TURNER — They are goals discussed in early November, all easier said than done.

Balance the state budget and eliminate the federal deficit.

Finish all your holiday shopping early.

Stop Alonzo Connor.

In order to defend its Pine Tree Conference Class B championship Saturday, Leavitt will be forced to confront, and contain, one of the most explosive running backs in the state.

Gardiner’s Connor has exceeded 1,500 yards while scoring 30 touchdowns in a sensational junior campaign.

Through two playoff games, Connor has amassed 431 yards and seven scores. It’s a hot streak that recalls the late-autumn run Leavitt graduate Josh Strickland enjoyed last season, when he hoisted the Hornets to their third state championship since 1995.

“You’ve got to tackle him. He has a habit of bouncing around or spinning and getting his way out of trouble,” said Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway. “If you watched the game-winning touchdown at Hampden on film, you think he’s down, and then it breaks down and all of a sudden he’s out in the open.”

Connor’s 37-yard run in the last minute of regulation gave Gardiner a 28-25 semifinal victory at Hampden.

Leavitt couldn’t silence Connor in their Oct. 22 regular-season encounter.

He returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and hammered out an additional 168 yards on the ground, including a 63-yard ramble.

“The key thing is you’ve got to defeat your blocks and tackle him before he gets creases to run through,” Hathaway said. “If he gets to the second and third levels of your defense, he’s as dangerous a guy as there is.”

Everyone else in a black-and-orange uniform was limited to a total of 23 yards, however. Leavitt shut out Gardiner in the second half and won going away, 34-13.

The Hornets (10-0) blanked the Tigers (8-2) twice last year, including a 13-0 verdict in the Eastern Class B championship.

That game was a tougher contest than the first meeting. Hathaway expects the 2010 rematch to be no different.

“I’m sure they’ve gone back and watched that tape,” said the coach. “They’ve scouted us for a couple weeks. I’m sure they’ll be better prepared than what they were the first time.”

Leavitt’s option game exhibited balance that Gardiner couldn’t match or stop the first time around.

Jake Ouellette enjoyed one of the best nights of his career with 206 yards. Quarterback Jordan Hersom added 126 yards and four TDs.

The Hornets don’t flaunt the every-down back or the bruising offensive line this season, but they counter with depth at the skill positions and quickness all around.

“Jake Ouellette (over 1,000 yards) has had a great year. Jason Fisher is back and he’s healthy. (Split end) Lucas Witham is back and he’s healthy. Devin Long has been lining up at tailback every third series to spell Jake,” Hathaway said. “We’ve got a lot of guys to go to, and for our offensive line to be athletic and smart as they are up front, I like where we are.”

Gardiner is more than Connor, also.

Dalton Eldridge has emerged as a capable runner and blocker at fullback. Eldridge also lines up at multiple locations for the Tigers defense.

The Tigers rebounded from the midseason loss of two-way lineman Eddie Donnell, who broke his leg in a win over Camden Hills. Leavitt, riding the state’s longest winning streak at 22 games, is the only team to hold Gardiner under 21 points.

“Up front, offensively he was a big part of what they like to do. They liked to run behind him,” Hathaway said. “I think the last two weeks they’ve found some answers to that. They’re playing their best football of the year, so we have to be ready.”

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