MAPLEWOOD — Opportunity knocked and the Maplewood-Richmond Heights football team answered.

On a night when their offense couldn't get anything going, the Blue Devils used an opportunistic defense and special teams in a 14-12 win over Principia in its Class 2 regional game Wednesday night.

"Even with all the offense we've had (in recent years), we've always had a good defense to carry us," Maplewood coach David Harris said. "They did that tonight against a good offensive football team."

Maplewood's defense and special teams struck within 71 seconds of each other late in the second quarter to erase a 6-point deficit.

The barrage started when Randell Stokes intercepted a Matt Jones pass and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. The point-after gave Maplewood a 7-6 lead with 3:51 left in the first half.

"We've been going over that since we won district," Stokes said. "I read the screen and took it to the house."

Maplewood's defense forced Principia to punt from its own end zone on its next possession. Maplewood's Calvin Belts raced in to block the punt and Timotheus Hicks recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown, giving Maplewood a 14-6 halftime lead.

Principia's Corey Fisher scored on a 3-yard run with 3:54 left in the game, but Jones was sacked on the 2-point try, preserving Maplewood's lead at 14-12.

"Coach always tells us bend, but don't break," said Belts, who was in on the sack. "If they got that, there's no telling what would have happened."

Principia's defense allowed just seven Maplewood first downs in the game and forced three turnovers. Maplewood (9-2 overall) gained just 115 yards from scrimmage.