Merritt, Gallant, Smith lift Bapst Crusaders rally to knock off Rockland

BANGOR – Nick Smith’s 3-yard touchdown run, a PAT kick by Kyle Gallant, and a late defensive stand helped John Bapst complete a rally and defeat Rockland 27-26 Saturday in high school football action.

Smith scored his third TD with less than four minutes left and Gallant’s extra-point conversion gave John Bapst a 1-point lead. Smith finished with 180 yards on 31 carries. Charlie Merritt completed four passes for 70 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Ortiz. Aaron Healey had 45 receiving yards.

Rockland’s Andrew Weiss had 19 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns while Mike Marsh carried the ball 20 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Weiss was also 4-for-13 passing with 154 yards and a touchdown for the 2-2 Tigers.

Rockland (2-2) 6 14 6 0 – 26

John Bapst (3-1) 0 12 8 7 – 27

R-Marsh 19 run (rush failed)

JB-Smith 42 run (kick failed)

R-Elwell 43 pass from Weiss (Weiss rush)

JB-Ortiz 14 pass from Merritt (rush failed)

R-Weiss 4 run (rush failed)

JB-Smith 2 run (Smith rush)

R-Weiss 64 run (rush failed)

JB-Smith 3 run (Gallant kick)

Gardiner 29, Waterville 14

At Waterville, Dan Fortune ran for 276 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers won a meeting of previously undefeated teams.

Fortune scored on TD runs of four, 58, 60 and 35 yards. Kyle Stilphen booted a 30-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

Caleb Johnston caught a 14-yard TD pass and ran for a 10-yard score to lead the Panthers.

Gardiner (4-0) 14 6 6 3 – 29

Waterville (3-1) 0 7 0 7 – 14

G-Fortune 4 run (kick blocked)

G-Fortune 58 run (Lavallee pass from Stilphen)

W-Johnston 14 pass from Lancaster (Allen kick)

G-Fortune 60 run (kick failed)

G-Fortune 35 run (pass failed)

W-Johnston 10 run (Allen kick)

G-Stilphen 30 field goal