OLD ORCHARD BEACH – Two days off from practice and a rare Saturday night Campbell Conference tilt with Old Orchard Beach was enough to throw off Winthrop for about a half.

But only one half.

The Ramblers scored three times in the span of less than eight minutes in the third quarter to pull away with a 33-0 win and clinch a spot in the Western Class C playoffs.

Running backs Jake Steele (nine carries, 119 yards), Joe Morey (nine carries, 112 yards) and Skyler Whaley (six carries, 87 yards) each broke off long runs for touchdowns, and the Rambler defense dominated the line of scrimmage to post their fourth straight shutout of the season.

“The first half we came out flat and in the second half we stepped it up and got the line together and just came out strong,” said Winthrop senior lineman Chris Minor. “We had a half-day of school on Thursday and Friday we had no school, so we were off a little.

“The second half, we brought it together.”

The Ramblers’ offense spent most of the first half in Seagull territory but two interceptions, a fumble and two sacks kept them out of the end zone except for a 71-yard TD run by Morey late in the first quarter.

Winthrop’s defense turned the tables in the second half, starting with a David Ketchen interception that set up an 11-yard TD run by Whaley with 8:40 left in the third quarter. The special teams then pinned the Seagulls at their own 1 on the ensuing kickoff.

The defense kept them hemmed in and allowed the offense to take over at the OOB 33 after a punt.

Three plays later, Jordan Conant hooked up with Kevin Hart on a 33-yard TD pass and the route was on.

“We got a wake up call. We weren’t very focused when we got here,” Winthrop coach Joel Stoneton said.

“The kids just played through the adversity and got into the rhythm of the game and got physical on defense in the second half.”

The Ramblers (6-0) again held the Seagulls (3-3) three-and-out deep in their own territory to set up a 49-yard TD run by Steele that made it 26-0. Whaley capped the scoring with a 62-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Winthrop outgained OOB, 375-186 on the night and did an excellent job stifling the Seagulls’ running game.

Zack Chase had 82 yards rushing on 14 carries for OOB, but 55 of those yards came on one run when the outcome was already decided.