If it first you don’t succeed, remember that you’re Mountain Valley.

Nobody outside Falmouth – including the unbeaten Falcons – expected the upstart Yachtsmen to be tied 7-7 with nine minutes reminaing in the first half last Friday night.

Falmouth frustrated Mountain Valley by flaunting an unexpected passing game and loading up against the Falcons’ vaunted rushing attack.

“We watched them on film and they threw the ball about 10 times all year,” said Mountain Valley halfback and safety Justin Staires. “(Friday) they came out and threw it about 50. We changed it up. Defensively we weren’t being aggressive. We were staying back. Finally we just started reading the plays.”

Three interceptions and a pair of long touchdown passes later, the Falcons owned a 28-7 lead. They coasted home to a 42-7 victory.

“We knew they’d be keying on the run, because we usually run a lot,” said Travis Ruff, who caught a 38-yard TD pass from Cam Kaubris and a 45-yard scoring strike from Staires. “We threw it and we got lucky.”

Staires also reached the end zone at the end of a 62-yard grab-and-go in double coverage.

Mountain Valley (7-0) faces another long road trip to York on Friday. If the Falcons beat the Wildcats and then Cape Elizabeth in next Friday’s showdown, this weekend would be their last road trip until a possible return to the Class B championship game.

Smothered and covered

One hundred yards are the goal just about every running back sets for himself going into a game.

Not many defenses would presume to establish that benchmark as the most total yardage they want to allow on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. It wouldn’t be realistic, not even in Class C high school football in Maine.

Or would it?

After holding Dirigo beneath the century mark in last Saturday’s 13-6 victory at Dixfield, Winthrop has surrendered a total of 705 yards all season.

Over seven games, that’s an average of 100.7.

Winthrop has yielded 16 first downs all season, a stunning norm of just over two per game. Dirigo scored its only touchdown on a fumble return. The Ramblers’ defense hasn’t allowed a point in 21 quarters.

“Our defense has been all together since sixth grade,” said Kevin Hart, one of 14 Winthrop seniors. “We’ve played football with each other for a long time.”

Hart leads the team with five quarterback sacks. He took down Dirigo QB Nic Crutchfield three times last week. Hart also has four fumble recoveries.

Riley Cobb, Joe Morey and Zach Farrington each have returned turnovers for a touchdown. Farrington added his name to the list on the final play last Saturday.

“These kids have a lot of maturity. That’s huge for us this year,” said Winthrop coach Joel Stoneton. “They don’t get rattled.”

Or moved, for that matter.

No place like home?

Edward Little coach Darren Hartley and Lewiston coach Bill County have more than a little familiarity with their rival school’s home field. Hartley was a head coach and assistant at Lewiston for several years, and County, an EL grad, lives a Chad Pennington completion from Walton Field.

So it’s not surprising that both coaches feel comfortable at the other’s venue. It may be a bit surprising to find, however, that neither thinks home field advantage plays a role in the classic rivalry, which will be renewed Saturday at Don Roux Field.

“I don’t think it makes any difference,” Hartley said.

“You like to have your sideline and the chains on the other side and the other things that make you comfortable, but I don’t think it’s going to be a deciding factor,” County said. “My booster club is pretty happy. They’re going to sell a few hot dogs, and (Lewiston athletic director) Jason (Fuller) is pretty happy to get the gate.”

Edward Little has not beaten Lewiston since the 2002 Pine Tree Conference championship. That was also the last time the Red Eddies beat the Blue Devils in Lewiston, a 17-13 triumph on the final day of the regular season.

Lewiston leads the all-time series, 87-64-12.