OLD ORCHARD BEACH – Spencer Ross’ first encounter with a football Friday night was one he’d like to forget. His next two won’t soon be forgotten.

Minutes after he got too close to a bouncing punt which resulted in a turnover, Ross returned a punt for a touchdown. Four plays later, he did it again.

Ross’ touchdowns of 79 and 58 yards ignited Dirigo to a 33-6 win over Old Orchard Beach in a Campbell Conference football game.

In a strange first quarter, the Seagulls (3-5) ran 21 plays and punted the ball four times through their first five possessions. In that time, the Cougars (7-1) executed just one play. The first boot by OOB punter Rajheem Lang went minus-8 yards, the second took a high bounce near midfield and appeared to strike the leg of Ross before a Seagull player scooped up the ball.

“It took a weird bounce,” said the sophomore returner, “but it never hit me.”

The officials thought differently and gave the ball to the Seagulls on the Dirigo 47.

“He was the one called for offensive pass interference last week against Winthrop,” said Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert. “He wanted to make up for it.”

Boy, did he ever.

Lang’s next kick landed on the Cougar 30 and bounced back toward the goal line.

“The coaches were yelling ‘poison’ for us to get away,” said Ross. “Then it rolled back further so I picked it up.”

After a short dart to the left, he cut up the middle of the field and raced 79 yards for the score.

Four plays later, Ross was at it again. Catching the ball high on his right shoulder amid heavy traffic at his own 42, Ross quickly found a similar opening in the middle of the field. He then made a move to the outside and sprinted down the right sideline to paydirt for a 58-yard score.

“The last four or five weeks we’ve had some breakdowns on special teams,’ OOB coach Dean Plante said. “They kick the ball well and play defense, and they played those two phases of the game very well.”

Defense was something the Cougars placed a focus on heading into the game.

“We challenged the kids to have some three and outs tonight,” Gilbert said. “We haven’t had many of those the last few games. (The defense) stepped it up this week.”

Defensive tackle Jared Bisson had three tackles for losses in the first quarter and spearheaded a defense that limited the Seagulls to just 2.3 yards per carry and only 168 yards of total offense. A 6-yard run by fullback Brandon Ouellette late in the first half was the lone Seagulls score.

On offense, quarterback Nic Crutchfield again led the way for the Cougars. He rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries and continually frustrated the OOB defensive line with his elusiveness. His highlight-reel play Friday was his 24-yard touchdown run on the Cougars’ first possession of the second half. He attempted a run over the right side, broke a tackle and escaped toward wide-open left side of the field. He ran away from the defense to put the Cougars up 26-6.

“He’s a stud,” said Plante. “You think you have him and then you don’t.”

Crutchfield’s final score of the game capped a four-play, 37-yard drive late in the final minute.