BIDDEFORD — In a game that featured several explosive offensive plays, it was a defensive stand near the end that proved to be the difference between Lewiston and Biddeford Friday night at Waterhouse field.

The Biddeford defense went “old school” with :57 seconds remaining and clinging to a 32-30 lead as it stuffed Lewiston’s high-octane running back Cody Davis at the goal line on the Blue Devils’ 2-point conversion try, sealing the 32-30 win.

Prior to the play, Davis had rushed for more than 140 yards, had more than 220 all-purpose yards, and scored four touchdowns, including an 80-yard kick return.

“We really had no doubt that we were going to step up and stop that,” Biddeford running back Corey Creeger said. “He’s a strong player, but we knew that we either needed to stop them there, or we were going to have to keep going.”

That play, Biddeford coach Brian Curit said, was “old school” Biddeford football and demonstrates the direction in which he is trying to bring the program. 

“We tried to make a play,” Curit said. “That kid (Davis) is a tough, tough kid, and he showed that tonight.”

Before the 2-point conversion try, Davis had ran the ball three times during the scoring drive for 19 yards. The attempt with Davis was a “no-brainer” Lewiston coach Bill County said.

“I thought he was in,” County said. “But what can you say. Biddeford impressed me tonight and they’re a good team. It was a fun game to coach.”

The Tigers opened the game by forcing a turnover on the opening kickoff, giving them field position at their own 45. They capitalized as Capen Macomber bowled his way in to the end zone on a 3-yard run, capping an eight-play drive at the 8:29 mark for a 6-0 lead.

Lewiston answered on its first drive when Stone Colby capped a 10-yard play with a 1-yard TD plunge for a 6-6 score.

Biddeford threw in a little trickery on the following drive. Lewiston’s defense appeared to have forced a three and out on the Tigers, but Creeger faked the punt and scampered 57 yards down to the Lewiston 17 for a first down. Macomber scored a few plays later on a 2-yard TD run up the middle for a 12-6 Biddeford lead.

Like a heavyweight fight, Lewiston punched back as Davis returned the ensuing kick off 80 yards, tying the game at 12.

Biddeford took an 18-12 advantage with 4:57 left in the second quarter when Macomber rushed for his third touchdown of the game, another 1-yard run up the middle for an 18-12 score.

“He was a difficult kid to stop for those short yardage gains,” County said. “They did a good job being physical in those situations. The credit goes to them.”

The Tigers’ breathing room was short lived, however, as Lewiston on its next drive drove 58 yards in six plays, tying the game at 18 when Davis broke loose at the line of scrimmage and bolted 42 yards down the field for a score near the end of the first half.

In the second half, Biddeford opened with an eight-play drive that ended when Biddeford quarterback Casey Twomey connected with Creeger in the end zone for a 13-yard TD and a 26-18 lead.

Neither team to that point had converted extra points, but Creeger rushed in for the extra two, giving Biddeford a 26-18 lead.

“Twomey is a good quarterback, and he’s only a junior” Curit said. “He is an excellent athlete and he’s going to be a very, very good quarterback.”

Lewiston again answered on its next drive when Davis rushed in for an 8-yard TD with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter, bringing the Blue Devils’ deficit to 26-24.

“We were watching film on these guys, and we realized they are a very, very good team,” Curit said. “They showed what they were capable of tonight and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran the table.”

Biddeford went to its ground game after the Lewiston score as Macomber rushed for back-to-back 20-plus yard gains. The seven-play drive ended with Macomber scampering in for an 8-yard TD run, giving the Tigers a 32-24 lead.

Lewiston cut the deficit to 32-30 with :57 seconds left on Colby’s 8-yard run, setting the stage for Biddeford’s defensive stand.

Lewiston fell to 0-4.

Biddeford has now won three straight games since opening the season with a loss to Bonny Eagle, a team many prognosticators say could win the Class A title. Since then, the Tigers have beaten Massabesic, Noble and the Blue Devils.

“We’re playing like the team we realize we can be,” Creeger said.

“We’ve preached that this game is hard,” Curit said. “We tell them that this is a process and I couldn’t ask for more out of these kids. I haven’t gotten angry yet with these kids because they never take a play off, even in practice. I love these kids.”

Biddeford will play at Scarborough on Saturday at 3 p.m.

— Sports Editor Al Edwards can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323.