Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Must-see matchups during season

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

BY BILL STEWART

click image to enlarge

COMEBACK BEARS: Maranacook linebacker Ian Palmer, left, lunges after Oak Hill running back Joel Wells last season at the Ricky Gibson Field of Dreams in Readfield. Maranacook won 34-29 to clinch a Campbell Conference Class C playoff berth. Palmer and Wells return this fall to their respective teams, which will meet Oct. 23.

Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store

Staff Writer

The high school football season is here, and with it comes an abundance of weekends ripe with intriguing matchups.

Where to go? Who to see?

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Fret no more, football fans, here's a quick snapshot of 10 games you shouldn't miss this season ...

Oak Hill at Lisbon, 1:30 p.m. Saturday: It's rare to see a game played in the regular-season opener that features playoff implications, but that's what we'll have Saturday in Lisbon. Both teams qualified for the Campbell Conference playoffs last season, and both teams are in the mix again this season.

Yes, it's early, but this could be a game both teams look back on when the playoff races come to a halt.

"We expect to make it a good game," said Lisbon coach Dick Mynahan, whose team pulled out a 14-12 win over the Raiders last season.

Cony at Messalonskee, 7 p.m. Sept. 10: The Rams and the Eagles should once again be in the mix to not only qualify for a Pine Tree Conference Class A playoff berth, but to host a postseason game as well.

The Eagles won the meeting last season 20-13 and went on to finish 6-4, including their first playoff victory since 1998. Messalonskee rushed for 394 yards against Cony in a physical game.

The Rams finished 4-4 and lost to Brunswick in the PTC A quarterfinals.

"They are a good, physical football team," Cony coach Robby Vachon said. "They are going to be tough."

Winthrop at Dirigo, 1 p.m. Sept. 11: If it seems every year one of these teams is running away with the Campbell Conference Class C title, that's because it's true. Winthrop coasted to the conference title in 2008. Dirigo experienced few speed bumps en route to the title last season.

The teams met twice last season, with the Cougars winning both handily. Dirigo won 34-8 in the regular season meeting and then 26-0 in the conference semifinals. The Cougars are without quarterback Nic Crutchfield, who graduated, but return enough talent to make this game crucial for both teams.

Bangor at Cony, 7 p.m. Sept. 17: Cony will open at home against the defending PTC A champs. In the last few seasons, the battle of the Rams have decidedly went to Bangor. However, Cony is improved and Bangor graduated several key players, which may have narrowed the gap a bit between the two teams.

Vachon said in the preseason, "We'll know where we are early on in the season."

He most certainly will.

"We understand they are Bangor," Vachon said. "We get that. But we are excited to play them."

Gardiner at Waterville, 1 p.m. Sept. 18: The PTC B could be a bit down this season, but the Tigers and the Panthers are poised to contend for the league title with Leavitt. Gardiner rolled in their meeting last season, winning 44-27. Alonzo Connor rushed for 278 yards.

Maranacook at Winthrop, 7 p.m. Oct. 1: With the Maine Principals' Association close to adopting a four-class football system, it remains to be seen if these teams will play each other next season.

Maranacook is much-improved while Winthrop should contend for the Campbell Conference Class C title.

"Every game is important, but any time you play Maranacook, of course, you get up for those games," Winthrop coach Joel Stoneton said.

Oak Hill at Winthrop, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: Oak Hill coach Dave Wing calls it a "rivalry game." It should also have playoff implications, as well, with Oak Hill pushing to stay in the upper echelon of the league.

"These rivalry games are significant games," Wing said. "When you look at the proximity of these schools, with Maranacook and Winthrop, they are big games."

Cony at Mt. Blue, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: Vachon pointed to this game as another one the Rams could need in order to secure either a playoff berth or a home playoff game. Mt. Blue, like Cony, is improved.

Leavitt at Gardiner, 7 p.m. Oct. 22: Could the PTC B title be decided this weekend? Despite losing several players to graduation, the defending PTC B champ Hornets return enough talent on both sides of the ball to once again be a factor.

The teams met twice last season, including in the PTC B final, which Leavitt won. No doubt Gardiner will remember that game when the teams meet again.

Maranacook at Oak Hill, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23: A playoff berth and/or seeding could easily come down to this meeting. Both teams have improved, and both teams got a taste of the Campbell Conference Class C playoffs last season.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com