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FARMINGTON — Allowing a touchdown on the opening drive was not in the plans for a Messalonskee football team determined to show it had improved on defense.

The rest of the game, though, went about as well as the Eagles, who still hope to finish toward the top of the Pine Tree Conference, could have hoped.

Messalonskee scored four unanswered touchdowns Friday to claim a 26-7 victory over Mt. Blue at Caldwell Field. The Eagles converted six times on fourth down and got another dominant game from quarterback Tatum Doucette to improve to 3-3.

“I’m super proud of how the kids came through tonight,” said Messalonskee coach Blair Doucette. “We made a few changes to our defensive scheme, and it worked out. They really came through and battled and did what they needed to do.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tatum Doucette dazzled again. A week after passing for 172 yards and rushing for 255 against Brunswick, the senior, who is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder suffered during the Eagles’ Week 4 loss at Fryeburg Academy, threw for 197 yards and rushed for 161 (358 yards total).

“My team is behind me always, no matter the injury and no matter if I’m up or down,” said Doucette, who threw and ran for scores in the first half before adding another rushing TD late in the second. “That helps me keep going and strive; it’s really nice to have them behind me.”

• Fourth-down conversions. On Messalonskee’s go-ahead touchdown drive in the second quarter, the Eagles converted twice on fourth down before Doucette threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Cusano. Then, in the third quarter, they converted four fourth downs before Cusano rushed for a 1-yard score.

• Long drives. Those fourth-down conversions helped Messalonskee methodically move down the field. The Eagles’ second-half scoring drives went 18 plays for 69 yards and 12 plays for 94 yards after they had gone 14 plays for 78 yards to take a 12-7 lead.

MESSALONSKEE’S DEFENSE DELIVERS

There’s no sugarcoating that Messalonskee has had struggles defensively. Entering Friday’s contest, the Eagles had allowed 38.4 points per game, the most in Class B.

After allowing 32 points against Brunswick last week, though, Messalonskee switched its defense to a base 4-3. The change paid dividends as the Eagles limited Mt. Blue (1-5) to 194 yards and got drive-halting interceptions from Parker Doucette and Denny Martin.

“We changed our defensive scheme, and we made sure we rotated and kept everybody fresh,” Cusano said. “We just went and balled out.”

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“(Tatum) is the type of kid that just works really hard, and he deserves the type of results he gets because of the effort he puts in practice and just his ability to execute the offense. He just wants to do everything he can to help his team.” — Blair Doucette

“(Tatum and I) make sure during practices we’re always connecting, and if we ever have any slip-ups, we make sure to go over it. Our offensive coordinator (Dave Cusano) also helps us with that.” — Malachi Cusano

STAT LEADERS

• Messalonskee: Tatum Doucette (19 carries, 161 yards, 2 TDs; 16 of 22 passing, 197 yards, TD), Malachi Cusano (six catches, 84 yards, TD; rushing TD), Quinn Charles (four catches, 47 yards)

• Mt. Blue: Gary Harkins (9 of 13 passing, 103 yards, 2 INTs), Dillon Gray (five carries, 31 yards, TD; 55-yard return on opening kickoff), Cannon Smith (five catches, 66 yards)

UP NEXT

• Messalonskee: vs. Leavitt (3-2, plays Gardiner on Saturday), 7 p.m. Oct. 17

• Mt. Blue: vs. Winthrop (6-0), 7 p.m. Oct. 17