It is difficult to overstate how much Edward Little frustration was put to rest when the Red Eddies traveled to Bangor and beat the Rams at Cameron Stadium on opening night of football season.

EL was beaten 12 consecutive times and 20 out of the previous 21 games in the series. The Eddies hadn’t tamed the Rams since the second term of the Reagan administration and the Mike Haley era, a 13-6 victory in 1986.

Now that the Eddies have exorcised those demons, they’re forced to shoo them away again on Halloween weekend in a Class A North quarterfinal rematch.

By virtue of its previous victory, No. 4 EL (3-5) earned the right to host No. 5 Bangor (2-6) at Walton Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

Both teams struggled throughout much of the season in a division dominated by Portland, Windham and Cheverus, but each entered the postseason on a winning note. EL pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 35-21 victory over Lewiston, while Bangor, in a de facto playoff game, prevailed by the same margin over Oxford Hills.

EL needed two touchdowns in the final five minutes to overcome Bangor, 22-19, in the regular-season thriller.

Matt Verrill’s 44-yard strike to C.J. Jipson set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Caden Begos to get EL back in the game. Bangor recovered the ensuing onside kick and was poised to run out the clock until the Eddies forced and recovered a fumble with 1:26 to go.

The fun was only beginning. Verrill’s lateral to Grant Hartley started a 24-yard flanker option pass to Drew Lashua. Later facing fourth down at the Bangor 24, EL celebrated what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown from Verrill to Jipson.

Officials ruled that Bangor coach Al Mosca had called timeout just before the snap, forcing EL to collect its thoughts and go back to the well. This time Lashua hauled in the game-winner with 46 seconds left.

Despite losing each of his top three receivers at some point during the season, Verrill (92 for 163, 1,281 yards, 10 touchdowns) has enjoyed a stellar senior season. He passed for more the double the yardage of any other quarterback in the conference.

Jipson returned to the lineup a week ago, and Maxx Bell and Isaac Cote have stepped up their play in the absence of Lashua and Tyler Blanchard. Begos has been the primary threat when the Eddies go to the ground.

EL middle linebacker Corey Gillespie was one of the top three tacklers in Class A North for the second consecutive year.

It hasn’t been a vintage season for Bangor, but Dane Johnson (1,083 yards, 10 TDs) is one of the top running backs in the state. Crichton is a threat to run and catch from the fullback slot and also anchors the Rams’ defense.

The Eddies’ most recent playoff win was a 28-7 verdict over Lewiston in the 2008 semifinals.

koakes@sunjournal.com