DEXTER – Duncan Markie?

After his performance Saturday in Mattanawcook Academy’s 66-6 LTC football victory over Dexter, you might as well call him Duncan Marquee, because he was the star attraction on this sun-splashed afternoon.

The first time he touched the ball, he returned a punt 44 yards for a touchdown.

The next 11 times he touched the ball, he rushed for 224 yards and four more touchdowns as the Lynx improved their record to 4-0 and now reign as the only undefeated Class C team statewide at the midpoint of the season.

And that doesn’t even count the 67-yard run by Markie that was negated by a holding call.

“We know every time he touches the ball he can make a big play,” said MA senior quarterback Dylan Hanscom. “That’s the type of player he is, he makes those big plays.”

The speedy senior scored from scrimmage on runs of 18, 44, 35, and 47 yards while sitting out the late stages of the second quarter and most of the final half.

Strong blocking up front by Andrew Zagorianakos, Dan Lifer, Ian Nevells, Matt Brown, and Ross Clapp, along with tight end Isaac Young and fullback Jason Murchison, created the holes.

Markie and Co. did the rest.

“We have some weapons,” said MA coach Art Greenlaw. “Our quarterback’s a pretty good player with the ball in his hands, we’ve got a great tailback, and the fullback’s a good football player. We weren’t able to throw the ball much, but there are some good football players here.”

Markie was one of 13 Lynx ballcarriers who averaged 10.4 yards on 40 tries – for a total of 456 rushing yards.

Dexter, which was coming off a Homecoming victory over Stearns of Millinocket, simply could not match that firepower, particularly with its own leading rushers, Ben Spizuoco and Billy Greene, sidelined with injuries.

MA also got a superior defensive effort, limiting Dexter to 56 total yards and three first downs while forcing five turnovers – four interceptions and a fumble.

The 1-3 Tigers did avoid the shutout late in the first half after Matt Blake recovered a fumble at the MA-10. Josh Cousins gained 9 yards on first down, and Dexter scored three plays later when junior quarterback Steven Robinson passed to sophomore tight end Jason Gould on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

But by that time the Lynx already were in control, leading 34-6.

“We talk about trying to make a statement that we’re going to be a good football team,” said Greenlaw, “and one of those things is that we’ve got to be complete. This is the first time we’ve really put it together this year with the offense, defense, and the kick game.”

Mattanawcook scored on its next four possessions after Markie’s punt return, with Markie scoring twice, Murchison scoring from 1 yard out, and Hanscom adding a 2-yard keeper.

The Lynx added five more touchdowns in the third quarter, two by Markie to go with a 30-yard interception return by Steve Braley, a 41-yard run by Jesse Birmingham, and a 5-yard run by Jake Smith.

LYNX 66, TIGERS 6

Mattanawcook (4-0) 27 7 32 0 – 66

Dexter (1-3) 0 6 0 0 – 6

M-Markie 44 punt return (kick failed)

M-Markie 8 run (Robinson kick)

M-Markie 44 run (Robinson kick)

M-Ja. Murchison 1 run (Robinson kick)

M-Hanscom 2 run (Robinson kick)

D-Gould 1 pass from Robinson (pass failed)

M-Markie 35 run (kick failed)

M-Braley 30 interception return (kick failed)

M-Markie 47 run (kick failed)

M-Birmingham 41 run (Long pass from Coggins)

M-Smith 5 run (kick failed)

Mattanawcook Dexter

First downs 19 3

Rushing att.-yards 40-456 29-25

Passing comp.-att. 3-6 3-16

Passing yards 17 31

Total yards 473 56

Punts-avg. 0-0 7-31.3

Fumbles-lost 4-3 1-1

Intercepted by 4 0

Penalties-yards 5-50 6-27

Rushing

Mattanawcook: Markie 11-224, Jo. Murchison 5-54, Ja. Murchison 4-49, Birmingham 5-45, Smart 2-17, Smith 4-16, Vose 2-15, Bellantoni 1-13, Coggins 1-8, Reed 2-7, Gardner 1-6, Hanscom 1-2, Braley 1-0; Dexter: Cousins 13-22, M. Lockhart 8-13, S. Keith 4-4, S. Robinson 4-(minus 14)

Passing

Mattanawcook: Hanscom 3-5-0-17, Coggins 0-1-0-0; Dexter: S. Robinson 3-16-4-31

Receiving

Mattanawcook: Gardner 1-13, Young 1-6, Bellantoni 1-(minus 2); Dexter: D. Keith 1-21, Richardson 1-9, Gould 1-1

A-325 (est.)