RUMFORD

Something had to give in a matchup between Freeport and Mountain Valley in a Class C Campbell Conference football game Friday night.

Freeport went back to basics and unleashed a second half attack with touchdowns by runners David Schaedler and Pete LaMagna, and then had to fend off a challenge from Mountain Valley for a 20-8 win at Chet Bulger Field.

Mountain Valley was snake-bitten again, but certainly wasn’t due to a lack of effort. Freshman Kyle Farrar turned in a yeoman-like performance with a 22-yard touchdown and 184 yards rushing. A goal-line stand gave Mountain Valley (1-6) a chance in the fourth quarter, but mistakes ultimately proved costly.

Freeport clinched a playoff berth with its fourth win. A fake punt by LaMagna that went for 37 yards led to LaMarga’s (four carries, 86 yards) eventual game-winning 7-yard TD on Freeport’s opening drive of the third quarter.

“On the second half,” Freeport coach Rod Grover said. “It was the determination by the kids and our ability to run some counter plays.”

Mountain Valley established the line of scrimmage behind a solid line led by 274-pound Alan Carrier. The blocking assignments opened holes for Farrar, Josh Mason (52 yards, 10 carries) and Tom Thibeau up the middle.

On fourth down, Farrar cut outside for a TD. Ian Austin passed to Caleb Gavin for the conversion. The 53-yard, seven-play drive pulled Mountain Valley within 13-8. It became a battle as Freeport was stopped on the goal line on Thibeau’s tackle. The teams traded fumbles, with Alex Ridley of Freeport recovering in the endzone.

The Freeport defense held and LaMagna cut back for a 29-yard TD. Eric Wentworth kicked the extra point.

“That score was big for us,” Grover said. “They had come back on us and then we had all those bad breaks on the goal line. But, the kids didn’t quit.”

Mountain Valley immediately drove to the red zone, with Farrar covering 48 yards, while carrying defenders on his back. But Freeport held again.

Each team had three possessions in the entire first half. LaMagna intercepted a pass in Mountain Valley territory and Nixon (90 total yards) ran for a 3-yard TD. Wentworth kicked the PAT with 2:07 left in first half.

“We had to alter our game plan,” Grover said. “We wanted to run more play action, but Mountain Valley had their safety to deep.”