READFIELD – Oak Hill finally unearthed the cure for the fourth-quarter flu: Build up that immune system by dominating the third.

The Raiders erased a modest halftime deficit with two Adam Hathorne rushing touchdowns. Then came the deep breath. Oak Hill restored its collective oxygen supply by silencing slippery Maranacook quarterback Pat Norwood enough to stymie a late Black Bears drive and secure an 18-14 Pine Tree Conference Class B football victory.

“It seems like when we have a lead that clock hates to move,” said Oak Hill coach Bruce Nicholas.

Heartbroken the last two weeks after leading Winslow and Mount Desert Island with a matter of minutes to play, Oak Hill (2-4) dodged a longtime, all-sport rival to put itself right back in the heart of the East regional playoff chase.

While Hathorne (16 carries, 64 yards) provided most of the second-half highlights, both quarterbacks dominated the spotlight in an entertaining game sprinkled with big plays throughout.

Junior Brett Turcotte completed 9-of-14 for 214 yards for Oak Hill, including a 74-yard TD pass to Ben Rines in the second quarter.

“It’s a good morale boost. Now maybe we can go get another one next week,” said Turcotte, whose Raiders finish the regular season at Hampden and then home against Morse. “We think this will keep Maranacook out of the playoffs and maybe put us up a little bit.”

Maranacook senior Pat Norwood shone in the Black Bears’ homespun version of the Miami Dolphins’ wildcat formation. Norwood, who has nursed a badly sprained left ankle all season, scampered 29 times for 188 yards and a TD.

That total was tempered by six Oak Hill sacks. It also included an 83-yard jaunt in the second quarter, one that went for naught when the Black Bears (0-5) absorbed a delay of game penalty and two sizable losses.

“There are some close games we could have capitalized on and we just didn’t,” Norwood said.

Norwood’s runs of 10, 22 and 11 yards set up his 1-yard sneak on Maranacook’s opening series. The Black Bears didn’t score again until Norwood (4-for-8, 60 yards) hit 6-foot-7 tight end Ben Johnson on a 13-yard slant with five minutes remaining.

Maranacook forced a punt and reclaimed possession with 3:09 left. Norwood twice moved the chains on a 10-yard keeper and a 12-yard pop pass to Johnson.

Kyle Emmons sacked Norwood for a two-yard loss, however, and Drew Jannelle stopped his next scramble for a gain of five. Matt Averill and Ben Foss knocked down Norwood’s passes on third and fourth down.

“We didn’t know if he was going to play quarterback, tailback, where he was going to line up,” Nicholas said of Norwood. “He’s scary. He had me scared right ’til the last second.”

Oak Hill missed out on a possible go-ahead touchdown late in the first half when Maranacook stopped Foss just shy of the goal line after a 15-yard catch.

The Raiders used their final two timeouts on previous catches by Foss and Hathorne. With the clock dwindling and no choice but to throw, Turcotte dropped back and was stuffed by Brandan Crandall and Dylan Bandon to end the half.

“Coach pumped us up a little bit at halftime,” Turcotte said. “He told us we needed to get the running game going to keep the pass going.”

Caleb Fournier’s return at left guard after a first-half ankle injury sparked the Raiders, and a 31-yard connection from Turcotte to Rines (four catches, 129 yards) softened up the middle for Hathorne. He followed a block from Tyler Michaud to a 20-yard TD and a 12-8 lead with 8:42 left in the third.

Hathorne broke three tackles up the gut and sidestepped at least two other Black Bears on his second score, a 15-yarder. Oak Hill rushed for 94 yards in the second half to counter a net minus-15 before the break.

“We found a way to move the ball,” said Nicholas. “In the beginning I didn’t know what to call except to throw a pass. A couple of games the pass has bailed us out. But sometimes the pass sets up the run.”