BREWER – The question for the Winslow Black Raiders entering Friday night’s game at Doyle Field was whether running back Ricky Vigue’s balky right knee was in good enough shape to stand up to a hard-hitting Brewer defense.

It took Vigue just two plays to show everyone that his knee was just fine, thank you very much. On the second play of Winslow’s first possession of the night, the senior took a pitch from quarterback Josh LaPointe and ran right. Vigue hit a huge hole and outran the Brewer defense 72 yards for a score.

Vigue would go on to finish with 288 yards rushing on 25 carries and four touchdowns as the Black Raiders romped 36-12.

Vigue had injured his right knee in the second game of the season and had to watch as the two-time defending Class B state champion Black Raiders slid into the also-ran category of the LTC. But the win gives Winslow a 5-4 record and a firm grip on a playoff spot. Brewer falls to 7-2 and the second seed in the LTC playoffs.

“We knew we had to win this game to make the playoffs,” Vigue said. “We knew we wanted to prove that our team wasn’t what our record was.”

The game was delayed by a problem with the field lights. Once the problem was rectified the Black Raiders showed that their offense was not lacking in power.

Vigue’s second touchdown came as much like a lightning bolt as his first. This time the distance was 58 yards and it came on the first offensive play of the second half.

Vigue added touchdown runs of 57 and 6 yards and hauled in a pass for a 14-yard gain.

“We just took it to them and the line did an awesome job. It was basically a playoff game for us,” Vigue said.

Vigue has picked up more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons. Coach Mike Siviski said that while his team has making steady improvement, the Black Raiders needed Vigue in the lineup.

“Ricky Vigue is one of the best backs in the state. Our line, we’re maturing. We’re doing more things and we’re still a very young team. But obviously Ricky makes a little bit of difference,” Siviski said with a laugh.

Backup fullback Marty McCaslin scored on a 4-yard run for Winslow while starting fullback Derek Runnels picked up 59 yards on 12 carries.

All in all the Black Raiders rolled up 426 yards in total offense – 412 of that on the ground.

Brewer went into the game looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to Belfast last week.

“We just needed to get our kids’ spirit back and we did that,” Brewer coach Josh Emmett said.

The Witches got an outstanding effort from senior running back Josh Caldwell, who carried the ball 25 times for 167 yards and scored a touchdown as time expired in the game.

Senior Seth Emerson scored the other Brewer touchdown on a 36-yard burst up the middle of the field and finished with 70 yards on eight carries.

BLACK RAIDERS 36, WITCHES 12

Winslow (5-4) 6 0 16 14 ? 36

Brewer (7-2) 0 0 6 6 ? 12

W ? Vigue 72 run (kick failed)

W ? Vigue 58 run (McPherson pass from LaPointe)

B ? Emerson 36 run (pass failed)

W ? Vigue 57 run (McPherson pass from LaPointe)

W ? Vigue 6 run (Lopez kick)

W ? McCaslin 4 run (Lopez kick)

B ? Caldwell 1 run (no attempt)

Winslow Brewer

First downs 15 11

Rushing att.-yards 48-412 43-253

Passing comp.-att. 3-7 0-5

Passing yards 24 0

Total yards 436 253

Punts-avg. 2-29.0 5.30.8

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0

Intercepted by 0 0

Penalties-yards 3-25 5-30

Rushing

Winslow: Vigue 25-288, Runnells 12-59, LaPointe 3-31, McCaslin 4-18, Hendrick 3-12, Nelson 1-4; Brewer: Caldwell 25-167, Emerson 8-70, Noyes 7-23, Collins 2-(-4), Team 1-(-3)

Passing

Winslow: Lapointe 3-7-0-24; Brewer: Collins 0-5

Receiving

Winslow: Vigue 1-14, Welch 1-6, Nelson 1-4

A?300 (est.)