MADISON – First the good news, with a hint of the bad. Lewiston survived injuries to its two key offensive cogs and held off Skowhegan, 22-20, Saturday night in what could be a pivotal decision for two playoff-worthy teams in the Pine Tree Conference.

But in a development that could have even more ramifications, Lewiston tailback Jared Turcotte left the game and went home on crutches after injuring his left knee on defense at the end of the third quarter. Quarterback Chris Ford, who filled in briefly for Turcotte at tailback, also had to leave the game after aggravating a bone bruise on the inside of his knee.

Despite the injuries, the Devils preserved their lead by thwarting Skowhegan’s two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game with 1:19 left.

“Our kids, to their credit, overcame a lot of adversity,” said Lewiston coach Bill County. “There were a lot of things we had to do to keep our composure and win the football game.”

As if the injuries weren’t enough of an obstacle for the Devils (2-1), they had to overcome a blown officials’ call late in the game that may have cost them some insurance points.

With 8:30 left and Lewiston up 22-14, Ford moved back to tailback and ripped off a 19-yard run to get the Devils into Skowhegan territory. Junior Franklin Sawyer, who replaced Ford at quarterback, then threw a 33-yard completion to Kyle Caito to get them down to the eight. On first down, Ryan Lagasse ran to the right side of the Skowhegan defense. The Indians (1-2) seemed to have him stopped as he crossed the five, but a line judge, mistakenly thinking the five was the goal-line, blew his whistle and signaled a touchdown.

After an officials’ conference, the play was nullified and the down replayed. Lewiston, which was called for holding on the ensuing play, never got near the end zone again.

“We had a nice little drive going,” County said. “We came back and scored, and the guy blew the whistle and it doesn’t count, and now all of a sudden, we’re in a one touchdown game.”

The call looked like it would come back to haunt Lewiston when the Indians took over at their own 20 with 2:05 left. With the help of a questionable pass interference call, QB Mike LaCasse (10-for-23, 100 yards) marched the Indians throught the air to the Lewiston 17, then caught the defense off-guard by handing the ball to tailback Aaron Chambers on a counter play that made it a two-point game with 1:19 left.

“We needed (the passing game) and we used it,” said Skowhegan coach Mike Marston. “The no-huddle was very effective and Mike ran it well, but we came up about two inches short.”

For the game-tying two-point attempt, LaCasse tried to find his favorite target, Lucas Cole (7 catches, 71 yards) in the right flat, but the throw was low and bounced off Cole’s hands.

Both teams’ run defenses did solid jobs containing the two top running backs in the PTC, Chambers (14 carries, 105 yards, two TDs) and Turcotte (34 carries, 144 yards, two TDs). Lewiston got the better of the battle for field possession early and drew first blood on Turcotte’s one-yard plunge late in the first quarter.

Lewiston held Skowhegan without a first down in the first period, but the Indians didn’t need one to score on Chambers’ 69-yard TD sprint.Ford (11 carries, 55 yards) became the first Blue Devil other than Turcotte to score a touchdown this year with a seven-yard run, then added the two-point conversion for a 15-6 lead.

Skowhegan closed to 15-14 before halftime, but the Devils took the lead for good by churning out a 17-play, 57-yard drive that burned more than eight minutes off the clock and ended with Turcotte’s one-yard dive and Ethan Gagnon’s extra point that made it 22-14.

“I thought it was important that we came out and established the offense when we first got the ball (in the second half),” County said.

“I thought that really set us in a good spot.”