What may be the game of the year in the LTC Class D ranks highlights the Week 3 high school football schedule.
Bucksport and Maine Central Institute were undefeated when they met at Pittsfield during Week 7 of the 2013 campaign, with the Golden Bucks emerging from a battle of big plays with a 42-35 victory en route to the LTC regular-season title and the Eastern Maine Class D crown.
Both are undefeated again entering Friday night’s early season rematch, with veteran coaches Joel Sankey of Bucksport and Tom Bertrand of MCI hoping to come up with more defensive answers for their rivals’ still-potent offenses.
Bucksport Golden Bucks (1-0) vs. Maine Central Institute Huskies (2-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Pittsfield: This marks the first test for both teams, whose victories to date have come against winless opponents.
Most of the offensive big-play protagonists from last year’s clash are back, though Bucksport did graduate LTC player of the year Josh Gray, now at Husson University.
Bucksport is led by senior quarterback Matthew Stewart, one of the most efficient passers in recent LTC history.
Stewart completed 15 of 18 passes for 165 yards and five touchdowns in the Golden Bucks’ season-opening victory against Washington Academy of East Machias, part of a balanced attack that included 156 rushing yards from Jack Cyr and three touchdowns apiece for Asher Bowden and Hayden Craig.
Tight end Lucas Ashmore is another offensive threat for Bucksport, while KP Hilaire heads up the offensive line and is a defensive catalyst at linebacker.
MCI is led by explosive senior halfback Jonathan Santiago, who already has rushed for more than 400 yards and eight touchdowns in two games after leading all LTC ground gainers in 2013.
He teams with fellow running backs Alex Bertrand and Eric Hathaway, wide receiver Austin Tolman, tight end Mitchell Hallee and quarterback Greg Vigue to provide MCI a multidimensional offense out of its no-huddle set.
Bangor Rams (2-0) vs. Deering Rams (0-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Portland: Bangor makes the first of two straight Friday night trips to Portland — the Rams visit Portland High School next week — before playing three of its final four regular-season games at home.
Bangor has been tough to stop on the ground, averaging 300 rushing yards and 46.5 points per game in victories over Edward Little of Auburn and Scarborough. Junior halfback Dane Johnson has led the way with 374 rushing yards on 53 carries, including 211 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 46-13 win over Scarborough.
“We’re going to find someone who can stop it,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett after the Scarborough win. “We can either accept the challenge and get better or someone will beat us.
“But they’re going to have to stop what we do, too, and we’re doing something I don’t think anyone else is doing right now and that’s lining up and coming right at them.”
Deering has yielded 95 points in losses to Windham and Portland, though it led Portland 14-7 at intermission before the Bulldogs scored 35 unanswered second-half points.
Coach Matt Riddell’s club employs a spread offense engineered by quarterback Max Chabot.
“Our best defense is our offense, and I don’t know how good we are on defense because we haven’t had to play it a lot yet,” said Hackett. “I know Deering’s going to stretch all that stuff out. They’ve got one of the fastest kids in the state, we’ve seen him on film, but they’re going to have to stop our running game also.
“It’s old school versus new school, I think.”
Lawrence Bulldogs (2-0) at Brewer Witches (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Both teams already have equaled their victory totals from a year ago.
Brewer made a statement in its home debut under new head coach Nick Arthers last weekend by outlasting defending Class B state champion Cony of Augusta 46-40 in overtime.
A defensive stand in the extra period preserved the win, but a balanced rushing attack that churned out 300 yards provided the ball and clock control the Witches needed to offset Cony’s pass-oriented attack.
Dylan Severance and Trey Wood combined for 201 rushing yards and three TDs, while junior quarterback Logan Rogerson rushed for 61 yards and two TDs and passed for 76 more yards while Austin Pagnozzi scored the winning touchdown in overtime.
Lawrence has averaged 45.5 points in wins over Gardiner and Mt. Blue of Farmington, last week getting four touchdowns from Mitchell Cushing and 186 receiving yards from Seth Powers in its 45-22 win over Mt. Blue.
Foxcroft Academy Ponies (1-1) at Belfast Lions (2-0), 7 p.m. Friday: These teams last met in a 2013 Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinal, when Belfast avenged a regular-season loss with a 26-13 victory.
The Lions are off to a fast start this fall, thanks in large part to a veteran line and the running of Mount View of Thorndike transfer Steven Davis. Davis has rushed for three touchdowns in each of Belfast’s victories, including scoring romps of 80, 80 and 9 yards during last week’s 36-14 win at Mount Desert Island.
Foxcroft rebounded from a season-opening loss at Waterville with a 46-16 win over Camden Hills of Rockport. That victory showcased both of the Ponies’ primary offensive weapons, as senior halfback Peter Boyer rushed for 151 yards and three TDs and junior wideout Hunter Smith had 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
