ORONO – For sophomore defensive back Collin Bates, just being a member of Orono’s varsity football squad was a thrill. Blocking the game-winning extra-point kick in regulation and recovering the fumble that set up the winning score in the same game? Well, let’s just say he never had that on his to-do list this season.

The rookie varsity player’s game-changing plays were but two in a game featuring a season’s worth as his Red Riots needed four regulation quarters and three overtimes to end Bucksport’s four-year hex on them with a 31-25 triple-overtime victory.

“Any time you’re put in a pressure situation like this and you answer the phone, it’s big for your program,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair. “Our kids grew up a lot tonight. They were tired, especially late, but they were very focused.”

The win was important both in terms of emotion/confidence and in the standings as the Riots are now in firm control of their LTC Class C playoff destiny with a 5-2 record. Bucksport’s task is much tougher with a 3-4 mark.

The win looked like it would come much easier for the Riots, even when the Bucks were driving with three minutes left in regulation. After stuffing the Golden Bucks on 2nd-and-1 twice with an incompletion and a two-yard loss, Bucksport was facing a 4th-and-3 from its own 35-yard line with just under two minutes to play.

Enter junior wingback and converted quarterback Chris Maguire, who got loose down the left sideline, and sophomore quarterback Derek Fish, who lofted a 20-yard pass to Maguire which Maguire then turned into a 36-yard pass play after beating his defender.

Two first downs later, the Bucks stalled again with three straight incompletions from the O-17, but Fish managed to think on his feet while all his receivers were covered and scrambled right after being flushed from the pocket and down the right side for a 14-yard run. He then scored on a sweep run to the left side from 3 yards out to tie the game at 13-13 with 1:24 left.

That’s when fate flitted from Fish to Bates, who lined up on the extra-point try and burst through the line with three other Riots and knocked down Joe Robicheau’s potential game-winning kick.

The extra-point jinx continued on into overtime as each team traded touchdowns only to have their PAT’s blocked, first Bucksport’s by Orono’s Travis Bryant and then Jon Brothers of Orono’s by Todd Freeman.

In the second OT, Orono took the ball first, scored a TD in four plays and then missed on a low PAT attempt. Bucksport then scored in three plays as Fish scored on an 8-yard run up the middle, but failed to score on a two-point conversion rush up the middle.

Bucksport took the ball to start the third OT and Robicheau (32 carries for 94 yards) continued his hot play in the second half and OT (67 yards after halftime) with a 2-yard gain, but the ball came loose on his 2nd-down run and Bates, who was lying down in front of him, alertly scooped it up. Orono took over and ended it quickly as senior halfback Mardy Simon collected the last of his game-high 113 yards on 26 carries by sprinting 10 yards on a sweep to the left for the game-winning score.

“Our line blocked really well. On that last play, Colby Caruso and Travis Dunton both made great blocks,” Simon said.

Dunton, in fact, was a big question mark coming in. The senior halfback/linebacker was sick with the flu or a cold before the game and Sinclair elected to keep him out for most of the first half. Then came halftime when he scored both of Orono’s touchdowns.

“He asked me if I was all right to play and I said I was,” said Dunton, who responded with 49 yards on 11 carries. “It was all adrenaline. I feel fine right now.”

His insertion into Orono’s multi-faceted backfield proved a big plus.

“He had nothing in the first half, but I think it was a big factor in the second half him coming in,” said Bucks defensive coordinator Wayne Richards. “Having that extra body, especially in a game like this, was big for them.”

RED RIOTS 31, GOLDEN BUCKS 25 (3OT)

Bucksport (3-4) 0 7 0 6 6 6 0 – 25

Orono (5-2) 0 0 13 0 6 6 6 – 31

B-Robicheau 13 pass from Fish (Robicheau kick)

O-Dunton 4 run (Brothers kick)

O-Dunton 5 run (kick failed)

B-Fish 3 run (kick blocked)

B-Robicheau 4 run (kick blocked)

O-Bussell 2 run (kick blocked)

O-Bussell 13 run (kick failed)

B-Fish 8 run (rush failed)

O-Simon 10 run

Bucksport Orono

First downs 9 10

Rushing att.-yards 48-171 57-219

Passing comp.-att. 6-10 0-2

Passing yards 60 0

Total yards 231 219

Punts-avg. 6-30.2 3-27

Fumbles-lost 3-2 4-1

Intercepted by 0 0

Penalties-yards 4-52 2-5

Rushing

Bucksport: Robicheau 32-94, Fish 7-37, Maguire 5-24, Allison 3-10, Gray 1-6; Orono: Simon 26-113, Dunton 11-49, Ward 12-41, Bussell 8-16

Passing

Bucksport: Fish 6-10-0-60; Orono: Bussell 0-2-0-0

Receiving

Bucksport: Maguire 3-39, Allison 1-15, Robicheau 2-6

A-300 (est.)