OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Winthrop football coach Dave St. Hilaire used a few tricks and nearly treated his Ramblers to a victory in a Class C football quarterfinal game on a cold Halloween night.

The Ramblers faked a punt that led to a touchdown and used a halfback pass to reel off a 95-yard touchdown pass Friday, but the Old Orchard Seagulls held their ground to march off with a 28-22 victory at Joe Regina Field.

The Seagulls were holding a 28-14 lead when the Ramblers got the ball back on the 22. Winthrop didn’t gain much ground, but when it went back to punt, the Ramblers faked and Alec Brown raced up the middle all the way to the 15.

Winthrop inched up to the 2, where quarterback Matt Ingram scored on a keeper. Ingram reeled off the conversion pass to Mario Meucci and the Ramblers were now beating down Old Orchard’s backs with about eight minutes to go.

“We kind of got some skilled players that we can do anything we want to do,” St. Hilaire said. “Tricks, whatever… and see what happens.

“It was anyone’s ball game. We had two cracks at it. It wasn’t meant to be, I guess. Our goal was to come out and play our best game of the year, and we did.”

Winthrop did get another opportunity to score, but was stopped Old Orchard’s 41-yard line.

The Seagulls made it harder for the Ramblers when they scored at 9:52 of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Bryan Roberts scored when he broke free for a 46-yard dash up the middle and then connected with Joe Anderson on the conversion.

“I will give them credit. That team has improved over time. Dave has done a great job,” Old Orchard coach Dean Plante said. “Hats off to them. The kids played hard it was a good game.”

In the first half, the teams traded touchdown for touchdown.

In the first quarter, OOB’s Roberts fired off 16-yard pass to Erik Hogan. But minutes later, the Ramblers outdid the Seagulls. Dakota Carter took a shovel pass and fired off the ball to Bennett Brooks for a 95-yard TD pass. Tyler Cote made the extra point and the Ramblers were on top 7-6.

The Seagulls opened the second quarter with Roberts scoring 3-yard dash after he helped with his 66-yard rush several plays before his TD.

Not to be outdone again, the Ramblers pulled off another big play when Ingram floated a 55-yard TD pass to Brook again.