RUMFORD – The Mountain Valley football team was clearly on a mission and the playoff-bound Falcons were not about let anybody stand in their way under the lights at chilly Hosmer Field Friday night.

Mountain Valley’s superior running game got going early and often as the Falcons built a 34-0 halftime lead behind senior Eric LePage who finished with three touchdowns in a 41-0 shutout against Greely in a Class B Campbell Conference game.

Mountain Valley (6-1) limited the Rangers to minus 14 yards rushing in the first half behind a swarming defense led by linebackers Leo Jolin and Travis Fergola and linemen Phil Smith and Kyle Dow. The Falcons have recorded four shutouts and have allowed 40 points this season.

Falcon quarterback Zach Fergola said: “It all started tonight because we needed to win this game and then next week against Gorham in order to earn home field for (the semifinal). There was some distractions earlier this season, but the team came together.”

Mountain Valley established its ground game in the first quarter and Aaron Arsenault (40 yards, nine rushes) scored on a nine-yard sweep around the right side. The Falcons had excellent field position, as four of their first five drives started in Ranger territory.

Greely (2-5) went three plays and out while punting six times for a dismal 19-yard average. Ranger QB Ryan Pote was always under pressure and the biggest play was a 23-yard run by Zack DiSilvestro.

On the initial drive in the second quarter, LePage bulled ahead for a three-yard TD. On the next offensive series, Zach Fergola passed to a wide open Ben Madigan for a 13-yard TD. Madigan kicked the PAT to give the Falcons a 21-0 lead. The Falcons covered 54 yards in four plays and the highlight was a 30-yard catch by LePage.

“Their formation helped us out,” Dickie Cote said. “The runners just got in behind the offensive and they really did a god job of blocking.”

Cote (50 yards rushing) scored on a 5-yard dive. The Falcons gained 281 yards rushing, mostly behind linemen Tristian LaPointe, Smith, Drew Parent, Aaron Robin and Dow.

Greely tried an unorthodox defense in the first half, consisting of three down linemen and an end positioned outside on the line of scrimmage. The linebackers were giving the Falcons a five-yard cushion.

“I don’t understand how they thought they could stop us by having so many people off the ball,” Mountain Valley coach Jim Aylward said. “Another thing for us has been the consistency of Ben Madigan (five PATs) which we haven’t had since Matt Irish a decade ago. Ben kicks great in practice with a 35-40-yard range, so we’re not afraid to use him.”

LePage scored a one-yard TD with three seconds left in the first half and a four-yard score in the third quarter. Jeremy Sterling had two interceptions.