CUMBERLAND — Luke Piper is not a guy who likes to slide. Greely’s junior quarterback would rather put his shoulder into a tackler and drive for any extra inch he can get.

But Piper is a smart football player, and in the final minute of Friday night’s 28-26 win over Leavitt, he knew it would be foolish to let the play go on any longer than it needed to. So once the clock ticked under 40 seconds, Piper slid, ensuring the Rangers would not need to run another play.

Friday’s game at Hutchins Field was just Greely’s second game back in 11-man football after winning the eight-man Large School state title last season. With a hard-fought win over Leavitt, one of the most dominant programs in the state over the last decade, the Rangers, now 2-0, showed they’re already a contender in Class C, their new home.

Greely coach Caleb King didn’t call the victory a statement game.

“Not necessarily a statement, but a great gauge of where we’re at. Leavitt’s a perennial contender, a great program,” King said. “For us to come in and win tonight, it shows us where we’re at and what we’re capable of.”

Noah Allen is a running back who’s comfortable chugging for tough yards between the tackles or using speed to get to the perimeter. He also holds himself accountable for mistakes. After Allen fumbled the ball twice in the first half, the second resulting in a Greely turnover, he didn’t hang his head. He asked for the ball.

“Two fumbles in the first half, that’s unacceptable. I had to make a play,” Allen said.

Greely led 20-6 at the half, but the Hornets rallied to tie the game on the first play of the fourth quarter, a 21-yard touchdown catch by Mason Henderson from Landon Marquis.

Give me the ball, Allen said.

On second-and-16 from the Greely 29, Allen took a handoff from Piper and broke to the left sideline. He could have, maybe should have been stopped for a loss, but Allen broke the tackle. Then he broke another, then he broke Leavitt hearts with a 71-yard touchdown run that gave the Rangers the lead for good.

“Noah’s an incredible runner. He’s a tough kid. He’s everything you want in a running back. He had two physical mistakes early. I just told him he has to keep his head in the game,” King said. “Mistakes happen. Make a play on the next play, which he did later in the game with that huge run for us.”

That trust in his players permeates every decision King makes in a game. Like going for it on virtually every fourth down. Greely’s first two touchdown came on fourth-down plays. The first, a 30-yard run by Piper on a bootleg on fourth-and-4, gave the Rangers a 6-0 lead. The second came on fourth-and-20 from the Hornets 48 midway through the second quarter, resulting in a 48-yard pass from Piper to Ben Kyles streaking down the right sideline for a 14-6 lead.

“Luke’s a fantastic football player. He makes good reads. He can sling the rock. He can run the ball well. We’re going to ride his skill set throughout the year,” King said.

With just over two minutes to play in the game and his team holding onto a two-point lead with white knuckles, King let the Rangers go for it on fourth-and-8 near midfield, knowing if they didn’t convert, the Hornets had a short field and plenty of time to mount a game-winning drive.

“That’s not new to us at all. Today actually was the first time we’ve punted in 11 games. It’s something that, the guys know we believe in them. We believe in their ability to make plays. They expect it,” King said.

Greely failed to convert. No panic. The defense got the stop it needed with 1:24 left, putting the ball back in Piper’s capable hands.

“I’m not much of a slider. I like getting physical. But you have to calm down and execute and do whatever you can to run that clock down,” Piper said.

King wouldn’t call it a statement win. His players were happy to.

“Leavitt’s a great program, and have been for a while. We had a great competition against them. Great game,” Piper said.

Greely was a state champion playing eight-man football. Now back playing the 11-man game, the Rangers know football is football.

And they know they play it well.

“We’re coming,” Allen said, “but we have to keep working.”