enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

For the third time in four years, the Class A Gold Ball belongs to Bonny Eagle, which completed a 12-0 season with an impressive 34-14 victory Saturday over defending-champion Lawrence at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

John Onesti, left, gets a congratulatory hug from teammate Brent Sawyer during Bonny Eagle’s postgame celebration.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Coach Kevin Cooper and his Bonny Eagle Scots have another Gold Ball to display in the school’s trophy case after their 34-14 victory Saturday over Cooper’s alma mater, Lawrence, in the Class A final at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Bonny Eagle quarterback Nate Doehler tries to break away from a Lawrence defender, something he did often Saturday. Doehler rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Bonny Eagle running back Josh Ruby picks up yardage on a run up the middle through the Lawrence defense. Ruby rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

"I wanted to play football after that. This is what I dreamed about," said Doehler as the Scots celebrated their latest Class A title Saturday.

Doehler has come a long way in a short time. With the junior quarterback leading the way, Bonny Eagle (12-0) set the tone early with flawless execution and built a 27-0 halftime lead en route to a convincing 34-14 win over Lawrence (11-1) for the Class A championship before an estimated 7,200 fans at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

It was Bonny Eagle's third state championship in four years. The Scots stopped defending-champion Lawrence's bid for a second straight title and ended the Bulldogs' winning streak at 22.

"Winning never gets old," said Bonny Eagle Coach Kevin Cooper, still wet from his victory drenching.

"We hope to be back here next year for a chance at No. 4."

As a freshman, Doehler watched quarterback Mike O'Donnell and running back John Wiechman lead Bonny Eagle to a second title in 2005. Doehler shared quarterback duties last season, when the Scots lost in the Western Maine semifinals. This season the job was his, and he delivered like his coach knew he could.

"Nate plays his best in big games," said Cooper.

Doehler was the difference against Lawrence. He ran, he passed, he intercepted and he place kicked the Scots to the Gold Ball.

And he got help from a defense that shut down a respected Lawrence rushing attack while intercepting three passes and recovering two fumbles.

"Our big players really played big at the start," said Cooper.

After stopping Lawrence on the game's opening series. Bonny Eagle went right at the heart of the Bulldogs' defense with its spread offense. The Scots scored in seven plays, with Doehler running the ball on six of them. His bolt up the middle on second down from the 38 made it 7-0.

Lawrence again couldn't move on its second series as the Scots' defense swarmed. Taking over at its 42, Bonny Eagle scored in five plays. Doehler connected on two passes to tight end Travis Dunn. Dunn, who was out for a month because of an injury, hauled in passes for 12 and 35 yards to give the Scots first-and- goal at the 8. Halfback Josh Ruby scored on the next play to give the Scots a 13-0 lead.

Lawrence was hoping to take advantage of the wind in the second quarter. But on the first play, Doehler, inserted for pass coverage on third-and-10, intercepted Lawrence quarterback Jack Hersom's long toss at the 30 and returned it 40 yards.

Three plays later, Doehler sprinted right and outran the defense for a 29-yard touchdown. Split end Ricky Hoyt took his defender inside, opening the outside for Doehler.

The Scots, not content to sit on a three-touchdown advantage, scored their fourth touchdown with 2:33 left in the half. Doehler threw to Hoyt, his favorite receiver, and Hoyt used his speed to complete an 81-yard play. Doehler's kick made it 27-0.

Bonny Eagle wasn't as efficient in the second half. Doehler forced a couple passes at the start of the third quarter and was intercepted twice in succession. The second interception led to a Lawrence score, after linebacker Nick Lee picked off a deflected pass to give the Bulldogs the ball at the Bonny Eagle 15. Four plays later, halfback Devon Costigan scored from the 1.

"We were trying to find a play that would work and we didn't call the right pass play," Cooper said of the interceptions.

A Bonny Eagle fumble in the fourth quarter was recovered by Lawrence's Joe Rainey, setting up the Bulldogs' second touchdown. On fourth-and-7 from the 18, Hersom lofted a high pass into the end zone, and John Flynn outleaped two defenders for the touchdown with 5:33 remaining, giving the Bulldogs a sliver of hope.

But after Matt Beckwith recovered Lawrence's onside...