MATTAPOISETT — With eight seconds and fourth down showing on the scoreboard, it looked as if Old Rochester Regional High School would take a close 14-10 lead over Norton High School into halftime on Friday, Nov. 15 in the Div. 5 state quarterfinals.

Instead, senior quarterback Gavin Martin dropped back and fired a 20-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field to give the Bulldogs a two-possession lead with just two seconds remaining in the first half.

After the break, it took the Bulldogs just 75 seconds to find the end zone again, with senior running back Jack Leconte scoring from one yard out.

Old Rochester had scored 14 points in 77 seconds of game time. The Bulldogs would never look back on their way to a 42-10 victory, propelling the team into the state semifinals.

“We just took it — And didn’t let it go,” said Martin of the momentum swing.

Martin and Leconte ran for two touchdowns apiece in the victory and junior Cameron Pepin added one of his own.

The Bulldogs are now just one win away from a state championship game appearance.

“It feels great,” said head coach Bryce Guilbeault. “We’ve worked hard in the off-season and throughout the year. Hard work pays off and that’s evident tonight.”

Guilbeault said he was most impressed with the way the team didn’t become complacent after taking a 21-10 lead into the halftime break, giving credit to the Bulldog seniors.

“When those guys set the example, everyone else follows them,” he said.

The Bulldogs have scored 39 or more points in five straight games. Guilbeault said that having a quarterback like Martin under center means “everything.”

“We kind of held [Martin] back the last couple of games because we had the game in hand,” said Guilbeault. “Tonight we knew that we’d need him to make plays and he delivered when he touched the ball.”

“We really spread them out and ran inside the box,” said Martin. “I think our line and running backs played great.”

It was also a very successful night for the Bulldog defense.

With Old Rochester leading 7-3 in the second quarter, senior Devin St. Germaine intercepted a pass from Norton quarterback Ethan Rodriguez, setting the Bulldogs up with positive field position.

Martin would run in his second touchdown just a few plays later.

After the Lancers scored a touchdown on their next possession, the Bulldogs held them off the scoreboard for the rest of the frigid night.

The fourth-seed Bulldogs will take on one-seed Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in the semifinals. It is a familiar foe. Old Rochester will look to avenge losses to Shawsheen in the last two postseasons.

The game will be played at a date and location to be determined.