RUMFORD – Ernie Matthews knew the outcome rested all on his shoulders.

The senior clinched the meet and also became the all-time wins leader for the Mountain Valley wrestling team.

The Falcons have bolstered their lineup and the team is reaping the benefits, collecting a 38-31 victory against Dirigo in an extended Mid-State League triangular meet.

It was a rubber meet between the two rivals as Mountain Valley beat Dirigo 40-30 at the Kennebunk Duals last Saturday. The Cougars won by nine-points last month in Dixfield.

Matthews (28-1 at 135) now has 130 career wins after an 18-3 technical fall over Brandon Jonaitis of Dirigo.

“The team needed this win,” Matthews said. “We are wrestling well and we’ve filled some holes in our lineup. Dirigo had beat us the first time, and then we beat them, so we knew score would be close.”

Matthews, a 2007 state champion, surpassed Jesse Peterson, who held the previous mark at 12. Matthews was tied with multiple state champions Anthony Mazza and David Smith, but received a forfeit in a 64-12 win against Madison.

“I knew that I was close to the record,” Matthews said. “(Falcon coach Gary Dolloff) wouldn’t tell me my record, so I wasn’t expecting it tonight. It feels great.”

Dirigo (12-4) was in position to get by Mountain Valley (11-2) following pins by sophomore Ryan Lemay and Brian Blackman at 125 and 130, respectively. This included Josh Thornton (140), freshman Taylor Carey (145) and Christian Durland (189) each won major decisions (four team points).

“It came down to the coin flip,” Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert said. “I had to send the first kid out at 189 and then we forfeited 215.”

In a battle of freshmen, Robert Worthley won 6-4 in triple overtime. Worthley executed a reversal in the second overtime. Caleb Hall had a reversal at the end of regulation to tie the score. Tim Ross put Mountain Valley up 33-21 by pinning Dylan Castonguay at 119.

Alex Miele (152), Mitch Lemay (160) and Josh Palmer (171) each won to put Dirigo ahead 15-8.

“We came close,” said Palmer, who is 22-1 after sticking Brian Cogley. “I approach every match the same way. I just clear my head because wrestling is so much mental.”

Dirigo beat Madison 62-6.