AUBURN — Big plays lead to a big start that lead to a big win for the Edward Little football team.

The Red Eddies were able to score 20 points in the first quarter, taking advantage of Mt. Ararat’s mistakes in a convincing 42-6 win Friday at Walton Field.

“It feels good,” said senior back Darnell Hairston. “We worked hard in practice all week. We wanted to come out and get a win.”

EL (2-4) got a lengthy kick return to start the game. That was followed up by a long scoring run by Hairston. Then the Red Eddies cashed in on two Eagle turnovers, including a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“We got that score to start,” said EL coach Dave Sterling. ” We got our offensive line off the football. It was good to see our offense clicking. There were no questions. Everybody knew their job. That’s something we were lacking before, and we’re getting now.”

Hairston led the offense with 230 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown. Luke Farrago had a pair of touchdowns as did Quin Leary, one on offense and one on defense.

“Darnell ran really hard,” said Sterling. “We talked about it all week that this could be a really good game for him. He stayed within the blocks.”

Mt. Ararat (0-6) was plagued by six fumbles, three recovered by EL, and an interception. EL outgained them on the ground 263-75.

“We got our running game going,” said Sterling. “We stayed with it. We wanted to work some kinks out. They gave us some different looks. They didn’t make it easy on us, but we persevered and played well.”

Alphonso Belnavis sparked EL on the opening kickoff, returning it to the 30.  On the third play from scrimmage, Hairston took it in from the 26 for a 7-0 lead with just 1:34 gone.

“By us having that kickoff return and me scoring first, that put us on the right track to win the game,” said Hairston. “The offensive line just kept pushing every play for me and worked hard. “

On Mt. Ararat’s third play from scrimmage, it fumbled. Leary recovered. That led to a Farrago plunge from the 1 with 7:16 left for a 13-0 lead.

After a penalty on an Eagles punt allowed EL to set up at the 37, the Red Eddies put it in on Farrago’s second of the night, from the 2. That made it 20-0 with 1:05 left in the first.

Mt. Ararat answered with its best drive of the game. It marched from its own 38 down to the 6. That’s when Leary picked off a pass and returned it for the score with 7:18 left in the half. That made it 27-0.

“That got everybody hyped,” said Hairston.

The Eagles fumbled the ball away again. Belnavis recovered and later capped off the drive with a 14-yard run with 1:53 left, making it 34-0.

Mt. Ararat got its only score in the third when Joey Burr took it in from the 3 with 7:47 left in the third. EL got its final score with 6:17 remaining in the fourth. Josh Delong connected with Leary for a 5-yard pass play.

“We’ve got another good week ahead of us and a really tough Skowhegan team we’re facing,” said Sterling, whose team hosts the Indians next week. “They’re a hard-nosed team. We’ll have to prepare well for them.”

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