BREWER – Despite the limited availability of their star running back and the absence of a starting offensive lineman, the Brewer Witches still mounted an impressive ground attack to notch their second straight win and maintain hot pursuit of a playoff spot.

Brewer’s running game kept the opposing offense off the field and helped wear down a young but talented Messalonskee of Oakland squad en route to a 13-0 LTC Class B football victory at Doyle Field Friday night before a sparse crowd of about 100 fans.

The win means the 5-3 Witches will finish no lower than fourth and secure the last playoff spot if they beat Hampden next week. With a 3-3 divisional record, Brewer can still be caught and passed by Old Town (4-4, 3-3 division) if the Witches lose and the Indians beat Orono next week.

After forcing Messalonskee to punt after the first three plays of their initial drive, the Witches took over at their own 45-yard line.

Brewer took advantage of its great field position with a 55-yard scoring drive that took four minutes, 20 seconds and 11 plays.

Due to a nagging ankle injury, leading Brewer rusher Seth Burnes was limited to just two carries and two punt returns. But fullback Dan Coffin and quarterback Jeff Conlon served notice early on they were no slouches either as the two combined for 39 of the drive’s 55 yards.

In fact, Conlon was an offensive dynamo for the Witches, capping the initial scoring drive with a 12-yard option keeper run. Conlon broke right before cutting back to the left (home) sideline and zipping into the end zone with 5:42 left in the first quarter.

Both teams traded long drives and punts as defense took over for the rest of the half.

Brewer started the second half the same way they began the first. The Witches used four different ballcarriers to grind out a 62-yard scoring drive that Conlon again capped with a TD run.

On second-and-7 from the Eagles’ 37, Brewer’s senior quarterback faked a handoff to Coffin and another to Tom Dwyer – both of which Eagles defenders bit on – before keeping it himself, veering left, and racing 37 yards untouched into the end zone.

“The end was coming at us, so I gave him a quick out move, cut inside, and got a great block from Chris O’Donnell,” said Conlon.

Coffin finished with 70 yards on 10 carries. Coffin piled up the tough yardage with 54 yards on 14 carries, most up the middle.

“Our option worked really well the whole game. They were biting on the first fake a lot,” said Coffin.

Brewer outrushed the Eagles 167 yards to 125.

“They were a bit superior up front and that made all the difference,” said Messalonskee coach John Hersom.

Brewer’s rushing aptitude was surprising considering the loss of junior guard Mike Kennedy, who strained ligaments in his leg during phys ed class Friday.

“That’s one area where we’re fairly deep and [senior guard] Ray Allen stepped in and did a real nice job,” said Brewer coach Don Farnham.

Another reserve who came up big was backup defensive back Kevin Getchell, who replaced free safety John Schwarze after Schwarze left the game late in the first quarter with a spained right ankle. Getchell picked off a pass from Eagles QB Geoff Ponitz in the second quarter at Brewer’s own 27 and also made several open field tackles in the game.

“You have to have those kinds of kids to make a playoff run,” said Farnham. “Ninety percent of success is confidence and our confidence is increasing each game.”

Witches 13, Eagles 0

Messlnskee(3-5) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Brewer (5-3) 7 0 6 0 – 13

B-Conlon 12 run (Corey kick)

B-Conlon 37 run (kick failed)

Messalonskee Brewer

First downs 10 11 Rushing att. – yds 42-125 35-167 Passing cmp. – att. 0-9 1-3 Yards passing 0 10 Total yards 125 177 Intercepted by 1 0 Punts – avg. 3-29.0 3-37.7 Fumbles – lost 2-0 0-0 Penalties – yds 4-80 5-64

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Messalonskee: Williams 18-80, Blethen 8-24, Rodrigue 9-15, Ponitz 7-6; Brewer: Conlon 10-70, Coffin 14-54, Dwyer 4-18, Collins 5-15, Burnes 2-10

PASSING – Messalonskee: Ponitz 0-9-1-0; Brewer: Conlon 1-3-1-10

RECEIVING – Brewer: Thornton 1-10