Strong lines key Ram win Prentiss, Heber lead Bangor

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WATERVILLE – Mike Prentiss is putting up rushing numbers worthy of consideration for the Fitzpatrick Trophy.

But Bangor High School’s senior tailback, who has run for more than 1,150 yards, realizes he owes much of his success to a cohesive offensive line.

The Rams’ line – center Trevor Lagrange, guards Eric Anderson and Kyle Oliver, tackles Ricky Dexter and Danny Day, and tight end P.J. Dowe – demonstrated its superiority Saturday afternoon.

Prentiss romped for 151 yards and Tyler Heber netted 114 more as Bangor amassed 404 rushing yards on its way to a 21-0 Pine Tree Conference Class A football victory over Waterville on a gorgeous fall day at Drummond Field.

Coach Mark Hackett’s 5-1 Rams controlled the line of scrimmage, but committed three turnovers that kept them from blowing out the 1-5 Panthers. Bangor’s offensive line wore down Waterville as the Rams put up 272 yards and 14 points in the second half.

Prentiss carried 23 times, providing touchdown runs of 8 and 3 yards before sitting out the last 14 minutes.

“They just give it all. They do an incredible job of blocking,” Prentiss said of the line. “If they don’t have anybody to block, they just find somebody to block and the backs make their way through.”

Sophomore fullback Nick Payson sparkled in the second half, breaking loose for 79 yards on six carries. He was complemented by the elusive Heber and hard-nosed Aaron Gallant.

“We believe the offensive and defensive lines are the key to this team and we’ve been working hard every practice,” said Lagrange, a senior center and defensive tackle.

“We’re a pretty confident line,” he continued. “We have some pretty big guys up there.”

The Bangor defense served up another “doughnut,” posting its second shutout of the season. The front five – ends Dowe and Kevin Flynn, tackles Paul Russell and Lagrange, and noseguard Oliver – were stout.

Payson, a strong safety, led the Rams, making a game-high 12 tackles. Cornerback Gallant and linebacker Dave Berry were in on six tackles each.

The Rams afforded Waterville 154 total yards and knocked Panthers QB Kevin Scott and halfback Matthew Hilton out of the game.

“They’re explosive. We thought we were going to have to score four times to beat them,” said Hackett, who was celebrating his birthday. “They had guys out all over the place and we were healthy and they still played us tough.”

Bangor scored on its first possession as Prentiss carried seven times for 49 yards, capping a 52-yard drive with an 8-yard burst. The first of three Jordan Heath PATs made it 7-0.

The Rams thwarted Waterville’s first serious threat when Anderson and Day sacked Scott on a 4th-and-3 play from the Bangor 17-yard line.

In the second quarter, the Rams twice halted the hosts twice inside the B 25 — one yard short of a first down.

“Our defense has a lot of heart and I think we’ve really molded as the season’s gone,” Lagrange said.

Bangor extended the lead midway through the third when a 24-yard jaunt by Payson and a 22-yard run by Prentiss set up Prentiss’ 3-yard TD run with 6:51 left in the quarter.

The Rams kept the momentum going on their ensuing series as Payson went 17 yards on first down, then capped a four-play march with a 20-yard burst through the middle.

“I think Nick has that extra gear and we saw it today,” Hackett said. “When we really needed it, he gave us an injection into that offense.”

RAMS 21, PANTHERS 0

Bangor (5-1) 7 0 14 0 ? 21

Waterville (1-5) 0 0 0 0 ? 0

B ? Prentiss 8 run (Heath kick)

B ? Prentiss 3 run (Heath kick)

B ? N. Payson 20 run (Heath kick)

Bangor Waterville

First downs 20 9

Rushing att.-yards 51-404 35-74

Passing comp.-att. 4-8 6-13

Passing yards 27 80

Total yards 431 154

Punts-avg. 2-41.5 5-32.2

Fumbles-lost 3-1 4-1

Intercepted by 0 2

Penalties-yards 3-25 1-5

Rushing

Bangor: Prentiss 23-151, Heber 14-114, N. Payson 6-79, Gallant 6-54, Sullivan 2-6; Waterville: Hilton 14-30, Jabar 6-29, Veilleux 9-28, Danaher 1-7, Lancaster 2-(-8), Scott 3-(-12)

Passing

Bangor: Sullivan 4-8-2-27; Waterville: Scott 4-8-0-70, Lancaster 2-5-0-10

Receiving

Bangor: Prentiss 1-18, Dowe 2-7, Cassidy 1-2; Waterville: Livingston 2-47, Jabar 2-16, Veilleux 1-10, Hilton 1-7

A?400 (est.)