HAMPDEN – It wasn’t a perfect season debut, considering all the penalties the Hampden Academy football team accrued and the Broncos’ struggles at times to move the ball against Belfast.

But a pair of first-half touchdowns and a stellar second-half defense effort proved enough to seal a 14-8 victory Friday night as both teams kicked off their seasons at a rainy Weatherbee Complex.

“It feels good. This gives us a good confidence boost,” said Hampden’s Edward Becker, who had a game-high 104 rushing yards and a touchdown. “We’re ready to work hard in practice and come out and do it again.”

It was the third time in a row the Broncs have beaten the Lions, including a 30-24 overtime victory in the Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinals last year.

“The way we ended the season last year, there was a little bit of impetus for us to play well,” said co-head coach Butch Richards. “Obviously it didn’t turn out that way.”

Hampden needed several strong defensive stands in the second half – especially in the fourth quarter – to shut down the Lions and keep dangerous quarterback Jake Arthers from beating the Broncos with his arm and legs.

Belfast drove to Hampden’s 31-yard line when the Lions stalled as Arthers threw incomplete passes on second and third down. On fourth down, Hampden’s David Piete knocked away a pass from the intended receiver.

“The secondary played great,” said Hampden quarterback-defensive back Shawn Smith. “The linebackers stayed home and [Arthers] couldn’t scramble. The [defensive line] stayed home. We just did what we were supposed to. We were disciplined. … In practice we worked on stopping their double-dive and option, and once we did that we pretty much controlled them.”

The Broncos couldn’t convert the defensive stand, but forced a 3-and-out in Belfast’s next offensive series. Again, Hampden’s offense didn’t go anywhere but the Bronco defense forced two incomplete passes, including one on fourth-and-9, to take over at the Belfast 34.

Once again, Hampden stalled, but chewed nearly three minutes off the clock and left Belfast with just 1:43 to move 84 yards. The Lions went backwards on the drive.

“Protection broke down several times and at the same time there was good coverage,” Richards said. “In football it’s not like you have 10 seconds to make a play, and once protection broke down due to their coverage, [Arthers] was in a pickle.”

Hampden got a first-quarter touchdown on a 15-yard run from Becker.

Michael Jenkins scored early in the second to put the Broncos up 14-0.

“It was just a dive up the middle,” Jenkins said. “It was just solid blocking.”

The Broncos racked up 12 penalties for 65 yards but Belfast wasn’t able to take advantage of Hampden’s miscues until the third quarter, when the Broncos chose not to punt on a fourth-and-19 at the Belfast 49. Belfast’s Tyler Bowen wrapped up Smith for a loss, which put the Lions at Hampden’s 49.

Belfast rode 5-foot-6, 130-pound Alex Mansfield in the ensuing series. He contributed three runs of a combined 35 yards, including a spinning 4-yard touchdown run.

The slippery Mansfield led the Lions with 53 yards, all in the second half as Belfast tried a different look.

“He’s a speedy little one,” Becker said. “He had a good night.”

Hampden, which successfully parlayed a fake punt into a 17-yard gain in the first quarter, didn’t let Belfast turn the situation into a turning point.

“They were really ready for it the second time,” Smith said. “I think we missed a block. It happens. We gave it a good shot.”

BRONCOS 14, LIONS 8

Belfast (0-1) 0 0 8 0 – 8

Hampden (1-0) 8 6 0 0 – 14

H-Becker 15 run (Becker rush)

H-Jenkins 6 run (rush failed)

B-Mansfield 4 run (Arthers rush)

Belfast Hampden

First downs 5 7

Rushing att.-yards 37-98 39-197

Passing comp.-att. 5-17 5-9

Passing yards 29 53

Total yards 127 250

Punts-avg. 3-29.3 5-41.8

Fumbles-lost 3-1 0-0

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 3-20 12-65

Rushing

Belfast: Mansfield 10-53, Arthers 13-29, Marston 5-6, Felton 3-5, Fogg 6-5; Hampden: E. Becker 24-104, Smith 10-77, Jenkins 3-11, Osborne 1-3, Turner 1-2

Passing

Belfast: Arthers 5-17-0-29; Hampden: Smith 5-9-1-53

Receiving

Belfast: Marston 1-15, Felton 3-10, Bowen 1-4; Hampden: Turner 2-29, E. Becker 1-10, Jenkins 1-8, R. Lindemann 1-6

A-550 (est.)