FARMINGTON – The Mount Blue High School football team went back to the basics, which paid dividends in a Pine Tree Conference game at Caldwell Field on Friday.

Mt. Blue scored three times in the first half behind the running and passing of quarterback Joe Gilbert and controlled the clock in a 26-18 win against Edward Little.

Mt. Blue (1-1) used its ball control offense in the fourth quarter, eating up seven minutes to keep the ball away from the Red Eddies. Gilbert completed 8-of-13 for 109 yards, including a 29-yard TD pass to Bobby Duley.

“We told the kids at half time that we needed to control the second half,” Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin said. “We improved this week and a lot of our play had to do with simplifying both the offense and defense.”

Each team entered the game with bruised egos following losses last week in their respective season openers. Edward Little was upset by Oxford Hills and defending state champion Lawrence humbled the Cougars.

Gilbert (111 yards, 11 rushes) scored an 11-yard TD in the third quarter. The Cougars drove 80 yards in eight plays, led by the running of Derek Lowe, who gained 138 yards on 16 rushes in the game. “We worked hard in practice all week,” Gilbert said. “The reason we were able to run the ball was because of our line. Our double-wing was there, plus we were able to spread the field.”

Edward Little trailed by eight points, but went on a long drive behind the running of Dylon Therrien (125 yards, 25 rushes) and Grady Burns. QB Cody Knowlton pitched the ball and the Cougars’ Chris Gross recovered the fumble on the Mt. Blue 15-yard line.

Edward Little scored twice in the first quarter on runs by Therrien of 16 and three yards. “We thought we’d be able to run over them,” Edward Little coach Darren Hartley said. “That wasn’t the case because they are more physical than us. We got beat on physical conditioning and we are not in shape. To many guys go both ways and Mt. Blue wore us down.”

Red Eddies’ QB Cody Goddared was 8-of-11 for 155 yards, including a 26-yard TD pass to Merton Foss on the final play of the first half.”

Mt. Blue forced three turnovers in the first half, including a Gilbert interception.

Edward Little converted seven of 10 on third down and the Cougars made six of 10.

Mt. Blue led 20-18 at halftime. Rowe and Gilbert each had running TDs of 18 yards and one yard, respectively. Chad Simoneau booted two PATs.

“We made the plays when we had to,” Parlin said.

Mt. Blue, 26-18

Edward Little 12 6 0 0-18

Mt. Blue 7 13 6 0-26

First quarter

EL Therrien 16 run kick failed

MB- gGilbert 29 pass to Duley *Simoneau kick

EL Therrien 3 run pass failed

Second quarter

MB-Rowe 18 run Simoneau kick

MB Gilbert 1 run kick failed

EL Goddard 26 pass to Foss pass failed

Third quarter

MB- Gilbert 11 run pass failed

EL MB

First downs11 14

Rushes-yards.168-32 270-37

Passing yards162 109

Passing.330 379

Total yards8-12-1 9-13-0

Fumbles-lost.3-3 –0-0

Punting.0-0 3-31

Penalty-yards7-65 6-40