LEWISTON – The Lewiston football team enjoyed the best week of the season, and that was even before playing Saturday’s game.

“We had the best week of practice in a long time,” said Blue Devil back Jared Turcotte. “It was the best week of practice we’ve had since I’ve been playing football here.”

Coach Bill County says his Blue Devils grew as a team this past week and showed hustle and a continuity it had not displayed. It was a good sign for Saturday’s battle with Mt. Ararat.

“It was easily our best three practice days of the year,” said County. “I thought we could come out and play well.”

Lewiston did just that with a convincing 41-14 win over Mt. Ararat. The Blue Devils (3-2) offense rolled over the Eagles (2-3), scoring on six of its seven possessions.

“We were in control offensively the whole game, and I think it showed,” said Turcotte.

Turcotte finished with 330 yards on 31 carries and three touchdowns. Lewiston totaled 425 yards on the ground as Wesley Myers chipped in 58 yards and Matt Letourneau added 42.

“The intensity this week was unbelievable,” said Turcotte. “We know from here on out we have to win games. We can not lose another game and get into the playoffs. We’re playing with our backs to the wall. We’re not going to let anybody else decide how our season ends up. We want to show people we can play and determine our own fate in the playoffs.”

Lewiston quarterback Mason Giroux also completed all eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m really pleased that we threw the ball fairly well tonight,” said County. “During the bye week, you try to work on things you’re not good at. So we threw the ball more in practice.”

Though Mt. Ararat began the game with a lengthy drive, aided by a pair of fake punts, the Eagle ultimately had to give the ball up and punted. Lewiston took over on the 8, but marched downfield for a 7-0 lead with 3:57 left in the quarter. Letourneau broke numerous tackles for a 22-yard run.

Though Lewiston punted on its next possession, it was the only time the Eagles stopped the Blue Devils. Lewiston made it 14-0 with 1:08 left in the half when Turcotte plowed over a tackle from the 2.

“The first half was as awkward a football game as I’ve ever coached in,” said County. “We only touched the ball three times and scored twice. We went into the locker room only up 14-0. There was a feeling that something wasn’t right. It was a very awkward game.”

Lewiston began feeling comfortable enough in the second half. Though the Blue Devils fumbled the opening kick, Mt. Ararat fumbled the ball back. The Blue Devils turned that into a Turcotte touchdown from the 3 with 9:21 left.

The Eagles answered with a Josh Dibattista 85-yard kickoff return. Though Mt. Ararat recovered an onside kick, the Eagles couldn’t take advantage. Lewiston made it 28-7 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter on a 25-yard scamper by Turcotte.

After a Dibattista 58-yard run early in the fourth, Giroux connected on scoring tosses to Frank Sawyer and Nick Blais.

“They’re coming off two big wins,” said Turcotte. “Nobody expected them to beat Mt. Blue. We knew they could play ball. We had to come out and play.”