WINSLOW — Dirigo faced uncharted territory when it buckled up Saturday afternoon. And the end result was another heartache for the Cougars for the second-straight week in a Class C Campbell Conference football game.

This time it was a matter of inches that derailed the Cougars on two fronts, as Winslow scored on a forward fumble and Dylan Hapworth added the extra point for a 28-27 overtime thriller at sunny Poulin Field.

It was the first-ever contest between the two programs, and the two teams were anxious to get back on track they lost the previous week.

“It’s really tough to sum up,” said Dirigo tri-captain Bryan Blackman. “The coaches just told us to ram it down their throats in the second half.”

Blackman ran behind a host of blockers for a 6-yard score in the first possession of overtime. The point-after attempt by Caleb Turner was high and true and the referee on the far side started to raise his arms, but the referee under the left goal post motioned the ball had gone wide left.

Dirigo (3-3) still had a chance leading 27-21 when Spencer Trenoweth tackled the Winslow runner after a 1-yard gain. Two plays later, Jake Dowland stuffed the runner after a short gain, but the ball bounced forward and Dirigo’s Ben Holmes got a hand on it. Before Holmes could secure the ball, Eric Crawley dove in to grab it directly on the goal line, and after a short delay, the referees signaled a touchdown. Hapworth proceeded to kick his fourth PAT.

“We missed it by that much both times,” said Dirigo coach Dave Crutchfield, while holding his fingers inches apart. “We came out in the second half and controlled them, especially in the third quarter. The team just needs to play strong for an entire game.”

Dirigo started the third quarter on offense and set the tone by going for and Holmes making a fourth and one on its own 17-yard line. Holmes (4-14 for 117 yards, TD) made a 36-yard catch and run to Trenoweth and Dowland (30 yards, 10 rushes) followed a Cliff Boyton block for a 4-yard TD. With 7:29 left in regulation, Blackman (77 yards, 13 rushes) scored on a 46-yard option. Turner’s kick caromed off the Black Raiders hands to tie the score 21 all.

“We really didn’t make any adjustments,” Crutchfield said. “We had talked it over, and in the second half, we decided to stay with our main stay defense.’’

Winslow (5-1) pounded the ball on the ground (205 yards in first half). Joseph Hopkins gained 116 yards on 11 carries. Hopkins scored on runs of 51 and three yards, respectively.

“I’d rather be lucky than good,” Winslow coach Mike Siviski said. “Dirigo really took it to us in the second half, just like we had taken it to them in the first half. This was just a great high school football game by two good teams.”

The Cougars’ Justin Jasper and Dowling each intercepted Winslow quarterback Donald Camp (one of three for four yards) in Cougar territory.

Dirigo had fumbled on its initial possession of the game and Camp returned it 35 yards for a TD. On the ensuing possession, Holmes threw over the top to tight end Nelson Pepin for a 68-yard touchdown.

“We just need to come out with more fire,” said Dirigo tackle Zach White, who recovered a fumble on the Cougar 37-yard line to end regulation. “We just need to come out with more fire in the first half. We’ve always been a second-half team.”