Little could that crowd have known, however, that the game’s end would be even wilder.

Sean Gerhart’s 80-yard touchdown return with 3:36 to go gave Farmington a 42-39 final margin over RHAM after the Indians had squandered a 10-point cushion with less than five minutes to go on Saturday afternoon.

"Give credit to RHAM," Farmington coach Jeff Bemis said. "They could have easily won this game. (Farmington) has gone through enough to know that we’re never, ever out of it."

A Farmington (3-0) turnover started the Sachems’ (1-2) momentum. Trailing 35-25, RHAM took over on the Farmington 20 with 5:02 left. On second down, quarterback Tyler Ware eluded a tackle in the backfield, rolled right, and fired to the end zone for Harrison.

The extra point was wide, but RHAM was within four at 35-31.

The Sachems recovered the ensuing onside kick at Farmington’s 42, and Harrison led them down the field again with a catch over the middle and dazzling spin move for extra yards on a 27-yard pass from Ware.

Two plays later, Ware recovered a bad snap, rolled right and took it himself the final 10 yards for the score, and a two-point conversion giving RHAM its first lead since the first quarter at 39-35.

Gerhart caught the Sachems’ kickoff at the 20, broke right, picked up a block near midfield and ran down the sideline, igniting a celebration on the Farmington sideline and reclaiming the lead.

"The kids know what it takes to win," Bemis said. "They did what it takes to win today."

Ben Schadtle intercepted a pass from Farmington’s Steve Harrington on the first play after Harrison’s opening return, but Farmington returned the favor, stopping RHAM’s next drive at the Indians’ 11.

Farmington then got on track, scoring seven plays later on a 50-yard pass from Harrington to Martin Jones with 6:12 left in the quarter.

Nick Bliss’ running and Farmington’s great field position led to two scores within three minutes in the second quarter, giving Farmington a 21-7 lead. Schadtle scored from 17 yards out, then used a strange sequence to pull RHAM close at half. Farmington’s Mark Wilson picked off a Ware pass on the Farmington five with one second to play in the half, but Schadtle snared a deflected pass from Harrington and scored with no time left to make it 21-19 Farmington.

The Indians were sharper in the second half with Bliss scoring twice early in the third quarter. Ware hit Kalil Lane over the middle for a 15-yard score to make it 35-25 late in the third, but Golab and James Fox combined for Farmington’s third blocked extra point of the game, which proved to be the decisive points.

"(Golab) had a tremendous game," Bemis said. "His good plays more than outweighed any bad plays. He was tremendous."

Matt Straub can be reached via email at mstraub@newbritainherald.com