FAIRHAVEN – It took a few years as Fairhaven was getting used to playing on the road in the playoffs, but everyone loves a little home cooking.

The No. 8 Blue Devils (8-1) remained undefeated on their home turf with a 35-21 victory over No. 9 Winthrop in the Div. 6 round of 16 state playoffs.

Justin Marques shook off a second-quarter leg injury to rush for 200 yards on the dot on 38 carries and the junior fullback added four of the five rushing touchdowns for the Blue Devils. Marques was the workhorse for the Blue Devils, but it was quarterback Jayce Duarte with the two crucial carries for Fairhaven down the stretch along with key runs from Aaron Lague and Chase Fano.

“He made a lot of great reads, some good runs, and our ‘A’ backs didn’t get a lot of carries, but they blocked on every play, ” said Fairhaven head coach Derek Almeida. “When we called their number – they made some good runs too but I’m just really proud of our group and our coaching staff worked really hard.”

Both teams exchanged one-yard touchdowns on their opening possessions as Marques capped off a 13-play drive and Vikings quarterback Matthew Noonan answered with his own keeper up the middle as Fairhaven led 7-6 early in the first quarter.

Marques went in from three yards out on the next series as the ground-and-pound was working as the Blue Devils took a 14-6 lead with 1:39 left in the first. The Winthrop (5-4) defense was up for the task as the Vikings limited the big plays out of the running attack, but it was play on all three levels that eventually stymied the Vikings.

“Their offense is extremely tough to defend. If you have a fullback like they have, and a quarterback that can get everyone moving, and the no huddle aspect to it – it’s an extremely tough offense to stop,” said Winthrop head coach John Cadigan.

On the third series for the Blue Devils, Marques walked off gingerly inside the red zone as the Fairhaven offense was cooking. But Fano stepped in and didn’t miss a beat to put the Blue Devils in front, 21-6, late in the half.

But Nick Cappuccio set himself up with a 52-yard kickoff return and ended the series with a highlight reel catch on a fourth-and-18 from the Blue Devils 24-yard line. Noonan reared back and tossed the Hail Mary and hit Cappuccio in the end zone with double coverage to stun the Blue Devils defense.

Cappuccio and Noonan were at it again early in the fourth as they connected on a fourth and goal from the six-yard line on a play action outside post to cut the lead to single digits, 27-21, with 10:12 left in the fourth.

With the game in the balance, it was Duarte, not Marques, that got the call on a fourth and one just outside the Vikings 40-yard line with 6:29 left to play. Duarte squeezed out two yards and Marques finished things off with his fourth touchdown and the home win for Fairhaven.

The defensive line was just as good for the Blue Devils led by sophomore defensive end Josh Viera (four tackles and a sack) as Almeida pointed to the offensive line effort as well.

“We are at our best when we are getting off the ball and running downhill,” said Almeida. I am so proud of our offensive line, those kids got worked this week, it wasn’t easy, and we put them through a tough week of practice, because we needed them to do what they did.”