RUMFORD — Mountain Valley had an opportunity to get off the ground Friday, and the Falcons delivered.
The Falcons went back to the basics and unleashed a torrid second-half attack with four touchdowns by four different runners, including the eventual winner by Kyle Farrar on a 52-yard weave, en route to a 35-14 win over Gray-New Gloucester.
Junior Josh Mason turned in a yeoman-like performance with a 33-yard TD and two big interceptions.
Mountain Valley and Gray-New Gloucester came into the contest each searching for their first win. The teams have struggled on both sides of the ball, and have similar points scored and points allowed.
Mountain Valley established the line of scrimmage behind a solid line led by 274-pound Alan Carrier. The blocking assignments opened wide holes for Farrar (174 yards, 21 carries), Mason (84 yards, eight carries) and Tom Thibeau (51 yards, 11 carries).
“We were just tired of losing,” Mason said. “I felt that we really were able to put things together in the second half and it went well.”
Mountain Valley (1-4) has counted on its youth movement and finally had an opportunities to make some noise by rushing for scores on its first two possessions of the second half. Thibeau burst over for a one-yard touchdown to complete a nine-play, 65-yard drive. The Falcons covered 62 yards in three plays, with Farrar breaking through the line and cutting for 52 yard TD and a 20-14 lead.
“We just wore them down in the second half,” said Mountain Valley coach Jim Aylward, who recorded his 200th career coaching win. “When they got off the bus and we saw they had 18 players, that’s what we planned on doing. But Gray coach Jim Hersom deserves a lot of credit because even with just 18 suited up, they played a solid game and they were physical. That’s not the same team that I’ve seen on film.”
Gray-New Gloucester (0-5) didn’t roll over and responded with a score on its first possession of the second half. Quarterback Zack Haskell rolled right and threw a pass to Adam Dumas, who used second effort on a nine-yard TD. Dumas (83 yards, 15 carries) was a workhorse on the 59-yard drive. Nicholas Correa kicked the PAT to tie the contest at 14 midway through the third quarter. The Falcons put things together, with Farrar scoring On the ensuing possession, the Falcons’ Austin Varnum recovered a fumble. Three plays later, Mason cut outside and ran 33 yards for a TD.
Gray-NG was forced into its hurry-up offense and passed the ball. Haskell tried throwing big Justin McKenna (three catches for 27 yards) but Mason stepped in front of it and ran it back to the two. Mike Everson ran in for a TD.
Gray-NG had sent a message by when Dumas scored a 16-yard TD, on the initial possession of the game The nine-play drive covered 65 yards. Mountain Valley responded with Logan White running for a 6-yard run, completing a 7-play, 65-yard drive.
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