WINTHROP – It didn’t take the Winthrop Ramblers long to show why they are the preseason favorite in Western Maine Class C.

Scoring on their first three possessions of the first quarter, the Ramblers pounded Traip 46-13 in a season opener for both teams.

The Ramblers, who averaged nearly 30 points a game in 2007, matched that with scoring runs from Joe Morey, Jake Steele and Riley Cobb all in the first eight minutes of the game. Skylar Whaley rounded out the first quarter, scoring for a 33-0 Rambler lead after just 12 minutes.

“We were just really anxious to play,” said Winthrop coach Joel Stoneton, “With a lot of guys coming back to play, they just wanted to pick up where we left off last year.”

The Ramblers added two more scores in the second frame. Backups Cory Harris and Spencer Smith each had touchdown runs to give the Ramblers a commanding 46-0 lead at the end of the first half.

The Rambler starters had a short night as Stoneton went to his bench early in the second quarter. Senior QB Jordan Conant threw only one pass. It help set up Winthrop’s third score of the night as he found Andrew Smithgall for a 40-yard pass and run.

“There is no question that we are explosive,” said Stoneton. “I think we are going to be able to give teams some problems.”