FARMINGTON — These wrestling matchups were full of intensity when competitors stepped on the mat,  and Maine certainly made a stand by winning five of 32 matches in the Friendship Series on Thursday night.

The steamy Farmington Recreation Center featured over two dozen wrestlers from Mountain Valley, Oak Hill and Dirigo. Ryan Burgess and Christian Durland of Mountain Valley each won matches, while Mt. Blue’s Joey Metcalf won a major decision. Caleb Austin of Skowhegan won twice.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will also compete at Morse on Saturday and later at Marshwood. The 27th annual Maine/Nebraska exchange is the longest running exchange between two states in the country.

Burgess (118), three-time state champion, took control early en route to a 9-2 decision against Jacob Sebade. The Falcon executed the takedown and tilted the Cornhusker.

“He tried to muscle me, so I took a shot,” said Burgess, who will wrestle at Plymouth State in the fall. “I hadn’t really done any conditioning for this. Once I did get him on the mat I needed to tilt him and then I hit.”

Durland (200) bided his time and it paid off against 295-pound Ian Dicke in the end. Durland pushed forward and executed an ankle-pick takedown with four seconds left.

“I knew that I couldn’t try using technique against him through out the match,’’ Durland said. “I just waited for a throw or an opening. He sure was heavy.”

Dicke had escaped with 37 seconds left and tried staying neutral until Durland forged ahead. Falcon teammate Taylor Carey (175), a two-time finalist, lost 1-0 to Traven Claflin, who executed a standing escape in the third period. Oak Hill’s Keith Madore (5-2 to Seth James), Craig Morrill, Mike Hamm and Taylor Pomerleau each lost. Mt. Blue teammates Khalil Newbill (120), Nick Hyde (130), Drew Blanchet (5-2) and Caleb Farrington (6-3) each lost decisions. Metcalf stayed aggressive to dominate Dicke, 14-4.

”This was a good showing,” said Mt. Blue coach Bob O’Connor, who hosted the second leg of the exchange. “There was some close matches, beginning with incoming freshmen Taylor Craig of Mt. Blue who lost 1-0 (escape), and Durland throwing that guy twice was the highlight of the night. There was plenty of interest in this event. It was good for the sport.”

Dirigo state champion D.J. Webber (159) lost two matches. Oak Hill’s Mike Hamm lost 5-1 in his match.

“D.J. got caught,” said Dirigo coach Doug Gilbert, regarding a 5-1 loss to Grant Holscher of North Platte. “D.J. lacks confidence in his takedown, so once he shot in, he stopped, but he knows it and needs to wrestle through it.’’

Incoming freshmen Zach Sheehan of Fryeburg and Nate Boucher (125) and Dekota Jacques of Mountain Valley each gained experience.

Experience aided Burgess, Morrill and Madore who toured Nebraska last summer. The Cornhusker wrestlers have a style featuring aggressive takedowns, superior balance and securing legs to control matches.