TURNER – After dominating play for much of the game, it took a Tyler Green interception late in the game to preserve Leavitt’s hard-fought 19-14 victory over Maranacook on Friday night.

The Hornets ran 41 plays to Maranacook’s 21, outrushed the Black Bears 195 yards to 47, and only had a 13-0 halftime lead to show for it.

“We’re a young team and need to cut down on our mistakes if we hope to beat Oak Hill next week,” said Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway.

On its opening series of downs, Leavitt found the end zone at the completion of a 13-play, 62-yard drive that was aided by a roughing-the-punter penalty.

Green ran in from 2 yards out and Leavitt had a quick 7-0 lead.

Then, early in the second quarter, quarterback Evan Barker scored on a 1-yard burst to give the Hornets a 13-0 advantage.

The Black Bears cut the Hornets’ lead midway through the third quarter.

Speedy wideout Corey Palmer took a pitch from quarterback Mike Brennan and raced down the right sideline untouched to get Maranacook on the board on a 59-yard catch-and-run to trail 13-7.

The Hornets came right back, with Barker and Green again doing the bulk of the damage running the ball.

Barker broke into the clear on a quarterback sweep along the left sideline for a 23-yard touchdown run, helping Leavitt to build a 19-7 cushion early in the fourth quarter.

Maranacook scored the game’s final points with 3:34 left in the game.

Brennan found tight end Corey Stephens with a 3-yard jump pass over the middle.

“We are looking forward to the rest of the year” said Maranacook coach Kevin Norwood.

“We will only get better.”

Maranacook had one final chance, holding Leavitt on downs and getting the ball back with 1:05 left.

The Black Bears completed two passes to Palmer to get to the Leavitt 35-yard line before Green’s final interception.