LIVERMORE FALLS – Brad Bryant has grabbed the headlines throughout the year for the Livermore Falls Andies. Friday night was no different, but Bryant shared the limelight with senior Chuck Drake.

Drake proved to be “Mr. Versatility.”

All Drake did was return the opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown, kick three extra points and a field goal, rush for 57 yards, total 27 yards receiving and capped it all off with an interception in the end zone on the next-to-last play of the game to help Livermore Falls to a 36-14 win over Dirigo-Buckfield at Griffin Field.

“It’s really important for me,” Drake said about having a stellar performance in his final regular-season home game. “It was my first field goal ever and the interception was just a great way to end it. The whole game was great.”

The game started off with Drake picking up the bounding opening kick at his own 21. As he began to run, he quickly found a wide hole from the combination of some key blocking and over-pursuing coverage by the Cougars (2-6) and raced 79 yards to pay dirt.

“I had just turned to one of my assistant coaches and said ‘It’d be nice to return one this year,'” said Livermore Falls coach Brad Bishop.

“I kind of lost the ball for a second,” said Drake. “I found a huge hole and went for the end zone.”

The Andies (6-2) appeared sluggish early on. The Cougars took advantage midway through the first quarter. First, Jameson Henderson recovered an Andies fumble at the Livermore Falls 31. Four plays later, Henderson found wideout Brandon Elliot over the middle for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

The second quarter was all Andies. Bryant scored from a yard out and then began ripping off huge chunks of yardage. His 57-yard burst and subsequent 18-yard run set up Drake’s 24-yard field goal.

Bryant had his typical “day at the office.” The junior back rushed for 207 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns.

“He made a big difference,” said Cougar coach Jim Wetherell. “(Bryant) is fast. They have a fast team.”

Trailing 23-6, the Cougars came firing out of the blocks in the third quarter.

Senior fullback Craig Langevin blasted his way into the end zone from five yards out to cap an 18-play, 80-yard drive that took up almost nine minutes to narrow the gap to 23-14.

But Bryant and the Andies’ offense quickly answered. Bryant picked up 11 yards inside and then ran for seven more around the right end. Two more Bryant runs placed the ball near the goal line where quarterback Dane Hanson kept the ball himself for a 1-yard score.

Bryant added an 11-yard scoring run on the next possession to put the final points on the scoreboard.

“We had some penalties and made some mistakes,” said Bishop. “But we played good enough tonight and I’m proud of my kids. We’ve got bigger things ahead.”