RUMFORD – This time it wasn’t even close as the Mountain Valley football team returned to its trademark smashmouth running game and proved to be in total command at Hosmer Field on Friday.

Juniors Matt Laubauskas and Justin Staires combined to gain 283 yards and each scored touchdowns as the Falcons cruised to a 34-0 win in a Campbell Conference semi-final playoff game against Fryeburg.

The Falcon defense was equally as strong by limiting the Raiders to 124 total yards. The teams were well aware of what to expect, as Mountain Valley beat Fryeburg 35-14 in September. However, it was clear from the start that the Falcons were ready.

On the first possession, Laubauskas ran up the middle for a 25-yard TD. The 69-yard drive took three plays, including a 47-yard run by Laubauskas (178 yards, 15 rushes) and an eight-yard burst by Staires (105 yards, 16 rushes).

The teams traded turnovers and the Falcons received the ball in Fryeburg territory. John Gorham broke outside and sprinted for a 25-yard TD. Aaron Cote kicked the extra point to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead with 55:01 left in the first quarter. “We started out strong,” Laubauskas said. “We put in some new plays for this game and coach (Jim) Aylward is one of the best at calling for adjustments and coach (Rick) White is able to pick out the holes to go through. We’ve had some trouble getting things going in the first quarter, so tonight we (addressed) it.”

No. 2 Mountain Valley advances to its 13th regional final in 19 years and will play the winner of today’s York-Cape Elizabeth contest. The Falcons saw their 20-game unbeaten streak snapped by Cape Elizabeth last week.

“I am really proud of our execution in the first half,” Aylward said. “The kids played well and Fryeburg had moved the ball, so we had to adapt. But the defense came up with a couple big stands when we needed them.”

Fryeburg (7-3) tried using junior quarterback Preston Jones (35 yards, 18 rushes) to scramble out of the backfield. Shovel passes to Sequoyah Reynoso (20 yards, six rushes) were ineffective. Reynoso was stuck hard by the Falcons’ Derek Sicotte and was unable to play in the second half.

“There was a little ressure on the team,”Falcon two-way standout Ryan Cormier said. “Especially after last week because we wanted to show what we could do. I put a lot of pressure on myself because this is my final game at Hosmer and we shutout teams during the first part of the season. Plus, people didn’t think we could do it.”

Mountain Valley came right back strong in the second quarter and QB Keith Brennick passed to Sicotte for a 21-yard TD. Sicotte had beaten the coverage and was alone just inside the pile-on. Staires scored on a 19-yard run. The Falcons kicking game continued to be solid with Aaron Cote who booted four extra points and has made 39 this season.

The Raiders drove the ball inside the red zone in the third quarter as Jones passed to Orion Winkler (three catches for 42 yards). A fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

“I knew Fryeburg would try some tthings,” Aylward said. “I am proud to have known Fryeburg coach Jim ‘Fuzzy’ Thurston for the past 20 years and I have a lot of respect for him as a person and a coach. It was great to see Fryeburg turn things around this year.”

The Falcon defense was on a mission as Jones was sacked by Ryan Cormier, Matt Duka, Matt annd Ryan Laubauskas.

Brennick scored on a one-yard keeper to complete a 13-play, 80-yard drive in the third quarter.