk. Falmouth and York.

One thing’s for sure: They’re feeling better about their chances now than they were a week ago.

“Everyone was saying, ‘Marshwood’s legacy’s over,’” said Glidden. “We’re just looking to bring it back right now.”

MARSHWOOD 31, LEAVITT 6

Leavitt 0 0 0 6—6

Marshwood 0 10 7 14—31

First quarter

No scoring.

Second quarter

Mar—Glidden 3 run (Horton kick), 4:08.

Mar—FG 30 Horton, :04.

Third quarter

Mar—Glidden 9 pass from McDaniel (Horton kick), 4:33.

Fourth quarter

Lea—Sirois 2 run (kick failed), 11:09.

Mar—Sarzynski 2 run (Horton kick), 8:41.

Mar—McDaniel 30 run (Horton kick), 3:17.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing—Leavitt, Sirois 12-37, James 5-9, Bowen 2-7, Calder 1-1, Albert 1-1, Moreau 1-(-2); Marshwood, Sarzynski 17-103, McDaniel 9-50, Glidden 14-66,  Taran 2-21, Horton 4-13, Bryant 2-12.

Passing—Leavitt, Albert 11-22—111 (2 INTs), Hicks 0-1—0; Marshwood, McDaniel 4-5—39 (INT).

Receiving—Leavitt, Morin 3-33, Bowen 3-32, James 2-20, Sylvester 2-14, Chouinard 1-12; Marshwood, Cartmill 1-19, Glidden 2-11, Horton 1-9.