Cony (0-0) at Messalonskee (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Veterans Field, Oakland
Last season: Messalonskee 21, Cony 19
Key players: Cony — QB Ben Lucas, LB/T Nic Benner, WR Jonathan Saban, WR Tayler Carrier, RB/OLB Reid Shostak, C Isaac Gingras, WR Kevin Kingsbury, WR John Bennett, T Marshall McLaughlin.  Messalonskee — SE/ Devin Warren, QB/FS Jake Dexter, HB Corey McKenzie, FB Dylan Bragg, HB/LB Zach Mathieu, DB Jake Bernatchez, DT Bryce Garten, G Bobby Fenlason, TE/LB Robert Schlosser
Outlook: The Eagles have defeated the Rams in each of the last two regular season openers. The game is the Messalonskee coaching debut of Brad Bishop, who overhauled the offensive system this year. McKenzie was one of the top running backs in the PTC A last year and he’ll be a featured back again. Lucas is among the best in the state and he’ll lead a high-powered spread offense.

Gardiner (0-0) at Lawrence (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Keyes Field, Fairfield
Last season: Did not play
Key players: Gardiner — T Andrew Doody-Veilleux, QB Matt McKenna, RB/DB Tyler Caron, RB Treavon Horton, LB Jeff Minchin, DE/TE Jake Truman, ILB Brad Weston. Lawrence — TE Seth Powers, TE/LB Chad Martin, QB/DE Jim Leathers, QB Cody Martin, FB Ethan Powers, WB/DE Beau Grenier, CB Trevor Lewis.
Outlook: Gardiner and Lawrence will renew their rivalry from the old Pine Tree Conference days. The Bulldogs are coming off an appearance in the Class A state title game and will feature a few new faces in key spots, having graduated 20 players. Leathers and Martin competed for the starting quarterback job during the preseason. The Tigers return just two starters — Doody-Veilleux and Weston — and are young across the board.

Hampden (0-0) at Mt. Blue (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Mt. Blue High School, Farmington
Last season: Did not play
Key players: Hampden — QB Matt Martin, WR Dan Marquis, WR Austin Spencer, OL Cam Prescott, OL John Chen. Mt. Blue — G/LB Connor Farrington, UT/CB Cam Abbott, G/DE Tyler Sennick, TE/DE Dustin Richards, WR/FS Nate Backus.
Outlook: Mt. Blue opens defense of its Class B state title at its new field at the high school. While the Cougars graduated a lot of players, they have talented returnees at a few positions, including Abbott, who missed the second half of the 2012 season with a knee injury and can play either quarterback or receiver. Hampden is led by Martin, a strong passer. The Broncos have a new coach, former Husson University assistant Kevin Canty.

Mt. Ararat (0-0) at Skowhegan (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Clark Field, Skowhegan
Last season: Skowhegan 38, Mt. Ararat 0
Key players: Mt. Ararat — TB/DB Jordan Castonguay, RB/LB Jack Mickels, T/DT James Stemp, QB/DB Dylan Johnson, OL/DL Connor Read. Skowhegan — QB/FS Adam Clukey, TE/LB D.J. Allen, G/LB Gus Benson, WR/CB Owen Mercier, RB/LB Kaleb Brown.
Outlook: Now in the second season running coach Matt Friedman’s spread offense, Skowhegan should be a little sharper. Clukey threw for more than 1,400 yards last season and has strong receivers in Allen, Mercier and Ben Salley. The Indians defensive strength is at linebacker. Mt. Ararat went 0-26 over the last three seasons. The Eagles hope a move to Western B will give them a chance to be competitive as a young team grows.

Madison (0-0) at Mt. Desert Island (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Mt. Desert Island High School, Bar Harbor
Last season: Did not play
Key players: Madison — FB/LB Chris Hayden, QB Cody Soucier, TE/DE Levi Murray, T/DT Brendan Tolman, HB/LB Jordan Curtis. MDI — QB Jon Phelps, HB Teagan Candage, FB Sandy Henggeler, HB Tanner Bickford.
Outlook: Mt. Desert Island nearly pulled off the upset of the 2012 season, losing a tight game to eventual state champion Mt. Blue in the Eastern B quarterfinals. Now in Class C, the Trojans will use the same running attack to try to control the pace of games. Madison has some talented veterans in its pistol offense, including Murray, Soucier and Hayden, who moves from tight end to fullback.

Waterville at Camden Hills
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Don Palmer Field, Rockport
Last season: Did not play
Key players: Waterville — QB/DB Aidan FitzGerald, UT/DB Brian Bellows, G/LB Luke Knight, WR/DE Troy Gurski, G/DL Duncan Works. Camden Hills — RB/LB Isaac Young, QB Nick Rozsahegyi, TE/DE Connor Graffam, T/DT Alex Switzer, G/LB Sean Mellon.
Outlook: With 16 seniors, Waterville is among the preseason favorites in Eastern Class C. FitzGerald and Bellows may split time at quarterback, while Knight, Works and Ben Cox return to the line. A Class B school, Camden Hills chose to play down a level as it builds its program. The Windjammers are ineligible for the playoffs, but Graffam could be one of the top tight ends in the league.

Belfast at Winslow
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Poulin Field, Winslow
Last season: Did not play
Key players: Belfast — QB/DB Zach Collier, HB/DB Greg Clark, T/DE Mike Reynolds, SE/DE Korey Doolan, FB/LB Baxter Smith. Winslow — FB/DE Zach Guptill, TB/LB Dylan Hapworth, T/DL Troy Ellis, DL Aaron Lint, TE/CB Justin Martin.
Outlook: Winslow is coming off a close loss to Foxcroft Academy in the Class C state championship game. With Guptill, Hapworth, Bobby Chenard and Martin returning at skill positions, along with Ellis and Lint on the lines, the Black Raiders should be a contender in the new Eastern Class C. Belfast pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the playoffs last season, knocking off Leavitt in the regional quarterfinals. The Lions return a handful of three-year starters and look to be a contender. This is a good early season test for both teams.

Nokomis at Old Town
When: 7 tonight
Where: Victory Field, Old Town
Last season: Nokomis 42, Old Town 12
Key players: Nokomis — RB/LB Noah Kershner, TE/DE Jake Winslow, T/DT Jacob Nichols, UT/SS Josh King, WR/CB Ray Girroir. Old Town — OL/LB Zach Bartlett, TE/DE Tyler Wengrzynck, RB Braden Upshaw, QB Jake Jarvis.
Outlook: Last season’s win over Old Town was one of the most lopsided in Nokomis’ short football history. Kershner ran for more than 1,000 yards last season. Nichols and Winslow are returning starters on the line. The Warriors have a new head coach, former John Bapst assistant Matt O’Connell. For Old Town, Bartlett will be a key at linebacker. Upshaw looks to be the Coyotes top running back.

Dirigo (0-0) at Maranacook (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Ricky Gibson Field of Dreams, Readfield
Last season: Maranacook 26, Dirigo 19
Key players: Maranacook — QB Kyle Morand, RB/KR AJ Stevens, TB/LB Logan Emery, FB Simon Davis, TE Zach Bessette, T/DT Tucker Cameron, G/LB Adam Betts, RB Jake Gibson. Dirigo — FB/LB Tyler Frost, TB Brett Beauchesne, T/DT Jack Brown, C/DT Joey Hebert, QB Riley Robinson, LB Kaine Hutchins.
Outlook: Maranacook graduated a few key players and will look to new starting quarterback Morand to lead the offense. Black Bears coach Joe Emery said he wants to get as many as four different running backs carries to help keep everyone fresh late in games. The Cougars reached what was then the Western C championship game last season. They have a new starting quarterback in Robinson and will lean on Frost and Beauchesne this year. 

Lisbon (0-0) at Winthrop/Monmouth (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Maxwell Field, Winthrop
Last season: Lisbon 48, Winthrop 0
Key players: Winthrop/Monmouth — WR/DB Dakota Carter, RB Zach Glazier, ILB Dominque Cognata, QB Jared Hanson, QB/WR D.J. McHugh, WR Drew Stratton, WR Brandon Goff, OL Cole Arsenault, TE/LB Mario Meucci (Jr.). Lisbon — QB/TB/WR/FS Quincy Thompson, QB Kyle Bourget, TB Jordan Torres, FB Joe Philbrook, G/DL Darren Ward, WR Jordan Glover.
Outlook: The new Winthrop/Monmouth co-operative program makes its debut with a deep and talented roster. The Ramblers, with 60 players out, have one of the deepest teams in Western D. Hanson beat out McHugh for the starting quarterback job in the preseason, and he’ll have plenty of options to throw to, including McHugh, Goff and Stratton. Lisbon had 42 players out and features one of the most explosive players in the conference in Thompson.

Oak Hill (0-0) at Telstar (0-0)
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Telstar High School, Bethel
Last season: Oak Hill 33, Telstar 0
Key players: Oak Hill — QB Parker Asselin, TB Alex Mace , TB Kyle Flaherty, TE/DL/LB Luke Washburn, T Bayley Beaulieu, T Garrett Labbe, LB Ryan Stevens, OLB Levi Buteau. Telstar — QB Jared Vermette, C/DT Ryan Vail, TB Austin Ryerson, WB Tyler Cherkis, FB Chris Chappie, TB Cameron Pike, TE Noah Rose, SE Mike Dougherty.
Outlook: The Raiders return one of the top running back tandems in the league with Mace and Flaherty. The two rushed for more than 1,500 yards last season. Asselin is a three-year starter and leads a balanced offense. Washburn will be heavily involved on both sides of the ball. Telstar went 1-7 last season. 

Mt. View (0-0) at Stearns (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Alumni Field, Millinocket
Last season: Stearns 52, Mt. View 20
Key players: Mt. View — QB/CB Kenny McGray, RB/S Steven Davis, G/LB Chris Spaulding, T/DT Clint Spaulding, DT Ben West. Stearns — RB/LB Marc Moreault, RB Mitchell Bradford, OL Tristan Santerre, OL Dmitri Carrier, OL Jake Williams.
Outlook: For the second season in a row, Mt. View makes the trip north to Millinocket for the season opener. The Mustangs have returning players in key positions, including McGray, Davis and the Spauldings. Mt. View hopes to open up the offense and throw a little more. The Minutemen are inexperienced, with just one returning senior. Stearns has a strong junior class, and despite being the smallest football-playing school in the state, should contend for a playoff spot.

MCI (0-0) at Orono (0-0)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Orono High School
Last season: Orono 58, MCI 8
Key players: MCI — G/DT Briar Bussell, T/NG Gus McWilliams, WR/DB Tanner Littlefield, TB/DB Jonathan Santiago, QB/DB Greg Vigue. Orono — QB Chad Orn, RB Cam Mowrer, RB Christian Mowrer, RB Collin Clement.
Outlook: MCI was one of the youngest teams in the state last season. Bussell and McWilliams are now veterans on the offensive line, and Littlefield and Santiago are potential big play threats for the Huskies. Santiago ran for 877 yards last season as a sophomore. Orono enters the season as one of the favorites in the LTC. Christian Mowrer ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, and his brother Cam is a talented runner, too. The Red Riots will try and control the clock using their T-formation offense.