DIXFIELD – Dirigo opened up the airways and ended a two-decade drought by clinching a Campbell Conference playoff berth.

Quarterback Nic Crutchfield threw for three touchdowns, including a pair to Alex Miele, and Dirigo remained unbeaten with a 33-0 victory over Yarmouth before a homecoming crowd on Saturday.

Dirigo (6-0) jumped on top early and then added a score with 44.9 seconds left in the first half.

Crutchfield rolled right and uncorked a spiral to Miele who had beaten the secondary for 48 yards. The possession had been set-up when linebacker Mason Cote had sacked Yarmouth quarterback Eric Estabrook, and then forced a bad punt.

“We worked as a team,” Crutchfield said. “Every one did their job from the line, receivers and runners, plus we had excellent play calling. Just when we had them thinking it was a run in the middle, we would take it outside.”

The Cougars previous playoff game was when they finished 4-4 in 1988. Last year, they were tied for fourth, but fell shy on Heal Points.

Yarmouth (1-5) entered the game with incentives after winning its first game last week. The Clippers held their own and held Dirigo to 50 yards rushing in the first half.

Things changed on the opening possession of the third quarter, Josh Palmer (80 yards in second half) rushed the ball eight consecutive times on smash-mouth runs. After Yarmouth called a timeout, Crutchfield (4 of 6 for 185 yards, 55 yards rushing) connected with Miele for a 27-yard touchdown. The 71yard drive took 8:33.

“I had told the line that they weren’t not getting the job done,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “Yarmouth was blitzing, so we changed and went with a single-set, flanker slot in the second half. The tackle was shoved outside and the rest of the line decided to get things done”

The Cougars controlled the line of scrimmage behind tackles Keith Langervin and Mike Beale, guards Arik Fenstermacher and Cote and center David Guilford.

Dirigo set the tone on its initial possession when Tyler Chiasson caught a 75-yard reception and ran untouched down the right sidelines.

“On the roll outs, the receivers were able to get behind the secondary,” Chiasson said, who had 112 receiving yards and an interception. “Yarmouth bit on the fake and Nic sees the field so well.”

Palmer had a 5-yard touchdown, Aaron Fenstermacher scored on a 21-yard burst and Eric Bolduc kicked three extra points.

Clippers went on a 14-play drive that reached the red zone, behind Colin Simsarian (68 yards, 16 rushes). The drive featured eight first downs and four third down, but stalled on fourth down at the Cougars 15-yard line.

“After the first half, we knew we needed to step it up,” Cote said. “We weren’t playing up to the level we are capable of playing.”