The Bangor Rams gave their fans a thrilling home opener Friday night at Cameron Stadium, defeating the Lawrence Bulldogs in convincing fashion by a final score of 21-6.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on the coattails of junior running back Colton Carter. On Lawrence’s second drive, Carter ran for 55 yards and a touchdown on four carries, putting the Bulldogs ahead 6-0.
On the other end, Bangor showed glimpses of offensive firepower, but ultimately turned the ball over twice in Lawrence territory. But halfway through the second quarter, the Rams finally managed to put it all together.
Starting from their own 2-yard line, Rams senior quarterback Jack Schuck quickly found junior wideout Nevin Nowell for 13 yards and the first down. Right after, sophomore running back Kyle Johnson rumbled for another 11 yards.
Over the course of 12 more plays, the Rams gradually marched down the field, with Schuck throwing for 42 yards and Johnson running for 33, including a 3-yard touchdown run.
Schuck found four different receivers in the 98-yard drive, including an 8-yard pass on fourth down to junior tight end Fionn Parker-Cummings. Schuck also moved the chains with his legs, on an 8-yard, third-down run near midfield.
“It starts with all 11 of us on the field,” Schuck said. “If all of us do our job and do it well, we can move the ball and no one’s stopping us.”
Coming out of halftime the Rams received the kickoff, and picked up right where they left off.
After a flashy kickoff return by senior Xavier Pike to the Rams’ 39-yard line, Bangor took to the skies. Schuck found junior wideout Jackson Varney for 26 yards on the second play of the drive, then junior Nevin Howell for 20. Finding themselves at the 1-yard line after a 12-yard reception by sophomore Trey Tennett, the Rams had Schuck finish the job on the ground, extending their lead to 14-6.
Schuck finished the game with 75 yards rushing on 11 carries. He was 9-for-17 passing, with 138 yards.
Later in the third quarter, Bangor went back to its run game to drain the clock and Lawrence’s stamina. Distributing the rock between Johnson, Schuck and Varney, the Rams moved the ball 73 yards on the ground during its third scoring drive.
Johnson punched it in from the 2-yard line, making it 21-6 Bangor.
“We’re like brothers out there,” Johnson said. “We stick together and keep it on them. Just drive. Just drive, drive, drive.”
On defense, Bangor held Lawrence to only one completion all game, and sealed the win with less than a minute to go with a forced fumble and recovery at its own 5-yard line.
An interception by sophomore co-captain and linebacker Zac Cota in the first quarter helped keep Lawrence within striking distance, as did a sack by Johnson in the second.
With the win on Friday night, the Rams have already matched their win tally from last year. There was a lot of optimism in the Bangor locker room after the game.
“We can only go up from here,” Schuck said.
Next Friday, Bangor will travel to Windham to play the Eagles at 7 p.m.
