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PORTLAND – The Windham High football team did just what it needed to do Friday night to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Win.

The defending Class A champion Eagles defeated Portland 20-14 in a cold, wet Western Class A matchup at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

With a win next week against visiting Westbrook, Windham (3-4) should return to the playoffs.

“It’s a win, we’ll take it,” Windham Coach Matt Perkins said. “We had to find a way to get this one. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy; they were fighting for their lives just like we were. We’ve got to win next week and that should get us in.”

Portland (2-5), also in a must-win situation, was without four players who were suspended one game for violating the school’s code of conduct, including running back Imadhi Zagon and quarterback Matt McInnis.

“We were down some big names and they pulled together,” Portland Coach Mike Bailey said. “To find out the adversity that we had on Thursday and to make that adjustment, I’m proud of our kids.

“I believe it’s high school football and you play the games out with the people you have on the field.”

Windham again relied on quarterback Cody Laberge, who totaled 292 yards — 180 on the ground, 112 passing — and had a hand in all three touchdowns.

His second touchdown — a 95-yard pass-run play to Drew Gagnon — broke a 7-7 tie in the fourth quarter.

“(Laberge is) a tough player,” Perkins said. “He’s our leader. He’s determined and just found a way to win, even in this weather.”

On Windham’s next possession, Laberge went to his right and escaped for a 68-yard score on the third play of the drive. It gave the Eagles a 20-7 lead.

The Bulldogs responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard Caleb Kenney run with 1:48 remaining. Kenney carried seven times, including for 19 and 26 yards, accounting for more than 60 yards of the drive.

An onside kick followed but was recovered by the Eagles.

“This actually reminded me of our first game (against Cheverus),” Perkins said. “We made some mistakes here and some mistakes there.

“It wasn’t pretty, but unlike the first game we found a way to win and that shows a lot of improvement.”

Windham’s first score came on its first possession.

After the Eagles took over at midfield, Laberge ran 39 yards to the Portland 11.

Two plays later, Laberge connected with Colby Waterhouse on a screen pass for a 7-yard touchdown.

Portland stared the second quarter with its own score, reaching the end zone on a seven-play, 41-yard drive that made it 7-7.

Nick Volger ran for the score from 5 yards, completing a drive in which he carried four times for 25 yards.

“That was huge,” Bailey said. “Obviously that made the kids start to believe that they could stay in this game.

“I think that made my players believers.”