WALES — The top-seeded Oak Hill football team had a few things it wanted to accomplish Saturday in a Campbell Conference Class D quarterfinal game with under-manned Traip.

“We’re looking to execute, to make everything run smoothly,” senior quarterback Dalton Therrien said. “We want to get off our blocks, to get our passing down. We want to put everything on a dime so that way when times get tough, we know what to do. We’ve had that practice.”

Added Oak Hill receiver Jonah Martin: “We’re coming out to make a stament to the other teams coming out to scout us. We’re not just here because of our recent success. We’re here to stay. We want to show them what we’ve got, how good we are really.”

The two-time defending Class D state champ Raiders (8-0) did all that on a sunny Saturday, cruising to a 48-6 victory over No. 8 Traip (2-6) in a game that featured a running clock in the second half.

The victory also came in front of watchful eyes from Winthrop/Monmouth and Maine Central Institute scouts.

The Raiders will host the No. 4 Ramblers (5-3) in a regional semifinal Saturday. A showdown with MCI (8-0) in the Class D state game could come later.

“We don’t think that far ahead,” Oak Hill coach Stacen Doucette said. “No way. We’re going week to week, one opponent at a time.”

Saturday, that opponent was a Traip team that struggled to move the ball — save for a 74-yard touchdown run from junior Evan Pledger in the first quarter — and stop a versatile Oak Hill offense that ran and threw the ball with much success.

“I liked our execution, yes,” Doucette added.

Therrien led the way, turning in strong performances with his arms and legs. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 153 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries. Two of his touchdown throws went to Martin, who had three catches for 92 yards.

“He threw a good ball today,” Doucette said. “We gave him a clean pocket and he took advantage. We executed.”

Oak Hill gained 419 yards of total offense and held Traip to just 119, with 74 coming on the touchdown run that sliced into Oak Hill’s early 13-0 lead.

The Raiders opened the scoring a little more than three minutes into the contest when Therrien lobbed a 49-yard touchdown pass to Martin on third-and-10.

“He floated it over their D perfectly,” Martin said. “Perfect throw.”

Added Therrien: “We just took what the defense gave us. We read the defense. We saw where they were shifting, they were going strong side. Receivers knew when to go inside and outside. I had great protection and the type of pass we did was more of a float pass rather than a bullet. I had to put some air on it.”

Oak Hill shed its lead to 13-0 when Therrien again found Martin, this time from 35 yards out on a well-thrown ball down the left sideline on fourth-and-17.

“They shifted over to the strong side, leaving one side open,” Therrien said. “We called the right pattern and made the play.”

Therrien later rushed for a 63-yard touchdown with 3:07 left in the first quarter to give Oak Hill a 21-6 lead.

It was more of the same in the second quarter.

Therrien connected with Connor Nilsson on a 32-yard touchdown pass and later threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Darryn Bailey.

The Oak Hill signal caller also rushed for a 53-yard touchdown.

Oak Hill then rested its starters in the second half.

“We played well,” Doucette said. “We weren’t perfect and we still have a lot to work on, but we played well today.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5618

bstewart@centralmaine.com

Twitter: billstewartMTM

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