BANGOR – This tailback stuff is still new to Bangor High junior Alex Gallant, until three weeks ago a lifelong quarterback.

But his performance Friday night in the Rams’ 49-0 Class A football victory over Mount Ararat of Topsham suggests he’s a quick study.

Gallant rushed for 188 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns in barely more than a half of action as Bangor rolled to victory in its home opener at Cameron Stadium.

The performance was in stark contrast to his debut at his new position, when he rushed for three yards on six carries in Bangor’s season-opening loss at Lewiston a week ago.

“Last week I was keeping my head down a lot and this week coach said to keep my head up and look for the holes,” said Gallant, who scored on runs of 6, 3 and 8 yards to help Bangor take a 28-0 halftime lead. “The offensive line did a great job and I found the holes tonight. Every time there was a massive hole, it was great.”

That difference of vision was a matter of trust on which Gallant has lived for most of his football life on the other side. Until midway through the recent preseason, his job was to give the ball to the running backs. Now his job is to receive.

“Alex told me last week he caught himself looking for the ball, and obviously he was running with more determination tonight because he was comfortable that he was getting the ball,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “He had a couple of runs tonight where he’s starting to look like a tailback. He’s not there yet, but in a few more weeks he’ll be right where he should be.”

Gallant was not alone in finding rushing success against a young and undersized Mount Ararat squad. Bangor gained 379 yards on 60 carries, with backup tailback Julien Collard-Seguin adding 80 yards and two TDs on 10 carries, and Jimmy Clukey chipping in with a 16-yard scoring run.

Key to that ground game was the blocking of linemen Andy Gould, Adam Kearns, Robert Seccareccia, Jon Thompson, Mark Sturgeon and Jon Bolduc, along with tight end Ryan Weston, fullback Ben Bambrick and wingback Ben Silver.

Bangor was equally dominant on defense, limiting 0-2 Mount Ararat to 95 total yards, including just 24 rushing yards on 26 carries. Senior linebacker Nate Paulette was among the defensive standouts for the Rams, who also got a 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown from junior defensive back Bobby Geremia late in the second quarter.

Sturgeon and Bambrick also had fumble recoveries for the Rams, while Chris Wilcox had Bangor’s lone pass interception against Mount Ararat sophomore quarterback Josh DiBattista, who completed 6 of 12 passes for 71 yards.

“They don’t like losing,” said Hackett of his club, which visits Brunswick next Friday night. “Last week we got hammered pretty good, and the kids came out tonight and took it out on Mount Ararat. I’m proud of them because of the energy and the way they played.

“We’re starting to be a football team in football shape.”

RAMS 49, EAGLES 0

Mount Ararat (0-2) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Bangor (1-1) 7 21 14 7 – 49

B-Gallant 6 run (Barron kick)

B-Gallant 3 run (Barron kick)

B-Gallant 8 run (Barron kick)

B-Geremia 50 fumble return (Barron kick)

B-Clukey 16 run (Barron kick)

B-J. Collard-Seguin 3 run (Barron kick)

B-J. Collard-Seguin (Barron kick)

Mount Ararat Bangor

First downs 6 24

Rushing att.-yards 26-24 60-379

Passing comp.-att. 6-12 1-2

Passing yards 71 13

Total yards 95 392

Punts-avg. 6-34.8 1-16

Fumbles-lost 4-3 3-1

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 2-20 4-30

Rushing

Mount Ararat: J. DiBattista 10-21, Pullen 6-6, Friday 2-3, Cochrane 1-2, Sturgeon 7-(minus-8); Bangor: Gallant 24-188, J. Collard-Seguin 10-80, Silver 5-28, Ingraham 6-26, Bambrick 5-24, Clukey 1-16, Batchelder 5-15, Edwards 2-4, Brookings 1-0, Himes 1-(minus-2)

Passing

Mount Ararat: J. DiBattista 6-12-1-71; Bangor: Edwards 1-2-0-13

Receiving

Mount Ararat: P. DiBattista 2-31, Tardiff 2-28, Sturgeon 1-6, Ploetz 1-6; Bangor: Weston 1-13

A-650 (est.)