PARIS — The Oxford Hills football team needed a response to its opening night loss to Portland.
The Vikings responded Friday night with a big win over Massabesic.
Oxford Hills gained 365 yards on the way to a 36-0 win in a Class A game at Gouin Complex. The Vikings’ defense was just as dominant, holding the Mustangs to 61 yards.
Senior Dylan Truman was 13 of 20 passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns for Oxford Hills (1-1). Senior wide receiver Cam Pulkkinen had three receptions for 81 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
“It feels good to come in here and get a win, a comeback win after (falling to Portland last week),” Truman said. “We made a statement.”
Massabesic fell to 1-1.
How did they get there?
Dominance, on both sides of the ball. After a scoreless first quarter, Oxford Hills began to move the ball and took the lead on a 3-yard run by Chris Levesque.
On the Vikings’ next drive, Truman found Pulkkinen wide open on a fade pattern and hit him in stride for a 67-yard touchdown. Pulkkinen’s extra point made it 15-0.
“(Massabesic) run three-high (defensive backs),” Truman said. “If the corner gets pulled over, (Pulkkinen) is wide open. I didn’t think (he’d be open by) that much. It was nice to get my guy a touchdown. Credit to the (offensive line) for holding up their blocks all night.”
“I knew I was open, I knew he was going to hit me, and I knew it was going to be a touchdown,” Pulkkinen said.
Oxford Hills scored on its next three drives – a 9-yard run by Pulkkinen, a 9-yard run by Malaki Sparks and a 32-yard pass from Truman to Jayden Cox.
“These guys worked so hard, and we have high expectations here,” Oxford Hills coach Nate Danforth said. “They show up every day, are willing to learn. They look forward to working hard and they look forward to getting back at it (next week against Edward Little). We have a one game at a time mentality; we’re just going to build on this and hope to get better.
Key moment
The 67-yard hookup from Truman to Pulkkinen seemed to take the wind out of the sails of Massabesic.
“We have some talented skill guys, and (after last week), we went back to the drawing board and tried to utilize those guys a little more,” Danforth said. “We put a couple of different formations in, were able to get those guys in, and it really helped us move the ball.
Statistical leaders
Oxford Hills: Dylan Truman (13 of 20 passing, 193 yards, 2 TDs), Cam Pulkkinen (3 receptions, 81 yards; 4 carries, 34 rushing yards 2 TDs); Cam Roy (5 carries, 45 yards)
Massabesic: Alex Harriman (3 carries, 28 yards), Noah Crosby (2 receptions, 27 yards)
