Preston, Alviti lead Maine South

Updated: September 9, 2011 11:12PM

Halfback Paul Preston rushed for three touchdowns and quarterback Matt Alviti threw three touchdown passes as No. 1 Maine South rolled past Deerfield 48-7 Friday night in Deerfield. The Hawks (3-0) scored on their first offensive possession, when Alviti threw an 11-yard slant pass to Connor Mathisen in the end zone. Deerfield (0-3) came right back, as Ryan Adkins took an option pitch around right end and knifed through the Maine South defense on a 61-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7-7. Adkins finished the contest with 106 yards in nine carries.

It was all Maine South and in particular, Preston and Alviti after that. Preston broke the tie with a 1-yard run late in the first quarter and then after a fumble recovery by Hawks linebacker Luke Lenti, Alviti connected on the next play with John Solari from 16-yards for a 21-7 lead after one quarter.

The lead grew to 35-7 at halftime with Preston scoring on runs of 36 and 13 yards.

“The line was doing a great job,” Preston said. “There were holes all game. I really didn’t have to do much.”

Preston, a diminutive, 5-4, 160-pounds, finished with 117 yards on 10 carries in less than three quarters of play.

“Paul is special,” Maine South coach David Inserra said. “We like to pass it, but you can’t be stubborn. You’ve got to give the kid the ball.”

Mathisen caught his second scoring strike from Alviti (14 of 22, 112 yards), this time a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Maine South closed out the scoring on a 1-yard run by Anthony Mitchell late in the fourth quarter.

Deerfield only attempted three passes in the contest and completed one, with an interception by the Hawks Keenan McKenzie. Maine South forced three turnovers in all, with Kyle Muss recording a fumble recovery, while the Hawks didn’t turn the ball over.

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