Campbell back Scott Hershberger tries to fend off Laconia's Brayden Day during Saturday's Division III season opener in Litchfield. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

LITCHFIELD – It was the first series in Saturday’s Campbell-Laconia High School football season opener Saturday and the Sachems staff was telling its punt return unit to get ready.

Just then, on the game’s third play from scrimmage, the Cougars’ Scott Hershberger took off for one of his patented long runs, this one 68 yards for the season’s first touchdown just 1:36 in. Oops, better make that kick return team.

Yes, there was a lot of familiarity in Campbell’s 28-7 win in which the Cougars outgained the visitors by a whopping 463-116 in yardage with Hershberger getting 219 of that with two TDs on 11 carries.

“I think we’re exactly where I thought we would be, in terms of we have the ability to make a big play,” Campbell coach Glen Costello said. “We’re working on our physicality, a lot of kids are getting their first varsity reps, which showed at times. But overall, pretty happy where we’re at.”

“He’s (Scott Hershberger) a helluva player, he’s a senior and he’s done this now for the last four years,” Laconia coach Nick Ford said, his team dropping down to Division III with just five seniors. “A special player, right? They’ve got some special players, they’re the team to beat, they’ve got a bullseye on them, everyone knows that. But I’m proud of our guys. … We didn’t give up, that’s the key.”

Campbell might have scored on its second possession but fumbled the ball away at the Laconia 13. But on its third drive, the Cougars got a break when their fumble popped in the air after a modest gain and then rolled to where Broden Donohue scooped it and ran 34 yards untouched down the left sideline for the TD and a 14-0 lead with 10:21 left in the half. Good teams get those breaks, right?

“Sometimes it’s just as good to be lucky,” Costello grinned.

“That broke the back right there, two scores right there,” Ford said.

With 7:03 left in the half Scott Hershberger rambled 73 yards for a TD and brother Nick added a two-point run for a 22-0 lead at the break. Campbell outgained the visitors 330 to minus-10 in the first 24 minutes.

The second half was more competitive. Speaking of breaks, Laconia got theirs when a sure Cougar interception turned into a deflection into the arms of Sachem Jacob Tryon, who then slipped into the end zone on a 30-yard score with 7:24 left in the third. That made it 22-7 but it still seemed like a huge gap between the two teams.

Hershberger’s twin brother, Nick, had 57 yards on nine carries and he answered Laconia with a 15-yard TD run of his own for a 28-7 lead. A plethora of other backs combined for 130 yards. That was the script Costello talked about once camp opened three weeks ago. There’s even a passing game, as QB Michael Grace threw for 57 yards.

“Going into the year, obviously Scott Hershberger is going to be a feature back,” Costello said. “But Nick Hershberger is as skilled, and Braydon White is as skilled. … Mikey has worked at (the air game). … If we could piece all things together, we should be a tough team.”