Shawn Keach kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:13 remaining in regulation Friday night, boosting Mt. Blue to a 15-12 victory over Messalonskee in their Pine Tree Conference Class A season opener at Caldwell Field in Farmington.

Messalonskee tied the game at 12 with 4:02 left on a 5-yard touchdown run by workhorse back Keenan Knox. The Cougars wrapped up Knox on the two-point conversion attempt to deny the Eagles the lead.

Isaiah Tracy returned Messalonskee’s kickoff past midfield to the 46.

Cam Sennick then turned in the last of his many big runs in the game, a 26-yard scramble, immediately followed by a 12-yard Tracy rush to make it first-and-goal at the 8.

Mt. Blue later lost yardage on a bad snap back to the 15. Messalonskee called timeout prior to Keach’s game-winning boot on fourth down.

The Eagles had one final possession, but their double-wing offense couldn’t move into scoring position and the Cougars held.

Sennick’s 24-yard TD run gave Mt. Blue a 6-0 halftime lead.

Knox gained four first downs on a lengthy Messalonskee drive that tied the game. After a holding penalty erased 10 yards from a nice Mt. Blue return on the ensuing kickoff, Sennick ripped off a 69-yard TD run to retrieve the lead for the Cougars.

A 15-yard run by Knox and a matching unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Cougars fueled the Eagles’ answer.