DIXFIELD — Neither the cold drizzle nor a few straggling well-wishers, television cameras and guys wielding tape recorders could stop Dirigo High School’s football team. Hand-in-hand, stretched across the field three dozen strong, the Cougars trod leisurely from one end zone to the other at Harlow Park.

As symbolic gestures go, this one had multiple meanings. Intended as a public declaration of brotherhood and camaraderie, it might have been the most time-consuming march the Cougars made over that turf all autumn long.

Saturday’s Western Class C final was laden with the same long-ball, catch-and-go, made-you-miss theatrics that Campbell Conference rivals have come to expect from the Cougars. And the bottom line — Dirigo ripped Yarmouth, 41-7 — didn’t look decidedly different than the 74-6, 49-19 or 42-8 drubbings that preceded it.

“The better team won,” said Alex Miele, who made five receptions for 117 yards and intercepted a pass.

For the 11th straight time, Miele might add, and none closer than three touchdowns.

Dirigo will vie for its fourth state championship and first since 1975 against fellow unbeaten Foxcroft Academy next Saturday at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium.

No. 7 Yarmouth (8-3) rode the momentum of two prior, dramatic road upsets through a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its opening series. Trailing for only the second time this dream season, Dirigo dominated every phase for the duration.

Nic Crutchfield rushed for two touchdowns and connected through the air with Spencer Ross for another. Ross and Tyler Chiasson added rushing touchdowns.

David Guildford played the defensive game of his life with four quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a safety. And dual fall sports letterman Eric Bolduc got into the act, too, nailing a 37-yard field goal at the first-half horn that would have cleared the crossbar and split the uprights from 50.

“They’re a great team. When you watch them on film, I guess you don’t really appreciate how good they are,” said Yarmouth coach Jim Hartman, whose own team made an amazing surge to the regional final after only one win in two previous varsity seasons.

Eric Estabrook tossed an 11-yard TD pass to Andrew Gabrielson on fourth-and-7 to cap the Clippers’ 6-minute, 37-second parade after the opening kickoff. Dirigo held Yarmouth to 74 total yards thereafter.

Sitting out on defense due to a hip injury that knocked him out of last week’s semifinal shutout of Winthrop, Crutchfield conducted his customary clinic at quarterback and wasted no time ending the Clippers’ era of good feelings.

Bryan Blackman’s 45-yard kickoff return was a double-whammy to Yarmouth when Estabrook injured his shoulder on the play. Crutchfield overcame two sacks on the ensuing drive by threading the needle to Miele and drawing a pass interference penalty.

Again under duress, Crutchfield found safety valve Chiasson for a 9-yard gain to set up fourth-and-6. He drew an encroachment penalty with a hard snap count, then moved the chains with a quarterback sneak. Next, after scrambling right and finding Miele blanketed in the end zone, Crutchfield missed two tacklers, tiptoed the sideline and stepped inside the pylon.

“They started the game with a lot of momentum, and we took it right back,” Crutchfield said.

Two holding penalties and a pair of tackles for loss forced a short punt from deep in Yarmouth territory that Miele returned to the 27. Four different Dirigo backs carried the ball on theensuing five-play drive, with Chiasson claiming the lead for good from nine yards out.

Even Yarmouth’s flickers of hope backfired. Nate Pingitore dragged down Ross (10 carries, 69 yards) inside the 1 at the end of an option play. When Dirigo botched the next exchange, Tommy O’Toole pounced and recovered the fumble for the Clippers.

But Guildford’s surge up the middle stuffed David Dietz shy of the chalk on the next play for two points and a 16-7 Dirigo lead.

Following the free kick, Crutchfield (7-for-11, 138 yards) went upstairs to Miele for 37 yards to the Yarmouth 18. Runs by Ross and Blackman gained another first down and set the stage for Crutchfield, who leapfrogged his blocker Chiasson and coasted to a 7-yard score.

“They’re just a really good team, all the way around,” Dietz said. “Nobody expected us to be here. We expected to be here from the start of the season.”

So did Dirigo, which kept up the pressure with a three-and-out and used its timeouts to snag another possession.

Ross’ 50-yard TD catch was nullified by an illegal block, but Crutchfield found Miele for 40 with his next offering to give Bolduc a boomer’s chance through the light rain.

“That field goal was big, because it kept everybody excited going into the half,” said Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert.

Kyle Hutchinson’s 17-yard grab in traffic set up Ross’ 3-yard TD rush to keep the Cougars clicking through the third quarter. 

In the fourth, Ross responded to his second disallowed score of the day by cashing in on the next play, a 25-yard strike from Crutchfield.

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Dirigo High School’s Tyler Chiasson gets dragged down by Yarmouth High School’s Shane Ryan during the first period in Dixfield on Saturday.

Dirigo High School kicker Eric Bolduc celebrates after kicking a 37-yard field goal with no time remaining in the second quarter against Yarmouth on Saturday.

Dirigo High School’s Tyler Chiasson (45), Kyle Hutchinson (87) and Alex Miele (89) celebrate their 41-7 victory over Yarmouth High School during the Western Class C Regional Championship in Dixfield on Saturday.

Dirigo High School’s Spencer Ross gets pulled down by Yarmouth High School’s Jon Held during the Western Class C Regional Championship in Dixfield on Saturday. Held was not called for a face mask penalty on the play.

Dirigo High School’s Alex Miele wraps up Yarmouth High School’s Nate Pingitore during the Western Class C Regional Championship in Dixfield on Saturday.

Dirigo High School football players acknowledge their fans following their 41-7 victory over Yarmouth High School during the Western Class C Regional Championship in Dixfield on Saturday. Dirigo will play for the state championship in Portland on Saturday.