Close calls have been Dirigo football’s downfall all season.

Facing a must-win situation Saturday morning in pursuit of a Western Class C playoff berth, the Cougars cut it anything but close.

Ben Holmes ran for a touchdown, threw for another score, returned one of his three defensive interceptions to the end zone and was 6-for-6 kicking extra points in Dirigo’s 54-6 rout of Telstar at Bethel.

Dirigo (4-4) secured the No. 7 seed in the eight-team Campbell Conference playoffs and will travel to Kittery to face No. 2 Traip (6-2) next Saturday. It is the Cougars’ fourth consecutive trip to the postseason.

Telstar completed its first varsity season since 1981 winless at 0-8.

The Cougars lost overtime games to Oak Hill and Winslow and dropped a one-point verdict to Freeport. Those results, combined with Poland’s recent victories over Winthrop and Winslow, pushed Dirigo into the win-or-else situation.

This one never got closer than Dom Haines’ 13-yard touchdown pass to Drew Wilson that opened the scoring for the Rebels.

Dirigo answered with its own 13-yard score, a Holmes rush, and his extra point made it 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Two touchdowns in the second quarter and three in the third put it away.

Reilley Lombardi grabbed a 20-yard TD toss from Holmes. Bryan Blackman bolted for a 31-yard score and a 21-6 halftime advantage.

Blackman finished with 15 carries for 167 of Dirigo’s 306 yards on the ground.

Holmes and Hall each had an interception return for a TD in the third quarter. Blackman chipped in his second TD run, this one from 28 yards.

Tyler Frost and Joe Casey joined the touchdown parade in the fourth.

Dirigo held Telstar to four first downs and 15 net rushing yards.

Nelson Pepin logged three of Dirigo’s five quarterback sacks.