BRUNSWICK — Will Bessey has gained a reputation as one of Maine’s best high school football players.
Performances like the one the senior running back turned in Friday night against Skowhegan Area High School is the reason why.
Bessey totaled 367 yards and six touchdowns to help Brunswick (5-0) blitz Skowhegan (4-1) 56-35 in a meeting between the top two teams in Pine Tree Conference B.
“The linemen absolutely just killed it,” Bessey said. “They got it done and that made it easier for me to find my holes and get out in open space.”
Quarterback Garrett McSweeney had an equally impressive offensive performance Friday night, completing 32-of-49 passes for 463 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
While Skowhegan did effectively move the ball and score points, ultimately it just could not stop Bessey or the Dragons when it needed to.
Brunswick sent an early message in marching down the field in seven plays to score on a 1-yard touchdown plunge from quarterback Thomas Hanson. On the drive, Bessey carried the ball five times for 65 yards.
“He’s a tough, tough kid,” Brunswick coach Dan Cooper said. “He’s gifted with the ball in his hands. He’s got speed, he’s got power and he can run between the tackles or outside the tackles. He can throw the ball very well and catch the ball very well. A talent as good as him don’t come around very often.”
The Dragons proceeded to go ahead 14-0 on a 1-yard touchdown rush from Bessey with 4:51 to play in the opening quarter before the Indians answered with a 13-yard touchdown strike from McSweeney to Spencer Salley.
Brunswick continued to pour it on, though, and jumped ahead 35-7 on a 1-yard quarterback keeper from Hanson and runs of 5 and 16 yards, respectively, from Bessey.
Despite the sizable deficit, the Indians still managed to make a push at the end of the second quarter to make it a two-score game. A 22-yard scoring strike to Jon Bell and 7-yard touchdown pass to Salley made 35-21 with 3:46 to play in the opening half.
The Indians would have been in decent shape heading into the second half as they were set to receive the opening kick, but once again they just could not slow down Bessey.
Brunswick marches down the field 64 yards in five plays and 2:44 to push the lead to 42-21 at the break thanks to a 20-yard touchdown strike from Hanson to Bessey, who also had a 27-yard rush earlier in the drive.
“They’re just technicians,” Skowhegan coach Matt Friedman said. “Their line knows exactly where they’re going every play. They double team at the point of attack, they do a great job of it, they’re physical and you add their running backs behind that and it’s really tough to stop.”
Bessey added touchdown runs of 50 and 5 yards in the third quarter to give Brunswick a commanding 56-21 lead and squelch any thoughts of a Skowhegan comeback.
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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