WATERVILLE — You may have to go back to the early ’80s to replicate the excitement surrounding the Madison/Carrabec football team this season.

A week after snapping Winslow’s 25-game win streak, the Bulldogs rolled to a 67-0 victory Saturday over Waterville to remain unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play.

“I’m an old-timer,” Madison coach Scott Franzose said “I played back in the ’80s under Art Rudman, in the Bobby Wilder days. I grew up looking up to him. We’ve had the community behind us. What’s nice to see now is that true belief.”

The Bulldogs are 5-0 with a big game on the road next week at Mount Desert Island while Waterville falls to 0-5.

This one was essentially over in the first quarter as Madison rolled to a 33-0 lead, scoring on four of its first five possessions and capping it with a 40-yard interception return by junior Evan Bess. There was no letdown following the team’s biggest win in recent memory.

“We talked about just staying focused,” Bess said. “Keeping our energy up and staying focused throughout the game. I think we did a great job with that today.”

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The Bulldogs made big play after big play. Junior back Sean Whalen finished with 171 yards on just five carries, scoring on runs of 25, 12 and 77 yards. Senior back Nick Morales rushed for 98 yards on 10 carries and scored on runs of 23, 34 and 21 yards. And Bess completed 6 of 9 passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns.

“We like to throw the flash screen and the bubble stuff,” Franzose said. “A lot of teams have been pressing and taking it away but we saw it on film that it was there today. It’s kind of high percentage stuff. We like to plug it right into our run game.”

Mitch Jarvais caught two of Bess’ touchdown throws of 44 and 15 yards while Steven Ouellette scored on a 25-yard scoring toss. The receivers also sprung big plays from one another and the backs with outstanding downfield blocking.

“We do a lot,” Franzose said. “We’re not your typical run from A to B gap. We run outside so stock blocks with our receivers, the Mitch Jarvais’, the Steven Ouellette’s, that’s important, Jacob Meader who does an outstanding job, so it’s just not interior linemen at the point of attack. Really everybody plays to the whistle.”

Highlights were few for the Purple Panthers, who are young and rebuilding under coach Matt Gilley. Running back Drew Nelson gained 82 yards on 25 carries, many of those after initial contact. Defensive end Zach Smith was in on a number of tackles as was sophomore lineman John Evans, who also blocked two extra points.

“We have a handful of young kids who are playing really, really hard,” Gilley said. “We’re playing a ton of young guys and it’s an open tryout.”

Gilley recalled Waterville beating Madison just two years ago.

“All these seniors that are playing against us today went out there and took their lumps, stuck together and worked hard for the next two years and you’re seeing the results of that.”


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