QBs in spotlight as Bangor, Cony clash

Week 3 of the high school football season matches two of the top quarterbacks in Eastern Maine when Bangor hosts Cony of Augusta in a battle of the Rams.
Bangor Rams (2-0) vs. Cony Rams (1-1), 7 p.m., Friday at Augusta: Bangor features senior quarterback-safety Joe Seccareccia, who led the Rams to the 2009 state final and already has accounted for six touchdowns this fall — three rushing, two passing and one on a fumble return after stripping the ball from a runner.
Cony counters with senior Luke Duncklee, who has rushed for 321 yards and seven touchdowns in his team’s first two games. He rushed for 194 yards and four scores in a season-opening 34-12 win over Mount Ararat of Topsham, then had 125 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 42-21 loss to Messalonskee of Oakland last weekend.
“I know we have two or three real good athletes,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett, “but [Duncklee] may be the best athlete in the conference. He’s pretty spectacular.”
Bangor will counter with a wealth of skill-position talent that includes tailbacks Josiah Hartley — who has two 100-yard rushing games to his credit already this season in wins over Skowhegan and Mount Ararat — Zeb Tuell and Wyatt Frost, tight end John Kelley and split end Nick Sherwood.
“We’ll find out how good we are defensively Friday night,” said Hackett. “We will be tested.”
Winslow Black Raiders (0-2) vs. Hampden Academy Broncos (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Weatherbee Complex, Hampden: Hampden hopes to build on the momentum of a hard-fought road victory at Mount Desert Island last Saturday night, while Winslow seeks to rebound from a narrow loss to Belfast.
Hampden used three second-half touchdowns by Logan Steward, one coming on a 79-yard kickoff return, to rally from a 7-6 halftime deficit en route to a 32-21 win. The Broncos also feature quarterback Jon Haws and tight end Cody Miller.
Belfast, which opened its season with a 20-6 loss to MDI, used a balanced offense and a blocked extra-point by Dylan Webster with 2:07 left in the fourth quarter to earn a 14-13 win over Winslow.
The Lions overcame five turnovers in the win by rushing for 144 yards and passing for 149 yards. Lani Eversage supplied both Belfast touchdowns with a 49-yard punt return and a 28-yard pass from quarterback Brad Reed.
John Bapst Crusaders (2-0) vs. Maine Central Institute Huskies (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Pittsfield: One of three remaining undefeated teams in the LTC, John Bapst hopes to parlay its strength along the line of scrimmage into a third straight victory.
John Bapst has allowed just one touchdown in each of its first two games, with senior tackle Chris Desmond among those leading the Crusaders’ defense.
MCI defeated Bucksport in its opener and took a lead into the fourth quarter last Friday before dropping a 20-12 decision at Orono. The Huskies, who managed just 72 rushing yards against Orono, may have to open up the offense against a John Bapst team that has proven stingy against the run.
Mount View Mustangs (1-1) vs. Rockland Tigers (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Wasgatt Field, Rockland: Mount View of Thorndike will be going after its second straight win over Rockland after a 41-7 victory in a game played at Belfast last fall.
The Mustangs are coming off a convincing 44-12 victory over Dexter that featured plenty of offensive balance, with Aaron Santana passing for 120 yards and rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown while Jay Babin and Adrian Melton each rushed for two scores and Will Nunn added 112 yards and a touchdown as Mount View built a 44-0 lead.
Rockland, which edged Orono in Week 1, hopes to bounce back from a 26-6 loss at John Bapst last Saturday night, a game in which the Tigers were competitive for most of the way but struggled to generate offense against a strong Crusaders’ defensive front.
Stearns Minutemen (2-0) vs. Old Town Coyotes (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Victory Field, Old Town: Old Town’s reward for ending a 16-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 24-20 victory over Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln last weekend is a date against the LTC’s preseason favorites.
And Stearns has lived up to the hype through its first two games, outscoring MA and Bucksport by a combined 75-6 — with the first-team defense yet to allow a point.
Quarterback Jared McGreevey and running back Billy Eurich combined for 246 rushing yards in Stearns’ 27-0 win over Bucksport last Friday, with Eurich scoring three touchdowns.
“Stearns likes to spread you out and let their quarterback step back and make a decision,” said Old Town coach Steve Calande. “He’s going to take what you give them.”
Orono Red Riots (1-1) vs. Calais-Woodland (2-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Calais: Two teams that featured high-powered running games square off Down East.
Calais-Woodland is off to the best start in its three-year varsity history a 36-14 victory at Foxcroft Academy last Friday night, while Orono bounced back from a narrow Week 1 defeat against Rockland with a come-from-behind win over MCI.
Both teams feature high-profile backs in Dominic Mowrer of Orono and Spencer McCormick of Calais-Woodland, each of whom scored three touchdowns last weekend.