WINSLOW – It’s third and long, but Steven Siviski has no worries.

The sophomore quarterback from Winslow High School simply passes the ball high and sometimes far, content in the knowledge that only one player on the field will be in position to catch it – 6-foot-3 senior wideout Eric Lopez.

“Sometimes I just throw it up, and I know wherever it is he’s going to go and get it,” said Siviski, who completed all five of his passing attempts in Winslow’s 43-28 win against Belfast on Saturday – all to Lopez on plays covering 125 yards.

Four of the receptions produced first downs. The fifth produced a touchdown as Lopez made a one-handed grab while battling Belfast defensive back Garren Horne and then raced to the end zone to complete a 53-yard play that gave the Black Raiders a 36-20 lead with 10:56 to play.

“I looked up and found the ball and I just went and got it, I wasn’t going to be denied,” said Lopez, a three-sport standout at Winslow who figures to be one of the state’s top basketball players this winter. “I kind of just stole it, but once it’s up there, I have the attitude of going and get it.”

And there was little Belfast could do about it.

“I’m not sure what you do with him,” said Belfast co-coach Butch Arthers. “You can try to double-team him, but anytime you double-team somebody in this league they’re going to hit you with the run.”

Winslow did that, too. When Lopez didn’t get to the end zone, his receptions set up sophomore tailback Justin Lindie, who led a balanced Winslow rushing attack with 110 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries. Lindie was one of four Black Raiders with at least 50 rushing yards, along with John Goulette (three carries, 63 yards), Ryan Lindie (17-54) and Siviski (13-53).

“Both Lindies ran well, it was a real good team effort,” said Winslow coach Mike Siviski, Steven’s father. “Offensively and defensively it was our best game of the year.”

That performance came at an important time for the Black Raiders, who improved to 4-2 to retain a share of second place with Leavitt of Turner Center in a highly congested Pine Tree Conference Class B playoff race.

Only unbeaten Brewer (6-0) can feel comfortable about its postseason status, though two of the Witches’ last three games are against Leavitt and Winslow. And lurking behind those three teams are 3-3 Oak Hill of Wales, Morse of Bath and Belfast, the defending state champion which now finds itself mired in a three-game losing streak.

“It’s a fun league, but we’re not having much fun right now,” said Arthers. “We just told our guys that if we can get into the playoffs then we’ll be able to get some things done. But we’ve got to get there first.”

Winslow struck first in this hotly contested rivalry, using good field position to take a 14-0 lead on runs of 28 and 4 yards by Justin Lindie that capped drives of 38 and 42 yards.

Belfast quarterback Andy Whalen hit Josh Gallant with a 46-yard touchdown pass to cut the gap to 14-8, but Steven Siviski found Lopez for 20 yards on a third-and-9 play to set up a 6-yard scoring run by Lindie.

The Lions drew within 22-14 by intermission, as Josh Aldus (23 carries, 142 yards) used a block by senior guard Scott Hopkins to score on a 16-yard run, capping a 70-yard march in which the senior tailback rushed four times for 54 yards.

But Belfast simply couldn’t stop Winslow, particularly the Siviski-to-Lopez connection.

That duo hooked up for a 35-yard pass play on a third-and-8 to keep the first drive of the second half alive, and Lindie soon scored from 8 yards out as the Black Raiders pushed their lead to 28-14.

A fumble recovery by Belfast’s Hugh Morse set up a 5-yard TD run by Aldus to cut the gap to 28-20 before Lopez soared for his touchdown catch and run.

A Steven Siviski interception set up a 58-yard scoring run by Goulette midway through the fourth quarter before Horne – a state champion sprinter -returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

BLACK RAIDERS 43, LIONS 28

Belfast (3-3) 0 14 6 8 – 28

Winslow (4-2) 14 8 6 15 – 43

W – J. Lindie 24 run (Poulin kick)

W – J. Lindie 4 run (Poulin kick)

B – Gallant 46 pass from Whalen (Aldus rush)

W – J. Lindie 6 run (Siviski rush)

B – Aldus 16 run (rush failed)

W – J. Lindie 6 run (pass failed)

B – Aldus 5 run (pass failed)

W – Lopez 53 pass from Siviski (Pellerin pass from Siviski)

W – Goulette 58 run (Poulin kick)

B – Horne 91 kickoff return (Aldus rush)

Belfast Winslow

First downs 9 16

Rushing att.-yards 37-172 52-283

Passing comp.-att. 3-7 5-5

Passing yards 55 125

Total yards 227 408

Punts-avg. 3-34.3 1-13.0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 1-5 4-19

Rushing

Belfast: Aldus 23-142, Horne 6-16, Whalen 4-12, Gallant 1-2, Luce 2-1, Littlefield 1-(minus 1); Winslow: J. Lindie 18-110, Goulette 3-63, R. Lindie 17-54, Siviski 13-53, Maroon 1-3

Passing

Belfast: Whalen 3-7-1-55; Winslow: Siviski 5-5-0-125

Receiving

Belfast: Gallant 1-46, Morse 1-6, Horne 1-3; Winslow: Lopez 5-125

A-1,000 (est.)