AUGUSTA — Cony struggled to move the ball most of the night, but when it had a chance to finally put away the game, it did.

Cony converted a pair of third-and-long plays in the final three minutes of the game to secure a 14-13 win over Oxford Hills in the Pine Tree Conference Class A football regular-season finale Friday night at Alumni Field.

“We fumbled the ball a bit, but we managed to hold on,” Cony senior wide receiver/defensive back Chase Shostak said. “It was a close game, and we managed to hold on.”

Cony ends the season 2-7, while Oxford Hills finishes at 1-8.

Ahead by a point, Cony took over at its own 34 with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left. Oxford Hills had just one timeout remaining, so a couple of first downs would secure the win for Cony. The drive looked like it would end how so many drives did for the Rams on this night, with a punt. Cony faced third and 17 from its own 27 when Shostak caught a pass along the right sideline and was able to get the first down.

“Chase played a great football game for us,” Cony coach Robby Vachon said. “He’s been a good football player for us for three years and we needed something to happen, and you look for your seniors to make plays and he came up big for us.”

Cony faced yet another third down, this time it was third and 7 from its own 48 when Brandon St. Michel finally got loose, rushing 9 yards for a first down that allowed Cony to run out the clock.

“I told the kids this is the football game right here, and it was probably the biggest rush we had all night,” Vachon said.

The Rams were unable to generate any offense in the second half. After taking a 14-7 lead on a pair of Ben Lucas touchdown passes in the second quarter, Cony managed just two first downs in the second half before the game-ending drive.

“Penalties killed us and turnovers as well,” said Cony’s Chandler Shostak, Chase’s brother.

“Credit to them,” Vachon said. “Their linebackers played well, and their tackles put some pressure on Ben.”

Oxford Hills took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when quarterback Tyler Brown capped a 10-play, 46-yard drive with a 2-yard pass to Jordan Croteau. Cony took the lead when Lucas (15 for 28 for 185 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception) hit Chase Shostak with a 39-yard TD pass on the first play of the second quarter.

Cony’s Westly Benner then recovered a fumble at the Oxford Hills 16, and, two plays later, Lucas hit Chandler Shostak with an 8-yard TD pass. Zach Lachance made both PATs.

Oxford Hills got within a point in the third quarter when Croteau forced a fumble and Josh MacDonald recovered it at the Cony 25. Brown scored his second TD of the game two plays later, but Kyle Ayotte’s PAT just cleared the line and was batted down by Chandler Shostak.

Scott Martin — 621-5618

smartin@centralmaine.com