By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – The Mt. Blue High School football team was forced to change its strategy and it paid off at chilly Caldwell Field Friday.

The Cougars came out strong in the second half, and a 3-yard touchdown run by Justin Lowe proved to be the difference as the Cougars beat Edward Little 28-18.

Mt. Blue (5-0) was severely tested in the first half, clinging to a 14-12 lead, but finally put things together on a 73-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes.

Lowe followed the huge offensive linemen in.

“We felt that we were bigger and stronger,” Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin said. “My assistants screamed at me to go Power-I and run right at them. We had executed some plays in the first half, but penalties killed us. We usually don’t make that many.” Edward Little (2-3) quarterback Troy Barnies threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Jon Cadmay in the fourth quarter. John Demers had returned a fumble recovery for a TD in the second quarter.

The Cougars had answered back quickly each time. QB Mason Barker (102 yard rushing) scored on an 87-yard keeper. Hal Robbins (76 yards rushing) scored from 14 yards out in the fourth quarter. John Moloney kicked four PATs

“We just wore them down,” Parlin said. “As I had said, we were bigger. EL had 44 plays in the first half and 17 in the second half.”

Mt. Blue had scored on a Robbins’ one-yard plunge and on Barker’s long run.

The Red Eddies had drawn first blood, when Gardner LaValley scored from one yard out.