LEWISTON — No magic was needed for the Wells High football team this time. Instead, the Warriors put together a dominant effort on both sides of the ball.

With a strong rushing attack and a stingy defense, the Warriors cruised to a 34-0 win over Foxcroft Academy in the Class D state championship game at Lewiston High’s Don Roux Field. It’s the second consecutive title for Wells (11-0), which rallied for a 22-21 win over Foxcroft in the 2023 final.

“It feels incredible,” said Wells senior running back Eli Potter. “You dream of this moment. For this dream to come true, it’s just incredible.”

Potter (185) and fellow senior back Dom Buxton (144) combined for 329 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries. Potter scored twice.

“We couldn’t have done it without our amazing line,” Buxton said. “We’ve been working all week. We had great blocks up front. We can’t do what we do without them.”

Foxcroft, making its fourth straight appearance in the Class D championship game, finished 11-1.

Wells controlled the pace of the game throughout with long run-heavy drives. The Warriors’ first possession was an 11-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard run by Potter. The final TD was a 3-yard run by Dominic Carbonneau that ended a 15-play, 95-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Carbonneau scored two touchdowns, rushing for 49 yards on six carries.

Wells added two touchdowns in the second quarter – an 8-yard run by Buxton and a 17-yard sprint from Carbonneau – to go into halftime with a 21-0 lead.

The Warriors’ offensive line – Bryce Curley, Claudio Watson, Will Martinez, Keegan Roberge, Nathan Malloy and Cody Haynes – provided push up front throughout the game, giving Potter holes up the middle or sealing off the edge for Buxton and quarterback Cal Moody on sweeps. Potter finished his season with 1,398 yards, while Buxton added 1,193 yards.

“We knew what we had with the O-Line,” said Malloy, a senior. “We have one of the best O-Lines in the state, and I’ll say that proudly… We just know our running backs will read our blocks. Our running backs are awesome, and they know how to cut back or go where are blocks are, so we can block any way we want.”

“We (moved offensive lineman at the start of the year), and we weren’t sure if they were the right moves or not,” said Wells Coach Tim Roche. “That line really came together. They work hard, we’ve got three great line coaches, and they work them hard. It’s just a credit to that group of kids. It’s fun to watch them.”

Wells was just as dominant on defense, holding the Ponies to 91 yards. Potter, playing middle linebacker, and Buxton, at defensive back, each had interceptions off Foxcroft quarterback Griffin Caruso, who was 7 of 16 passing for 61 yards. Haynes added a sack for the Warriors.

“Our great coaching staff got us ready (defensively),” Buxton said. “We had good communication out there when we needed it, our great middle linebacker, Eli Potter, telling us what to do, keeping our head in the play.”

LEWISTON – NOVEMBER 23, 2024 – Dom Buxton of Wells High School hoists the Maine Principals Association trophy after the Warriors beat Foxcroft Academy for the Class D State Championship against Foxcroft Academy. .(Daryn Slover/Sun Journal) Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Saturday’s win was the fourth for Wells over Foxcroft in state championship games, including 2017 (48-0) and 2018 (55-20). It’s the sixth state title overall for the program, and fifth under Roche, who has a record of 185-76 in his 25 seasons at Wells. Along with his three Class D titles, Roche has won Class B (2011) and Class C (2016) titles during his tenure.

“Every (state championship) is special,” Roche said. “When people ask, every (title) is special … It means everything. This is a special community. I love Wells, everyone knows that, and I love what we do. The kids buy into the culture, but the community has bought into that culture, too, and they love it.”

It was the final game for five seniors for Foxcroft, which won back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022.

“(The seniors) have been to state championships all four years of their high school career. They’ve been foundational to our success,” Foxcroft Coach Danny White said. “We’ll be forever grateful for their efforts. They stepped up and were really special for us.

“You have to tip your cap to your opponent. (Wells) is a phenomenal team and a phenomenal program. They’re the standard, and that’s what will keep my fire burning, and will keep our fire burning to the ultimate standard. While you want it to be you, if it’s not, you have to recognize who is and try to get that.”

Finn Holmes gained 38 yards on 10 carries for the Ponies. Landon Smith had an interception.

Wells outgained Foxcroft 483-91.