BIDDEFORD – What seemed to be just another stalled drive for the Biddeford offense resulted in its winning drive Friday night at Waterhouse Field.

The Tigers found pay dirt in their second trip to the red zone just minutes after failing to score on their previous drive to defeat Sanford, 16-13, in a Western Class A football game.

“What wins football games is blocking and tackling and having the right kids making big plays at the right time,” said Biddeford Coach Scott Descoteaux. “And fortunately, we are lucky dogs and walking out of here with a win.”

After coming up short in its previous drive, Biddeford (5-1) turned the ball over on downs to Sanford (2-4) at its own 3-yard line. The Redskins struggled to make any progress offensively, punting after just three plays and giving the Tigers the ball at the 19-yard line.

Two carries by quarterback Tyler Audie and one by fullback Nick Gagne brought Biddeford to a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line. On the second play of the series, a bad snap that went over the head of Audie sent him grappling for the ball and then to the sidelines with back injury.

Enter No. 2 quarterback Nick Leblond on a third down from the 14-yard line. As if he had been under center all game, Leblond rolled right and hit Gagne for a gain of nine.

“Quarterback gets hurt and back-up quarterback Nick LeBlond steps in and throws a strike down to the 4-yard line. Imagine what’s going on in that kid’s belly,” said Descoteaux. “Again, the right kids making the right plays at the right time. That, I’m proud of.”

Audie, who rested for that one play, took over at the 4-yard line and found himself back in a familiar fourth-and-goal situation. The Tigers went back to the same play that had failed them in their previous possession and this time, it worked. Audie found Tyler Vigue in the back corner of the end zone for the score. An Audie pass to Dan Tanguay gave Biddeford the extra two points and a three-point lead with just under five minutes remaining.

“We liked it, we thought it was there and it all worked out,” said Descoteaux. “Not a pretty win, but a win.”

Sanford struggled to muster any offense on its next possession and came up empty.

Despite their second-half performance, the Redskins, who have now dropped their fourth straight, started the game strong and scored on their first series. A 52-yard kickoff return gave Sanford great field position at the Biddeford 28-yard line. Carries of nine and four yards by Shawn Goodrich and a 12-yard quarterback-keeper by Jon Schroder brought the Redskins close to the end zone. Goodrich ran it in from three yards out on the fourth play of the drive to give Sanford the early lead.

“That was big,” said Sanford Coach Mike Fallon. “This week we had found what we thought was a vulnerability and we hit it. We kind of had them on their heels and we needed that positive energy.”

The Tigers didn’t answer until just before the half ended. Audie found Patrick Wilson on a slant for a 53-yard score. Zach Jacques then hooked up with Gagne for the two-point conversion to give Biddeford an 8-7 lead with 1:36 left in the half.