The Falmouth football team celebrates after beating Messalonskee 31-14 on Friday at Veterans Field in Oakland. The Navigators finished the regular season with an 8-0 record. Dave Dyer/Kennebec Journal

OAKLAND — One year ago, the Falmouth football team wrapped up a 2-6 season, ineligible for a trip to the Class B North playoffs because of a forfeit earlier in the season.

On Friday night, the Navigators capped a perfect 8-0 regular season, and now enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

Junior quarterback Tres Walker, who passed for 186 yards and three touchdowns, led Falmouth past Messalonskee 31-14 at Veterans Field.

“We’re unbelievably excited,” Walker said. “First time in history, Falmouth has never (had an undefeated regular season), so it’s very exciting to be part of a team that does it, especially coming from last year.”

Last season was one of turmoil for Falmouth (8-0), ultimately resulting in the January resignation of longtime head coach John Fitzsimmons after players signed a petition for his dismissal. In March, the school hired Spencer Emerson, who previously was head coach at Poland High, as well as an assistant at Bates College, the University of Chicago and Georgetown University.

“I’ve known we’ve had the talent all year to do it,” said senior running back Indi Backman, who had 88 yards on nine carries. “We knew that we were capable of doing it. We believe in ourselves and we work hard every day to achieve our goals. This 8-0 is awesome, but it means nothing. The playoffs are here, and it’s time to roll.”

“It’s just nice to see these guys rewarded because they worked super hard,” Emerson said. “We really ask a lot of them and they practice hard, we coach hard, we love hard. I think just to be rewarded with a season that comes with the collective effort they put in was really nice.”

Up 17-14 entering the fourth quarter, the Navigators made two big plays to seal the victory. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Walker hit wide receiver Giovanni Guerrette on a seam pass for a 67-yard touchdown. The extra point by Peter Kearns gave Falmouth a 24-14 lead.

Guerrette also had a 36-yard touchdown grab in the first half.

“We saw (Messalonskee) play man (defense) and I trust all my receivers, that they can beat any corner,” said Walker, who was 4 of 12 passing.

Falmouth put the game away on the next possession, when wide receiver Ben Robbins returned a Tatum Doucette punt 66 yards for a touchdown.

“At the end of the day, we take a 1-0 approach: A 1-0 play, go 1-0 in this practice, and go 1-0 in this week,” Emerson said. “I don’t think of it from the macro sense of expectations. I knew we were going to play hard, and I knew we had athletes. I think (this season) is just the right team, at the right time, with the right coaching staff. We’ve done a good job so far.”

The Navigators were also able to grind the ball offensively with their running game, gaining 210 of their 396 offensive yards on the ground. Owen Ross had 55 yards on five carries.

Kearns, a junior, kicked a 30-yard field goal just before halftime.

Doucette, a sophomore quarterback, kept Messalonskee (3-5) alive throughout the first half and third quarter, using both his arm and legs to keep plays alive. He was 11 of 22 passing for 144 yards and two touchdowns, adding 76 rushing yards on 23 carries. Defensively, the Eagles managed to keep the Navigators at bay for three quarters, forcing two turnovers.

“We felt like we had a really good game plan on both sides of the ball,” Messalonskee Coach Blair Doucette said. “The kids had a great week of practice. They executed all of our blitzes. I’m really proud of the effort they put in. We went into this game thinking we were going to win this game.”

Freshman Malachi Cusano had an impressive outing for the Eagles with five receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown. Senior Drake Brunelle had two receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown.