WATERBORO ”“ Biddeford made running against the Massabesic defense look easy on its opening drive, as Capen Macomber had his number called on eight of nine plays, including a 1-yard touchdown run.

But the Mustangs made life difficult the rest of the way for the Tigers offense, forcing overtime with the score tied 6-6. But Macomber was unstoppable on the game’s biggest play, as he rumbled in from three yards out on a two-point conversion in overtime to give the Tigers a 14-12 victory in a Western Class A football game at Ronco Field on Friday.

“I’ve said this all fall, I’m stunned that he hasn’t gotten more accolades in regards to the kind of football player he is. He’s a throwback,” Biddeford head coach Brian Curit said of Macomber. “When he knew he was getting the ball on the two-point conversion, I was fairly certain he would get in because he was going to make sure he did.”

After forcing a three-and-out by the Mustangs (1-1) to start the game, the Tigers (1-1) got the ball at the Massabesic 46-yard line. The first seven plays were runs by Macomber, who got the ball down to the 17-yard line. A Dominick Day 16-yard run brought the ball to the edge of the end zone, and Macomber finished off the drive with a 1-yard plunge.

It looked like it could be a long night for the Mustangs in their home opener, as they fumbled on fourth down inside the red zone on the next drive, but the Massabesic defense held its own, forcing a punt, interception and turnover-on-downs on the Tigers’ final three drives of the half.

“We finally settled in defensively. What matters in between the 20’s doesn’t matter. What matters is what you do when your back’s against the wall,” said Massabesic head coach Jon Gallant. “We were able to stiffen up. We made stops when it mattered; we made big plays when it mattered.”

Biddeford got the ball to open the second half, but turned the ball over on downs on its first drive, then fumbled the ball away on the next one.

The next Tigers drive went completely in the wrong direction as Biddeford was backed up to its own 4-yard line, and on a 3rd-and-43 play Curit called for a quick punt by Day out of the end zone.

“It was scary,” Curit said of the play.

The Mustangs, however, were never able to take advantage offensively of what their defense and the Massabesic offense gave them. Massabesic got the ball inside Biddeford territory three times in the first three quarters, but came away empty each time.

“We just didn’t execute well,” said Gallant.

The Mustangs finally put one in midway through the fourth quarter, as Mike Risti was able to cross the plane of the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 1-foot line to tie the game at 6-6.

“Mike’s a great competitor. He’s our strongest kid; he’s probably our fastest kid. We expect Mike to just cram it down and get it in,” Gallant said of Risti.

The teams traded interceptions, then Biddeford drove down to the Massabesic 33 before turning the ball over on downs with 1:10 left. Massabesic then went three-and-out and had to punt.

Biddeford had one last shot in regulation, but a pass from Casey Twomey to Day from 30 yards out was stopped three yards shy of the goal line as time expired.

Massabesic got the ball first in overtime, and after Weston Bergeron threw incomplete to the left on first down, he ran around the right edge for a touchdown on second down.

“If we blocked it, we knew we could get a seam,” Gallant said of the play. “We have no problem putting the ball in (Bergeron’s) hands.”

Like in regulation, however, Bergeron and Josh Daigle were unable to hook up for a two-point conversion, leaving the door open for Macomber’s heroics.

The 6-foot, 235-pound brute ran for five and four yards, respectively, on Biddeford’s first two plays of overtime, with Twomey gaining the final yard for a touchdown on third down. Then Curit called Macomber’s number for a final time on the game’s final play, and the Mustangs couldn’t stop him as Macomber gained the final three of his 147 yards on his 24th carry.

Curit was uneasy about his team’s play in the win, knowing they gave the Mustangs plenty of chances.

“Quite frankly, I’ll take the W, but I’m not sure we deserve to win. We made a boatload of mistakes,” said Curit. “I take my hat off to Massabesic. I think they’ve come lightyears. I think they obviously believe in their coaches. Jon Gallant and Greg Stilphen are very good coaches.

“We had respect for this team. We did not take them lightly. We thought they were pretty good.”

The Tigers play at home next Friday in their season opener, as they host Noble. Massabesic hosts South Portland that same night.

—Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.