With less than five minutes remaining in the first half of Friday night’s football game, visiting Windham was moving the ball on the ground against Gorham. The Rams had jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but were having some trouble stopping Eagles running back Sean Lavery.

After calling the senior’s number on six straight plays, Windham went with a quarterback keeper on a fourth-and-one play from the Gorham 21-yard-line. QB Jordan Scanlon was able to gain enough for a first down, but then the ball, and any chance the visitors had to get back in the game, slipped away.

“Adam Kidder stood his man up and the (Scanlon) ran into his back and the ball popped out,” said Rams lineman Andy Nash, “and I jumped on it.”

Gorham (3-1) scored again before halftime and went on to beat the Eagles (1-3), 36-6

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” said Windham coach Matt Perkins. “We had a chance to make it 14-7 and we fumbled it. Gorham’s a good ball club, and we knew coming in that we couldn’t give them too many opportunities.”

The Rams ground game again controlled the action, with running backs Justin Villaci (16 carries, 130 yards and three touchdowns), Andy Oldenburg (18 carries, 175 yards, one touchdown and one conversion) and Colin Hurd (eight carries, 93 yards, one touchdown and one conversion) averaging nearly 9.5 yards per carry and scoring all but two (Nate Sturgis kicked a pair of extra points) of the team’s points.

“Our offensive line is doing a great job,” said Gorham coach Dave Kilborn, “They’re driving, staying low, keeping their feet moving – all things we work on in practice.”

The Rams defense forced the Eagles to punt in their first three possessions, while Oldenburg’s four-yard touchdown run was followed just over four minutes later by Hurd’s first TD of the season when he rumbled 65 yards for the score.

“On that long run it was all because of the line,” Hurd said. “Nobody touched me.”

Kilborn called on the senior to move into the backfield role due to injuries to teammates.

“We’re trying to develop some kids at skilled positions, and he stepped it right up at fullback,” the coach said. “He did a great job for us. That’s been one of our missing keys is that fullback play, and it’s nice to see that come into play.”

Midway through the second quarter, Windham suddenly began giving the ball to Lavery and the senior delivered, totaling 103 yards on 20 carries.

“He’s been banged up, but we got him in there tonight,” said Perkins. “We needed a burst and he gave it to us. He gives everything he’s got.”

The Eagles fourth drive of the half, right after the visitor’s defense had finally stopped Gorham and forced a kick, ate up six minutes and looked like it might be the beginning of a comeback. But the fumble ended the charge and led to the first of Villacci’s scores.

The Rams added touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half. Meanwhile, Windham strung together another long drive to end the third quarter and start the fourth, but once again turned the ball over on the 12th play, when Lavery fumbled. The Eagles finally got on the board with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Scanlon to Greg Hoar.

“The game should have been a lot closer because they moved the ball very well,” said Kilborn. “Windham is a very physical, very good team. The turnovers came at the wrong times for them.”

Deering (2-2) is up next for Gorham. Both squads lost to unbeaten Portland by four points after leading in the fourth quarter. Deering’s other loss came in their season opener to unbeaten Noble.