DIXFIELD — It was a display of tempered defense and all-around team effort that carried Dirigo on Friday night in a Campbell Conference season-opening football game at Harlow Park.

Senior Tyler Frost rambled 53-yards for the eventual winning touchdown with 11:04 left in the fourth quarter and the Cougars made the proper adjustments for a hard fought 12-6 win against Maranacook.

The Cougars have a different plan of attack under the direction of new head coach Jim Hersom, who has installed a wing-T offense. The team will hopefully benefit from Hersom’s attention to detail and having each player accountable for their actions.

Dirigo received a punt on its own 35-yard line and quarterback Riley Robinson picked up a first down. On the net play, Frost broke through the interior line and weaved his way past would-be tacklers. Frost (123 yards, 19 carries) cut outside and Mike Casey fended off a Maranacook safety, allowing Frost to cross the goal line.

”They had a big front,” Frost said. ”In the second half, we were able to use our quickness and bounce outside. We will only get better, but tonight was tough.”

Late in the first quarter, Maranacook had the ball inside its own 20 and tried to punt. The Dirigo defense led by linebackers Bryce Wittemore, Arsenault, Frost and a secondary of Kaine Hutchins, Riley Robinson and Mike Casey limited the Black Bears to 123 rushing yards.

”Its not always pretty,” Hersom said. ”They used a different defense at us and I give them credit. But we adjusted and it worked for awhile, but they switched back to a basic defense.”

Dirigo’s stout defense engineered several big plays, including interceptions by Robinson and Hutchins off Black Bears quarterback Kyle Morand (1 of 16 for 62 yards). Cam Turner recorded a sack and several passes were batted down.

”Riley Robinson really stepped it up and made some great runs,” said Frost, referring to Robinson’s 52 yards on 14 carries. “It was nice having Bryce Wittemore beside me at linebacker. He really stepped it up for not having played there before.”

Maranacook opened the third quarter with Morand (75 yards, 17 carries) scrambling and Logan Emery caught and ran for a 51-yard TD. The rush attempt fell shy and the score remained 6-6.

”We’ll build on this,” said Hersom, who lauded his team’s effort. ”We had some kids step up.”

The Black Bears moved the ball using their big lineman in first half. The Black Bears had the ball in red zone twice, but ill-fated penalties and Whittemore batting down a pass on fourth and goal saved the day.

Robinson had an 80-yard TD run negated for an illegal shift. Then with under two minutes left in the first half, Robinson (7 of 8 for 57 yards) using clock management, found Arsenault on a slant pass over the middle to the 3-yard line. On the final play of the first half, Casey scored on a right sweep.

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