BANGOR – Mike Prentiss is new at this running back stuff, but don’t confuse that with inexperience.

The Bangor High School senior, making his varsity debut at tailback after switching from split end during preseason, rushed for 198 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries as the Rams handled Edward Little of Auburn 42-14 in a Pine Tree Conference season-opening football game at Cameron Stadium on Friday night.

Prentiss scored on runs of 28, 25, 2 and 17 yards behind an offensive line that dominated the Edward Little defense, enabling the Rams to roll up 502 total yards, 428 on the ground. Senior fullback Ben Payson added 119 yards on 19 carries, as well as blocking at the point of attack to help spring Prentiss for long gains.

“We came out fired up, the whole offensive line, and we just took it to them,” said senior guard Trevor Lagrange. “Prentiss is just amazing. No matter where the play is or how small the hole is, he just gets through and takes off.”

Lagrange, guard Ricky Dexter, center Eric Anderson and tackles Kyle Oliver and Danny Day were among the Bangor linemen who enabled Prentiss and Payson to have big nights.

“We wanted to take it to them early and send a message,” said Payson. “Our offensive line did the job, they made holes big enough to walk through.”

Edward Little bore little resemblance to the 2002 team that won the Eastern A championship, particularly on defense where the Red Eddies graduated eight starters.

That left coach Jim Hersom’s club without many answers for the Bangor offense, particularly along the line of scrimmage.

“They’re a good football team, they’ve got plenty of horses and are real disciplined,” said Hersom. “They’re big up front, and we just couldn’t match up with them.”

Prentiss had 120 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter as Bangor took a 14-0 lead by scoring the first two times it had the ball. He capped off a seven-play, 61-yard drive with a 28-yard scoring run barely 3 minutes into the game, then scored from 25 yards out with 5:45 left in the period.

“He’s scary,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett of Prentiss. “He can pound it inside, then kick it outside, make one step and make you look foolish.

“He’s played three games [counting preseason] at tailback, and he looks like he’s been playing there all his life.”

Tyler Heber (10 carries, 35 yards) scored from 2 yards out and Prentiss added his third touchdown of the half, a 2-yard dive on the final play of the second quarter, as the Rams took a 28-0 halftime lead.

That final drive showed senior quarterback Shaun Sullivan at his best, as he led the Rams 55 yards during the final 1:53 of the half.

“We haven’t really worked on the two-minute drill,” said Hackett. “But Shaun manages the game well, doesn’t try to do too much, and does what needs to be done for us.”

Sullivan went 8 of 11 passing for 74 yards in his first varsity start, and guided a Bangor first-team offense that did not commit a turnover.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Sullivan. “The offensive line just took control, and gave me plenty of time.”

Edward Little scored on its first possession of the second half, with Chris LeClair’s 5-yard run capping a 59-yard drive. Senior quarterback Matt Bennett set up the score with a 38-yard pass to Brent Miller.

But Prentiss struck again, this time on a 17-yard run, as Bangor pushed its lead to 35-7 on its first possession of the third quarter.

The Rams added its final touchdown on a 15-play fourth-quarter drive that featured the running of brothers Ben and Nick Payson. Nick Payson, a sophomore, rushed nine times for 38 yards during the march, including the final 3 yards to the end zone behind a block by his older brother.

EL’s final score came with 19 seconds left as senior Chris Lemieux went around left end against Bangor’s second-team defense for a 94-yard touchdown run.

RAMS 42, RED EDDIES 14

Edward Little (0-1) 0 0 7 7 ? 14

Bangor (1-0) 14 14 7 7 ? 42

B ? Prentiss 28 run (Heath kick)

B ? Prentiss 25 run (Heath kick)

B ? Heber 2 run (kick failed)

B ? Prentiss 2 run (Sullivan pass to Prentiss)

EL ? Leclair 5 run (Nadeau kick)

B ? Prentiss 17 run (Heath kick)

B ? N. Payson 3 run (Heath kick)

EL ? Lemieux 94 run (Nadeau kick)

Ed. Little Bangor

First downs 7 21

Rushing att.-yards 25-196 61-428

Passing comp.-att. 4-18 8-11

Passing yards 51 74

Total yards 247 502

Punts-avg. 1-42.0 4-31.0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 3-15 5-30

Rushing

Edward Little: Lemieux 1-94, Leclair 11-51, Bennett 6-22, Leighton 3-13, LaValley 2-9, Nadeau 1-7, Simpson 1-0; Bangor: Prentiss 14-198, B. Payson 19-119, N. Payson 10-41, Heber 10-35, Silver 6-19, Ingraham 1-16, Hackett 1-0

Passing

Edward Little: Bennett 4-18-1-51; Bangor: Sullivan 8-11-0-74

Receiving

Edward Little: Miller 3-42, Taylor 2-9; Bangor: Cassidy 2-29, Dowe 2-24, McPike 1-13, DeRosa 1-8

A?750 (est.)