BANGOR – Bangor started strong, finished strong, and weathered a first half rally by Edward Little of Auburn before finally posting a 34-14 victory Friday night as the schoolboy football season shifts from preseason this week to regular season next week.

The win wasn’t as easy as the score indicates. Bangor needed an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Tyler Heber in the second half just to retake the lead after Edward Little scored on back-to-back passing plays.

The Rams gained 149 total yards and collected six first downs, but the Eddies had 195 yards and eight first downs. The Eddies gained 112 yards through the air.

“We’ll take the win, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Bangor head coach Mark Hackett.

Rams tailback Ryan Largay gained 87 yards and scored two touchdowns on 22 carries while fullback Robert Flynn had one TD run and 38 yards on eight carries. Bangor’s other score came on a five-yard run by fullback John Huhn in the fourth quarter. Nick Achorn was 4-for-5 on extra-point kicks.

Edward Little 7 7 0 0-14

Bangor 14 7 0 13-34

B- Largay 5 run (Achorn kick)

B Flynn 5 run (Achorn kick)

EL – LeClair 32 pass from Bennett (Claxton kick)

EL – Claxton 45 pass from Bennett (Claxton kick)

B – Heber 89 kickoff return (Achorn kick)

B – Largay 1 run (kick failed)

B – Huhn 5 run (Achorn kick)

Brewer stops Bucksport

Also Friday, the Brewer Witches shut out Bucksport 20-0 in Bucksport as each team played its starter in the first half and used reserves in the second.

The Witches and Golden Bucks battled to a scoreless halftime tie before Brewer scored 12 in the third quarter and eight in the fourth. Each team had two sustained offensive drives in the first half, but the only chance for points came when the Bucks tried to kick a 35-yard field goal, but saw it miss to the right.

In other games, Orono downed Mount Desert Island 22-16, Belfast beat Mattanawcook of Lincoln 36-14, Stearns of Millinocket blanked Old Town 47-0, Mt. Blue of Farmington topped Oxford Hills of South Paris 14-6, Gardiner defeated Lawrence of Fairfield 20-12 and Lewiston earned a 35-14 win over Messalonskee of Oakland.

Boys soccer

Southern Aroostook 5, Easton 2

At Dyer Brook, Corey Edkins netted two goals to lead the Warriors to the win.

Tom St. Pierre racked up three assists for 4-0 Southern Aroostook. Travis Brooker, Jarred Grant and Zac Austin each added a goal. Jeff Boutilier and Rusty Toothaker combined for 10 saves on 17 shots.

Nate Harris and Brian Carlow each scored for the 2-5-1 Bears. Dan Warren made 12 saves on 30 shots.

Van Buren 4, Limestone 2

At Van Buren, Tyler Hews and Jesse Parent scored a pair of goals apiece as the Crusaders picked up a win.

Hews, his brother, Trevor, and Luiz Sodre had assists for 4-2 Van Buren. Dustin Cyr and Sean Violette combined for two saves on four shots.

Billy Brown scored for 3-3 Limestone off a Dale Swaton pass. Jake Manner made eight saves on 18 shots.

Fort Fairfield 2, Madawaska 0

At Madawaska, Tyler Bernaiche stopped five of the 11 shots to earn a shutout for the 6-0 Tigers.

Aaron Kenneson and Matt Oakes each scored an unassisted goal for Fort Fairfield.

John Cowie made six saves on 14 shots for the 1-4-1 Owls.

Girls soccer

Madawaska 1, Houlton 0

At Houlton, Kelly Chasse knocked in a pass from Beth Gerard with 22:04 left in the first half as the Madawaska shut out Houlton.

Michelle Lavertu made eight saves on 10 shots for the 2-3 Owls.

Anna Lenentine stopped five of eight shots for the 1-3 Shiretowners.

Wisdom 1, Fort Fairfield 0

At St. Agatha, Pioneers center Kristen Marquis’ goal on a cross from Christa Lizotte with 27:41 remaining in the contest gave Wisdom of St. Agatha the win.

Shannon Berube shut out the Tigers while in net for Wisdom (6-0), stopping eight of Fort Fairfield’s 11 shots on goal. Dani Searles blocked 26 of 36 shots for Fort Fairfield (2-2-1).

Southern Aroostook 4, Easton 0

At Dyer Brook, Mackenzie Hardy’s three goals led Southern Aroostook to its first victory of the season.

Olivia McGary and Mindy Watson each assisted on a Hardy goal. Watson also scored an unassisted goal. Crystal Cameron stopped three shots.