sport news High school football rivals in Maine take to the field in emotional game ... trends now

The city of Lewiston took another tentative step in recovering from Maine's deadliest mass shooting as a storied high school football rivalry resumed Wednesday night.

Known as the Battle of the Bridge, the game featured cross-river rivals Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School of Auburn. Lewiston won 34-18.

Kasey Clark, who handed out a trophy named for his father to the winning team, said the game was 'something the community desperately needed.'

'After the tragedy that unfolded in our community this - our connection with one another, our bond with each other - this makes our community strong,' Clark said at midfield, surrounded by both teams. 

'That strength is on full display for the entire state, country and the entire world,' he said before bringing both teams together to chant: 'Strong.' 

Last Friday's game between the Blue Devils and the Red Eddies was postponed after the communities were locked down while police searched for 40-year-old Robert Card. 

He was found dead Friday, days after shooting and killing 18 people and injuring 13 others at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston. Residents in both Lewiston and Auburn lost family and friends in the October 25 shooting.

Singer James Taylor performed an acoustic version of the national anthem ahead of kickoff. There was a moment of silence.

'Words cannot express the tremendous grief our communities are experiencing over the tragedy of this past week,' a speaker said over the public address system. 'As a community we are stunned. We mourn the tragic loss of lives and injuries, and our deepest sympathies go out to the victims, their families and friends.'

Then the person read out the names of the 18 who were killed, saying, 'Let us not forget these names.'

'One week ago today, this community faced an unforeseeable tragedy,' Lewiston Police Chief David St Pierre told the crowd. 'I can confirm with unwavering confidence that Lewiston's resilience has been proven and continues to shine brightly through these trying times.'

Lewiston Public Schools Superintendent Jake Langlais also spoke, thanking first responders.

'We started this week trying to do the best we could. We had an objective to care for those who cared for us, and tonight we're doing that,' he said.

'We're looking to pace our return to the new normal, whatever that is, in what was a command center one week ago,' Langlais said, referring to how the Lewiston campus was used by law enforcement during the massive search. 'Today that place is a place of community. ... We gather to say thank you, to recognize the strength of the history that is family between Lewiston and Auburn.'