DIXFIELD — Dirigo’s defense proved it could bend without breaking and quarterback Nic Crutchfield rushed for two touchdowns and threw one, as Dirigo remained unbeaten with a 26-6 win over Old Orchard Beach in a Campbell Conference football game Saturday.

Dirigo (3-0) had a little trouble getting going offensively and nearly shot itself in the foot with two fumbles in the first quarter, but the Cougars made the necessary adjustments. The Cougars scored on a 31-yard pass from Crutchfield to Bryan Blackman to lead 13-6 with 4:39 remaining in the first half and never looked back.

“We played much better in the second half,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “I think it showed what we are capable of doing when we don’t turn the ball over or commit foolish penalties.”

Dirigo has won 13 regular-season games since losing to Winthrop in October, 2007. The Cougars beat the Ramblers 34-6, last week.

OOB (1-2) used massive fullback Brandon Ouellette (86 yards, 18 rushes) out of the shotgun throughout the game and it led to a score when Zac Gordon caught a 27-yard TD pass late in the first quarter. A trick formation failed to fool the Cougars on the conversion try. The Seagulls had recovered a fumble at the Dirigo 35.

“In the beginning of the game, I think we were in awe of the size of their big boys,” said Dirigo defensive end Kyle Hutchinson, who returned an interception 99 yards for a TD in the final minute. “We needed to settle down and play hard.”

Dirigo turned up the heat when Chad Oakes suffered a concussion and was transported to the hospital during the first quarter.

On the its initial drive of the second half, Dirigo drove down and attempted a field goal. OOB ran three plays and a short punt gave the Cougars excellent field position. A 17-yard run by Spencer Ross (56 yards, eight rushes) set up a first and goal and two plays later Crutchfield (107 yards, 18 rushes) scored on a 3-yard run.

OOB hindered its cause because of several high snaps from center disrupted the blocking and allowed penetration by the Dirigo defense. Holt McCollister, David Guilford, Arik Fenstermacher, Jake Dowland and Alex Miele each reached the backfield.

“The defense came up big on several series,” Gilbert said. “On offense, we had planned on challenging the middle of (OOB) line, but we discovered spreading the field was more effective.”

On the Cougars second possession, Dirigo started on its own 19 and reeled off three first downs, including a 20-yard run by Tyler Chiasson (44 yards, seven rushes). Crutchfield called his own number and scored on a 20-yard run. Eric Bolduc kicked his first of two extra points.

The Seagulls yards had 140 yards of total offense.

“We didn’t take them lightly,” Ross said. “They are a big team from the south and we left it all on the field. We just needed to hit low, that was the key.”