DIXFIELD — Dirigo and Winthrop/Monmouth have brought out the best in each other over the years, and that was evident again Friday in a Class D Campbell Conference showdown.

Quarterback Matt Ingram directed a long drive and ran in a 1-yard touchdown with less than 10 seconds left as Winthrop rallied for a 12-7 triumph over Dirigo at Harlow Park.

It was an important early-season matchup, with both teams entering the night 1-1.

Winthrop/Monmouth got possession of the ball at its own 31-yard line, trailing 7-6 with 4:06 remaining. Ingram threw two incomplete passes, but then tossed it to Andrew Pazdziorko for a long gain.

On fourth-and-10, the tandem hooked up for 18 yards, and a pass to the tight end moved the Ramblers to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Ingram (8-of-13 for 161 yards in the second half) called his own number had and went over the interior line.

“Matt really came alive in fourth quarter,” Winthrop coach Dave St Hilaire said. “He had questioned some calls earlier, but we told him to keep at it. Matt usually looks to Bennett Brooks in those situations, but tonight he found Pazdziorko and Nate Scott, and found that he has other weapons.”

It was a cat and mouse game, with each team having to make adjustments. Ingram was 0-of-8 passing for nearly three quarters. Each team rushed for 82 yards and combined for 2-for-11 on third downs in first half.

“We wanted to pick on Dirigo’s cornerback by faking going long and curling underneath. We had some success in the slot, but I heard Jim (Hersom, Dirigo coach) yell out to adjust,” St. Hilaire said.

Winthrop runners Alec Brown and Dustin Tripp gained 77 and 44 yards, respectively. Dirigo scored its lone TD on Riley Robinson’s 15-yard run off left tackle. The key play on the drive was a 32-yard run by Gavin Arsenault. Gus Brown kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Dirigo fumbled at the 10-yard line with four minutes to go in a 20-14 loss against Oak Hill a week ago.

“It’s a tough way to lose,” Dirigo coach Jim Hersom said. “But credit Winthrop for making the plays when neede. Tthey have a good team.”

Winthrop started on its own 22 and Ingram tossed the ball to Bennett, who broke two tacklers and raced down the left side, for a 76 yard play.

Robinson used the angle to make a tackle at the 5.

Two plays later, Ingram (117 yards 28 rushes) ran fr a TD, with 6:08 left. The conversion attempt was no good and the Ramblers trailed 7-6.

Dirigo ran three plays and punted. Brendon Dunn, Josh Ward and Tripp led Winthrop’s defense.

“I told my guys it’s a process. We need to be more consistent,” Hersom said. “Our kids played tough and hard, but we need to finish drives.” 

Dirigo (2-1) drove to just outside the red zone on its opening possession in the first quarter. Robinson (29 rushes for 128 yards), Cooper Chiasson and Vincent Hebert led the way.

Robinson intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 47 yards to end the first half.