AUBURN – When the Red Eddies showed signs of resiliency and went on to dominate the third quarter, the Bangor Rams put their foot down and punched in pair of touchdowns in the fourth to squash EL’s rebellion for good.

Running back Aaron Gallant paved the way for Bangor, scoring a pair of touchdowns, as the Rams marched off with a 29-6 victory over Edward Little in a Class A football game under the lights at Walton Field on Friday night.

“EL is a hugely improved team from last year,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “They hit us. They took it to us. It was a close game. They made us do quite a few things differently.”

After the Red Eddies scored their only touchdown in the third quarter, the Rams weren’t quite comfortable with a 16-6 lead going into the final stanza.

The Rams made their move late in the quarter when they started a drive from their own 27-yard line that brought them to EL’s 17 early in the fourth quarter. From there, Gallant made his escape to the end zone, scoring with nine minutes and 13 seconds left. Tyson Barron’s kick made it 23-6.

It didn’t take long for the Rams to get the ball back.

EL quarterback Steve Simpson coughed the ball up on the first play of EL’s next possesion. Bangor’s defensive tackle Kyle Oliver recovered it around the 10. The Rams pushed and shoved their way to the 2-yard line, where Nick Payson scored.

“We played well for four quarters,” said Hackett. “They have huge expectations. They are goal-orientated guys. They are big and rugged and they have a lot of heart. I was happy with everyone’s effort.”

The Red Eddies shook off their opening-night jitters in the second half and took control of the third quarter.

The Rams gave EL an opportunity to get back in the game when Payson fumbled and Josh Barajas recovered the ball at Bangor’s 36.

The Red Eddies kept the ball on the ground, fighting their way to the 2-yard line where Garner Lavalley punched it in.

“I thought they are a good football team,” said EL coach Jim Hersom. The have a lot of big, rugged kids. But we didn’t shy away.

“But we are not satisfied. We need to improve on both sides of the ball.”

In the first quarter, the Rams got on the board when Gallant scored from three yards out.

After quarterback’s Brian Hackett’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Paul Russell was called back on a holding penalty, Bangor picked up another touchdown when Payson took it from from the 3.

Barron kicked a 24-yard field goal with 11 seconds left and Bangor left the field at halftime with a 16-0 lead.