LIVERMORE FALLS — The Spruce Mountain football team found that a solid effort wasn’t enough in its Class B Campbell Conference home-opening game Friday night.

Brett Gerry rushed for three touchdowns and received another, which proved to be enough as Marshwood won 33-12 over the Phoenix at chilly Griffen Field.

Spruce Mountain (3-4) couldn’t get on track offensively against the huge and quick Hawks defense. Then the Phoenix and Hawks each shot themselves in the foot with a series of penalties.

“I don’t care about the score — if the effort is there,” Spruce Mountrain coach Walter Polky said. “These kids didn’t quit, and they played hard for 48 minutes, and as a coach you certainly couldn’t ask for any thing more.”

Spruce Mountain came to life when quarterback Peter Theriault threw a catch-and-run 37-yard touchdown pass up the right sideline to Matt Vigue to trail 27-12 with 3:31 left in the game. Austin Schmidt recovered the onside kick, but couldn’t move the ball and turned it over on downs.

Marshwood had success running the ball, gaining 150 yards in each half. Quarterback Cameron Roll had the luxury of handing off to Dan Lizzotte (106 yards, 20 rushes) and Gerry (86 yards, 14 rushes),. The Hawks had prime field advantage and Gerry ran in a four-yard touchdown and caught a 6-yard TD for a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Polky said Marshwood was having success on back-side dives as they tried adjusting. But the Phoenix were still getting beat to the ball.

Spruce scored two plays into the third quarter on a 69-yard run up the left side by Vigue. The Phoenix were guilty of arm tackles and Marshwood (6-1) proved to be no fluke. On the ensuing possession, Roll scored on a 22-yard run, capping a 5-yard drive.

After Spruce missed a field goal attempt by Brandon Stevens, Gerry scored a 19-yard TD in the first quarter.

“We knew this was an important game,” Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko said. “With the playoffs coming up, we want a high seed. We played well, but I’d like to eliminate those undisciplined penalties.”