BANGOR – Different week, same weather, same sloppy conditions, and – fortunately for the Bangor Rams – same outcome.

For the second straight week, the Rams’ offensive line was the deciding factor in a scoring- and weather-challenged contest. Bangor’s second shutout in two weeks – this time a 7-0 decision over Waterville at Cameron Stadium Friday night – again came in the muck, mud, and steady rain.

“The first two drives, it was sloppy. Everyone was falling down,” said Bangor’s Justin Libbey. “The second half, we put it all together, no matter what the weather.”

Once again, the Rams’ junior tailback was the prime beneficiary of the line’s superlative efforts as he rushed for 107 of his game-best 128 yards in the second half.

“You can’t always pass when it’s wet,” said right tackle Jared Hockman. “When it gets like that, it’s just line against line… just killing each other.”

Bangor improves to 3-0 with the win while Waterville drops to 0-2.

The defining moments for Libbey and the line came during a game-deciding, 16-play drive that ate up almost nine minutes off the clock and 56 yards.

With 1:34 left in the third quarter and the game knotted in a scoreless tie, Libbey and the Rams took the ball at their own 44-yard line and rushed off the left tackle for three yards. It was the first of 16 straight carries by Libbey, who wound up with 36 total.

Libbey capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run off right tackle with 4:42 left in the game.

“We mixed it up a little more, going right to left,” Libbey said. “It seemed the defense would cheat to the right, so we’d go left and made a bunch of good play calls. The line blocked awesome. My job was easy.”

Considering Bangor’s line was missing starting left tackle Ben Guerette, who was sent home before the game with a bad cold or the flu, its performance was all the more impressive.

Senior tackle Mike Hudak exceeded expectations in his first varsity start. He slid right into Guerette’s place alongside Hockman, guards Rob Bastey and Stuart Cooper, and center Pat Knaide.

“He never even looked like a football player ’til this year, but he stepped right in for Ben and did a great job,” said Bangor coach Gabby Price. “We’re proud of ’em all. We played much better against a better team.”

Hudak also provided an emotional spark for the Rams.

“We felt we owed Waterville something and he felt that more than anybody else,” said right guard and captain Stuart Cooper. “Before the game, he said `I’m going to go out there and pay them back for everything they did to us,’ and he actually did it… and I loved being out there with him.”

Bangor’s returning starters felt they had a score to settle after being blown out by the Panthers 31-0 in a Pine Tree Conference semifinal playoff last year.

“It was amazing. You could just feel them getting tired while we were getting all this energy,” Cooper said. “After awhile, you forget the rain. All you think about is kicking the guy’s butt across from you.”

The second half was a total reversal. After managing just one first down and 24 total yards in the first half, the Rams seized control in the second by running 35 offensive plays to Waterville’s 11.

“It seemed like they had the ball the whole second half,” said Panthers coach Frank Knight. “It seemed like we were always on defense… and our defense got tired.”

While Bangor’s got better. The Panthers matched the Rams in total yardage (132-132), but the Rams held Waterville to 11 total yards in the second half and sacked Chris Hart two straight times to ice the game with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Waterville’s offense penetrated the B18 in its first series, but was stuffed on fourth down – one of three such stands by the Rams.

Rams 7, Purple Panthers 0

Waterville (0-2) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Bangor (3-0) 0 0 0 7 – 7

B – Libbey 3 run (Bouchard kick)

Waterville Bangor

First downs 5 9 Rushing att. – yds 32-78 46-132 Passing cmp. – att. 3-6 0-5 Yards passing 54 0 Total yards 132 136 Intercepted by 0 0 Punts – avg. 4-29.0 4-29.8 Fumbles – lost 4-1 2-1 Penalties – yds 4-35 3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Waterville: Harmon 22-58, Johansmeier 8-32, Hart 2-(-12); Bangor: Libbey 36-128, Vanidestine 3-1, Cammack 7-3

PASSING – Waterville: Hart 3-5-0-54, Johansmeier 0-1-0-0; Bangor: Vanidestine 0-5-0-0

RECEIVING – Waterville: Gilley 2-36, Harmon 1-18