Portland and Falmouth took home gold footballs Saturday after posting state championship victories at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
In the Class A game, Portland quarterback Louis Thurston ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more to help the Bulldogs overpower Thornton Academy of Saco 35-14.
The win avenged last year’s loss to the Trojans in the title game. Portland finished the season with a 10-2 record.
Thornton, playing in its sixth consecutive Class A championship, finished 9-3.
Trailing 7-6 in the third quarter, Portland’s offense ignited behind Thurston, who finished with 119 rushing yards on 13 carries and 126 passing yards, according to the Portland Press Herald. It started with an 81-yard touchdown run by Thurston. He then completed a pass for the 2-point PAT to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
On Portland’s next possession, Thurston completed a 64-yard TD pass to Aidan McGowan.
After Portland recovered an onside kick, Thurston tossed a TD pass to Cordell Jones to make it 28-7. The teams traded touchdowns to account for the final.
Thornton Academy was led by Mauricio Sunderland, who had a 21-yard TD run and gained 115 yards.
In the Class B game, Falmouth’s Indi Backman and Gio Guerrette ran for touchdowns and quarterback Tres Walker threw for a score to lead the Navigators to a 26-13 victory over Kennebunk.
Falmouth finished the season 11-0 with the victory which marked its first state title.
Defending state champion Kennebunk finished 10-1.
Falmouth jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half only to see Kennebunk lineman Calvin Johnson intercept a Walker pass and return it 15 yards for a touchdown to pull the Rams within 14-6, according to Centralmaine.com
Peter Kearns of Falmouth kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 17-6 at halftime.
Kearns punctuated a Falmouth drive by kicking another 35-yard field goal to start the second half making it 20-6.
Kennebunk’s Jaiden Homa returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown to pull the Rams within 20-13.
But Falmouth countered when Guerrette scored on an 80-yard run to give the Navigators a 26-13 lead.
