PORTLAND – The Deering football team didn’t mince words. Some bitterness remained after a painful loss last year to an opponent the Rams admit they underestimated.

While Deering moves closer to a Western Class A playoff berth this fall, the Rams looked back to find plenty of motivation in a 42-7 win over Westbrook.

“We were just making sure that we didn’t make the same mistake as last year,” Deering receiver John Hardy said.

“We were up on them at halftime and came out slow in the second half last year, and we knew we had to beat them from the start. We knew that they weren’t going to give up, even if we went up two touchdowns, and we had to make sure the foot was on the pedal the entire time.”

The Rams (6-1) broke open a 7-7 game late in the first half by capitalizing on a pair of possessions, including a 16-play drive.

“We knew they were a very good football team,” Westbrook Coach Jeff Guerrette said. “They’re very fast, and they certainly proved that on both sides of the ball. They’re playing with a lot of confidence. We got what we expected out of that.”

The turning point in the game came late in the first half, when Ross and Hardy scored touchdowns in the final three minutes. The Rams kept the pressure on Westbrook (2-5) throughout the course of the game.

“I thought our kids hung in, but I think they just wore us down,” Guerrette said. “We talked a lot about resolve through the course of the week and I don’t think it was one play. I think they just wore us down.”

Tied at 7 less than two minutes into the second quarter after Terry Webber’s 1-yard touchdown run for Westbrook, Deering began its ensuing drive at its own 21. Aided by two of face-mask penalties for 25 yards, Deering drove 60 yards on 15 plays before quarterback Jamie Ross gave the Rams a 14-7 lead with 2:58 left in the half on a 9-yard run, followed by the second of his six point-after kicks.

Then, with 18.3 seconds left in the half, Hardy gave the Rams a 21-7 lead when he caught a 2-yard pass from Ross.

“We just knew that we couldn’t let the rain stop us and we had to throw the ball,” Hardy said. “We had to get the ball down the field and score, and put these guys away.”

Devon Fitzgerald scored his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, returning a fumble 59 yards, and Renaldo Lowry and Matt Flaherty also scored second-half touchdowns for the Rams.

“Coming from behind for two scores is tough but at the same time, I think the kids were ready coming out of the half,” Guerrette said.

“We had the right attitude coming out of the half to attack it, but we just didn’t make enough plays.”

Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be reached at 791-6415 or at: rlenzi@pressherald.com