Class A football in Maine generally has had an air of predictability from year to year.
Perhaps two teams emerge as early season favorites, and those expectations often are realized when the same programs meet to battle for the state championship on the Saturday before Thanksgiving at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
That formula has worked for many years, but certainly not 2014. With just two weekends left in the regular season, no undefeated teams remain in Class A statewide.
Five teams — Bangor, Bonny Eagle of Standish, Cheverus of Portland, Thornton Academy of Saco and Windham — bring 5-1 records into the Week 7 schedule. And Portland and South Portland are 4-2, with Portland already defeating Windham, and South Portland handing Bonny Eagle its lone defeat.
Two major confrontations highlight this weekend’s docket, first on Friday, when Thornton Academy visits Bonny Eagle in a clash of Western A leaders, and then Saturday, when Eastern A powers Bangor and Cheverus meet in Portland.
“I like the opportunity,” said Bangor head coach Mark Hackett. “We’re going to have fun with it.”
Bangor Rams (5-1) vs. Cheverus Stags (5-1), 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Boulos Stadium, Portland: Cheverus defeated Bangor twice last fall by a combined 86-7 score.
But Bangor is different this year, armed with a power-based, ball-control offense keyed by Eastern A’s top rusher in junior halfback Dane Johnson (1,175 yards, 17 touchdowns) and a hard-hitting defense that has yielded just one touchdown in its last nine quarters of regulation play.
A shocking 35-7 loss to Windham in Week 4 that ended Cheverus’ five-year regular-season unbeaten streak seemingly brought the Stags back to the pack, though the team’s 48-41 double-overtime victory over Thornton last Saturday offered evidence that coach John Wolfgram’s club may be rounding back into top form.
Cheverus features Eastern Maine’s No. 2 rusher in Joe Fitzpatrick (1,170 yards, 17 TDs), and while neither team passes prolifically, the Stags do have a dangerous wide receiver in Kenny Drelich.
“It’s going to be a tall task to beat that team,” said Hackett. “We’ve got to block and tackle and not make mistakes, and we have to play disciplined football.”
The winner should be in prime position to earn a first-round playoff bye, a potentially valuable chip given the depth near the top of the standings.
“The Windham game two weeks ago was big,” said Hackett. “This game is even bigger. It’s a huge opportunity for our kids.”
Waterville Purple Panthers (6-0) at Winslow Black Raiders (6-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: For the second straight season, these rivals play for the No. 1 seed in Eastern C.
Waterville won last year’s regular-season meeting before Winslow scored an emphatic victory over the Purple Panthers in the regional championship game.
Both teams have dominated their opponents to date this fall — with one major exception.
Waterville has defeated its six foes by an average of 37 points, while Winslow overwhelmed its first five opponents by an average of 44 points before escaping a trip to third-ranked Foxcroft Academy last Friday with a 26-25 victory.
Brewer Witches (3-3) vs. Mt. Blue Cougars (3-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Farmington: Brewer has powered its way into Class B playoff contention with back-to-back victories over Gardiner and Skowhegan during which it allowed just three touchdowns combined.
Coach Nick Arthers’ club holds the sixth and final playoff berth in the division and could enhance its postseason chances with a win at No. 5 Mt. Blue.
Brewer owns a notable 46-40 win over defending state champion and third-ranked Cony of Augusta, and Mt. Blue boasts a 14-7 conquest of No. 4 Messalonskee of Oakland, which last week knocked No. 1 Brunswick from the unbeaten ranks.
Lawrence Bulldogs (5-1) at Brunswick Dragons (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday: This game matches the top two teams in Eastern B to date.
Brunswick, which reached the regional final last year, is coming off its first loss, a 20-7 defeat last Friday at Messalonskee of Oakland.
Lawrence, 2-6 a year ago, has bounced back impressively but faces a rugged conclusion to its regular season with matchups against Brunswick and then in Fairfield next week against Messalonskee.
Orono Red Riots (4-2) vs. Maine Central Institute Huskies (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Pittsfield: Maine Central Institute is coming off a solid effort last Friday, defeating Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln 25-15 despite the absence because of injury of running backs Jonathan Santiago and Eric Hathaway.
Junior quarterback Greg Vigue picked up the slack for the top-ranked Huskies, completing 18 of 31 passes for 188 yards and three TDs.
For No. 3 Orono, Friday’s game marks the continuation of a challenging late-season schedule that includes teams sporting a combined 16-5 record.
Coach Bob Sinclair’s Orono club is one of four LTC teams sporting two losses behind Maine Central Institute and 4-1 Bucksport, and only four teams qualify for postseason play.
Bucksport Golden Bucks (4-1) vs. Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (3-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Lincoln: This rematch of last year’s LTC championship game won by Bucksport finds both combatants seeking a victory to enhance their playoff posture in a tight LTC pack.
Bucksport has won three in a row since falling at Maine Central Institute in Week 3, including solid victories the last two weekends over John Bapst and Orono.
Mattanawcook is coming off a hard-fought loss to Maine Central Institute last Friday, but with a victory, the team could be poised for a strong finish to its regular season with subsequent games remaining against Ellsworth-Sumner and Mount View of Thorndike.
