SKOWHEGAN — Spencer Salley’s interception in the end zone with 18 seconds remaining in the game sealed for Skowhegan a thrilling 26-20 Class B Pine Tree Conference football win at Clark Field on Friday night.

“We gutted that one out,” Skowhegan coach Matt Friedman said. “We had a great first half in what turned out to be a tough football game.”

Salley helped the Indians (7-1) grab a 19-0 lead in the first half, scoring on touchdown receptions of 19 and 15 yards from quarterback Garrett McSweeney, who finished converting 18-of-33 passes for 241 yards.

The two teams exchanged a pair of kick-off returns in the final minute of the first half to leave Skowhegan owning a 26-7 lead at halftime. Mt. Blue’s Noah Carleton raced 72 yards with 57.6 seconds left only to have the Indians counter when Salley scampered for 85 yards on the ensuing kick-off for his third touchdown of the first half.

“Our receivers ran great routes in the first half,” McSweeney said. “We tried to open things up in the second half but Mt. Blue played great defense.”

Mt. Blue (5-3) forced Skowhegan to punt four times in the third quarter scoring when quarterback Ryan Pratt tossed a ball over the Indians defense to Nate Pratt-Holt, who ran 89 yards to cut the margin to 26-14 with 4:28 left in the third quarter.

Defense continued to be the key for the Cougars in the fourth quarter after Mt. Blue scored on it’s opening possession, driving 69 yards in 10 plays. Pratt topped the drive off with a 30 yard, looping pass to Alex Gilbert down the right sideline cutting the gap to 26-20 with 9:07 left in the game, setting the stage for an exciting finish.

Mt. Blue appeared to have the momentum when Pratt-Holt recovered a fumble at the Skowhegan 35 with 7:36 left but the Indians held, forcing a three-and-out punt.

McSweeney carried the Indians to a first down but the Indians drive stalled when they were hit with a 10 yard holding penalty forcing their fifth punt of the second half.

With 3:30 remaining Mt. Blue took possession on their own 19. Consecutive pass completions by Pratt netted 50 yards, hitting Christian Whitney for 26 and Pratt-Holt for 24. Working from the Skowhegan 31, the Cougars picked up a first down moving the ball to the 14 with 26 seconds left but failed to find the end zone when Salley collected the interception.

Skowhegan’s win secured a first round bye for the Indians, while the Cougars will host a playoff game next Friday at Caldwell Field.