TOPSHAM— The final score of Friday night’s Class B South high school football game read “Biddeford 41, Mt. Ararat 14.” But, as Eagles coach Mark LaFountain said after the wet contest, his 1- 5 team made the 4- 2 Tigers work for everything in a tough battle. “This is the way we have played all year, fighting back and never giving up,” said LaFountain, whose Eagles host Greely next Friday night at 7 p. m. “We hurt ourselves and got down early, something you can’t do against a good football team. But, they fought back, played a great second quarter and a good second half. We just had a lot of bad luck.” On Biddeford’s fifth play from scrimmage, quarterback Joey Curit had his swing pass intercepted and returned for a 40- yard touchdown by Ryan Mello, giving Mt. Ararat a quick 6- 0 lead. But, the Tigers bounced right back, with Jeremy Lugiano returning the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to the end zone, with Nick Phillips’ point- after kick giving Biddeford a 7- 6 lead. From there, the visitors took control. Two plays after forcing an Eagles punt, Lucas Rhoy busted up the middle for a 56- yard TD run and a 14- 6 advantage after a quarter. “I am very proud of the way they snapped back, just one of those bizarre things that you will see each week in the NFL,” said Biddeford coach Brian Curit of his team’s early deficit. “Mt. Ararat is very well- coached and does some unconventional things. We knew that we had to be real patient.” Joey Curit made it a 21- 6 game with a tough 5- yard run to open the second quarter, and on Biddeford’s next possession, the quarterback found Josh Dutremble for a 32- yard TD strike and a 28- 6 lead. “We knew that we had to bounce back quick, get a quick start, and though that didn’t happen we were able to fight through it,” said Joey Curit after finishing 6- for- 9 in the air for 83 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rather than fold, Mt. Ararat’s defense began to frustrate the Tigers. After three straight Biddeford touchdown drives, the Eagles held the Tigers to three consecutive three- andouts. “We knew what they wanted to do because they have been successful at it in the past and initially in this game,” said LaFountain. “We just made some changes in the way we stunted.”

Mt. Ararat twice drove deep into Biddeford territory, only to be turned away by the solid defensive play of Biddeford’s Cameron Lantagne (10 tackles, forced fumble), Dutremble (seven tackles) and Tyler Janelle (nine tackles, interception).

With Biddeford’s defense keeping Mt. Ararat’s rushing attack stuck in the mud (31 rushes, 71 yards), the Eagles threw the ball often.

“We don’t mind passing,” said LaFountain. “The weather didn’t help us, with the ball being slick. We kicked the ball to the outside and had some success there, but that is a good team over there.”

The Eagles finally took advantage of their good field position late in the first half. Beginning on the Biddeford 42, Donte Daingerfeld broke off a 16-yard run. Two plays later, Eagles quarterback Jacob O’Neill (10-for- 20, 66 yards, TD, INT) threw a screen pass to Robert Hetherman for a 22-yard touchdown. Alex LaFountain rushed in the 2-point conversion to bring the Eagles to 28-14 at the intermission.

Mt. Ararat’s defense continued to keep Biddeford’s offense off-balance. After Rhoy rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries in the opening half, the Eagles held him to 22 yards on 11 rushes in the second.

A turning point came in the third quarter. Kyle Benjamin, in for the injured O’Neill, threw a long pass that Alex LaFountain caught after a deflection off a Biddeford defensive back. Heading for the end zone, Lantagne caught the receiver and punched the slick ball from his grasp. The ball bounced through the end zone for a touchback, giving the Tigers the ball at their own 20-yard line.

After a scoreless third quarter, Rhoy scored on a 2-yard run and Curtis Petit capped Biddeford’s win with a 19-yard romp to paydirt to complete the Tigers’ 41-14 win.

Janelle had three receptions for 42 yards, while Dutremble had 36 yards and two catches for Biddeford. Rhoy and Cody Ramos each had a sack, resulting in a loss of 30 yards for Mt. Ararat.

Alex LaFountain led the Eagles with seven receptions for 70 yards and added 36 yards on the ground on five carries. Benjamin was 3-for-6 for 65 yards in relief of O’Neill in the second half. Hetherman led the Mt. Ararat defense with six tackles, with Garrett Bolduc, Alex LaFountain, Daingerfeld and Nate Leslie adding five tackles each.

Biddeford hosts Kennebunk in a key Class B South contest next Friday.