WATERVILLE – Waterville was getting the best of Bangor during Saturday’s Pine Tree Conference football showdown at Drummond Field. Bangor quickly blew away that edge.

The Rams scored nine points in a span of two minutes in the third quarter, snatching the momentum on their way to a 16-13 victory over the Panthers.

Coach Mark Hackett’s 5-2 Rams won their fifth straight, demonstrating poise despite some first-half struggles.

Bangor managed only 168 total yards, but senior end Rob Flynn and the Ram defense limited the 3-4 Panthers to 39 second-half yards.

“That poise and confidence is just something that right now Bangor has,” Hackett said. “I think it’s the difference in a lot of these games.”

Waterville led 13-7 early in the third when a high punt snap into the end zone resulted in a safety for the Rams.

On the ensuing free kick from the Waterville 20-yard line, Andrew Livingston’s high punt was knocked down by the gusty wind. It appeared to glance off a Bangor player and was recovered by the Panthers.

The officials ruled the ball was not touched and did not travel 10 yards, thus awarding Bangor the ball at the W 27.

Zak Ray’s 18-yard pass to Mike Prentiss set up a 2-yard scoring dive by Ryan Largay, giving the Rams the lead and the emotional advantage.

“We got it within good range and we just punched it through and we came out with a safety and a touchdown. That was a key point right there,” said Largay, whose determined second-half running helped Bangor control the clock and preserve the lead.

Largay carried 27 times for 74 yards with 52 of those yards coming in the second half behind a gritty offensive line and bruising fullback John Huhn.

“Ryan doesn’t get a lot of big gains, but he gets a lot of three or four yards and he gets the tough yards,” Hackett said.

The Bangor defense stiffened in the second half. Paced by Flynn (15 tackles), junior linebacker Ben Payson (11) and senior strong safety Joe Blier (7), the Rams shut down the multifaceted Waterville offense that had put up 13 points and 179 yards in the first half.

Bangor made a key stand early in the fourth after a Ray fumble at midfield. Flynn stopped Matthew Hilton two yards shy of a first down at the B 17 on a fourth-down pass play with 10:46 remaining.

“I just think we wanted it, we needed it,” said Flynn, who posted two quarterback sacks and a pass breakup. “It was a big win.”

Waterville had the ball for less than three minutes in the fourth quarter as the Rams were able to move the ball on the ground.

“We had a couple key first downs and I think that was crucial,” Largay said.

The Rams had halted a Panther march at the B-16 with 5:24 left in the first half.

Waterville took a 7-0 lead on Nathan Hart’s 4-yard run. Bangor countered with Ray’s 7-yard run (7-for-14, 71 yards). The Panthers responded with a 68-yard drive. Ryan Lockard’s 7-yard TD run made it 13-7, but the kick was wide left.

Hart paced Waterville with 13 tackles and Hilton (18 carries, 65 yards) made eight.

RAMS 16, PANTHERS 13

Bangor (5-2) 7 0 9 0 ? 16

Waterville (3-4) 13 0 0 0 ? 13

W ? N. Hart 4 run (Livingston kick)

B ? Ray 1 run (Achorn kick)

W ? Lockard 7 run (Livingston kick)

B ? Safety, Lockard tackled in end zone

B ? Largay 2 run (Achorn kick)

Bangor Waterville

First downs 11 11

Rushing att.-yards 49-83 39-147

Passing comp.-att. 7-13 7-14

Passing yards 85 71

Total yards 168 218

Punts-avg. 4-30.2 3-28.7

Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 4-40 2-15

Rushing

Bangor: Largay 27-74, Heber 5-9, Ray 12-6, Huhn 2-1, Team 3-(-7); Waterville: Hilton 18-65, Lockard 12-59, N. Hart 7-29, Team 2-(-6)

Passing

Bangor: Ray 7-13-1-85; Waterville: Lockard 7-14-0-71

Receiving

Bangor: Prentiss 4-51, Day 2-25, Blier 1-9; Waterville: N. Hart 3-59, Crowell 2-9, Hilton 2-3

A?450 (est.)