OAKLAND -- Tried and true met something new Friday night at Messalonskee High School.

Score one for something new.

Ban-gor High School, with just three returning offensive starters from its Pine Tree Conference Class A runner-up team a year ago, overcame Messalonskee and its double wing offense 34-19 before about 700 fans.

"We scored 19 points against Bangor," said Messalonskee fullback Desmond Nutter, who rushed for a team-high 91 yards on 18 carries. "We scared them."

Did the Eagles (0-1) ever.

Using their familiar double wing offense, the Eagles hung around for much of the game before the Rams (1-0) pulled away with two quick touchdowns 1 minute, 53 seconds apart late in the third quarter.

Nutter, who battered Bangor's defensive front, said the Eagles -- 2-6 a year ago -- made a statement to their PTC brethren.

"Yes, we made a statement," Nutter said. "Be aware of the double wing."

The Eagles made believers out of the Rams, at least on this pleasant evening.

The Rams, who finished with 312 yards of total offense, led just 7-0 after the first quarter and 14-7 at the half. Tailback Adam Billings (108 yards on 18 carries) rushed for three touchdowns, including both first-half scores.

He opened the scoring with a 52-yard run off the right side with 4:24 left in the first. He raced into the end zone from 4 yards out with 18 seconds left in the first half after Nutter had pulled the Eagles even with a 2-yard touchdown run earlier in the quarter.

"It took a little while to get the run game going," Billings said. "But once we did, we were OK."

Bangor quarterback Joe Seccareccia -- who completed five of 10 passes for 125 yards -- acknowledged his team wasn't prepared.

"They played tough," he said. "We didn't expect it."

Leading 14-7 at the half, Billings scored from 2 yards out with 4:56 left in the third and tailback Lonnie Hackett (78 rushing yards) added the first of his two touchdown runs nearly two minutes later. He scored touchdown runs of 28 and 19 yards, the last one as time expired in the game.

The Eagles, who trailed 28-7 after three quarters, didn't go away.

Quarterback Dylan Foster rushed for a 3-yard touchdown with 9:40 left.

Wingback Matt Stuart then completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to captain Chris Pelletier with 3:25 left.

The Eagles, however, had an extra point attempt blocked and a failed two-point conversion to help the Rams maintain a two-score lead, 28-19.

"We played hard," said Messalonskee coach Wes Littlefield, whose team finished with 252 total yards, including 223 on the ground. "We moved the ball on them all night."

Messalonskee wingback Andrew Breton rushed for 63 yards while Stuart added 39 on 10 carries.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com