SKOWHEGAN — Weeks ago, the Skowhegan football team was 0-3, with fading hopes of a potential playoff appearance.

By the end of Friday night, the River Hawks officially entered themselves into the Class B North playoff race.

Paced by junior running back Ayden Mulcahy, who ran for 125 yards on 25 carries, Skowhegan beat Messalonskee 26-20 in a B North battle at Reginald Clark Field. Mulcahy had three touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving.

“(The win) is a big confidence booster,” Mulcahy said. “(People) didn’t believe in us. We came out here and did our thing, and left with a (win).”

“My message to the kids all week was, ‘Do you want (to make playoffs)?’” said Skowhegan head coach Brad Cyr. “We can take control right now and go get it.”

Junior quarterback Jason Aubin was 10 of 11 passing for 68 yards for Skowhegan (2-4) and also had 69 yards rushing on 11 carries, scoring two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing.

Messalonskee (2-4) was led by sophomore quarterback Tate Doucette, who accounted for all three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). He was 6 of 12 passing for 129 yards, and ran for 135 yards on 14 carries.

On the opening drive, Doucette, running the option, ducked and weaved his way around multiple Skowhegan defenders on a 55-yard touchdown run for the 6-0 lead.

Minutes later, the River Hawks answered back, when Aubin capped a 34-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to tie the game 6-6. Skowhegan took the lead on its next drive, marching 64 yards down the field on eight plays. Aubin hit Mulcahy on a shuffle pass for a 5-yard touchdown. Aubin’s extra point gave the River Hawks a 13-6 lead, where it remained until halftime.

“We couldn’t have (had success) without the (offensive) line,” Mulcahy said. “The line is a big part of this team and carries this team.”

Feeling a surge of momentum, Skowhegan attempted, and recovered, an onside kick to start the second half. The offense rewarded the call seven plays later when Mulcahy scored on a 12-yard sweep, giving the River Hawks a 20-6 lead.

“(The onside kick) was planned,” Cyr said. “We saw that we had an opportunity. One of my big things all year, and I told the kids, was winning plays. That’s an opportunity where we felt we had a chance to make a play to turn the game in our favor.”

The Eagles kept fighting. Doucette — who proved to be game despite a heavy Skowhegan rush that collected three sacks — led Messalonskee 69 yards on the next drive. On Skowhegan’s 36-yard line, Doucette fired a pass to receiver Malachi Cusano. The ball bounced off Cusano, but into the hands of teammate Denny Martin, who raced into the end zone for the touchdown, cutting Skowhegan’s lead to 20-13.

Controversy followed Messalonskee on its next drive. The Eagles drove 74 yards on six plays, reaching the Skowhegan 1-yard line. Doucette ran a quarterback sneak, outstretching his arms with the ball. The ball clearly crossed the goal line, but a split second later, the ball popped out and was recovered in the end zone by Mulcahy. The officials ruled it a turnover, giving Skowhegan the ball at its 20-yard line.

“Just because we’re all human, (the call) was deflating for sure,” Messalonskee head coach Blair Doucette said. “We thought he was in. I’d have to look at the film again. I’m just happy (the team) played 48 minutes of football.”

The River Hawks responded with an 80-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard scoring run by Mulcahy for a 26-13 lead.

“We surely can block and run, so (long drives) are our goal,” Cyr said. “Our plan was to control the game. We knew we couldn’t let them have too much offense tonight. To have those long drives (was huge). That last drive in the fourth quarter pretty much ended it.”

The Eagles fought back, marching 65 yards on its next possession. Doucette hit Martin on a 7-yard touchdown pass to cut Skowhegan’s lead to 26-20. But Skowhegan’s Austin Lancaster recovered the ensuing kickoff, sealing the victory for the River Hawks.

Despite the loss, Doucette was proud of the fight of his team throughout the second half.

“After a slow start in the first half, we challenged (the team) at halftime to respond, and they did for sure,” Doucette said.