Just two weeks remain in the high school football regular season, and with that comes a sense of urgency as teams battle for playoff byes, home-field advantage or mere postseason qualification.
Brewer Witches (5-1) vs. Messalonskee Eagles (3-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Oakland: Brewer is coming off its biggest victory of the season as it knocked off previously undefeated Brunswick to forge a virtual four-way tie atop the Class B North standings. Coach Nick Arthers’ club can go a long way toward securing a top-two finish in the division by defeating a Messalonskee team that holds the sixth and final playoff berth. Both clubs boast potent rushing attacks, with Brewer’s trio of Dylan Severance, Logan Rogerson and Trey Wood combining for nearly 1,350 yards while Jack Bernatchez leads Messalonskee with 986 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Brunswick Dragons (5-1) vs. Mt. Blue Cougars (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Farmington: Two of the other one-loss teams in B North — Skowhegan is the fifth — square off on top of the hill in the Franklin County shiretown, with the winner also moving into prime position for a first-round bye. A big question entering the contest concerns the health of two-way Brunswick star Will Bessey, who left last weekend’s loss to Brewer early with an apparent thigh injury.
Portland Bulldogs (6-0) at Bangor Rams (1-5), 7 p.m. Friday: Bangor’s final home game of the season comes against the lone remaining unbeaten Class A team statewide. Three of Class A North’s top four rushers will be on display in league-leading Dane Johnson (943 yards, 7 TDs) of Bangor and Portland’s Joe Esposito (753 yards, 12 TDs) and George Chaison-Lupine (774 yards, 4 TDs), who sat out last week’s 65-0 win over Lewiston to rest a nagging injury. Bangor’s playoff fate likely won’t be determined for another week, when the Rams visit Oxford Hills of South Paris for their regular-season finale.
Madison/Carrabec Bulldogs (3-3) at Old Town Coyotes (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday: The Old Town offense keeps cranking out big plays, and now is averaging 37 points per game. The Coyotes must be careful not to look past Madison/Carrabec with once-beaten Mount Desert Island awaiting in their Class C North regular-season finale next Friday night. MDI edged Madison/Carrabec 22-20 last weekend.
Oceanside Mariners (3-3) vs. MDI Trojans (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Bar Harbor: A similar scenario awaits MDI, whose only defeat was a hard-fought loss to undefeated and reigning Class C state champion Winslow early in the season. Oceanside has quietly built some momentum, winning three of its last four games to move into the sixth and final C North playoff spot.
Mount View Mustangs (4-2) vs. Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Lincoln: This physical encounter may go a long way toward determining the No. 2 seed in the LTC Class D North standings, though MA’s finale next week against 4-2 Orono also will figure into the calculations. Mount View has scored at least three touchdowns in each of its games while averaging 34.7 points per outing. Mattanawcook has yielded more than two touchdowns in a game just once this fall.
Bucksport Golden Bucks (2-4) at Orono Red Riots (4-2), 7 p.m. Friday: One of the LTC’s most traditional rivalries resumes Friday night. Orono is one of four playoff-eligible teams in Class D North with at least four victories, while Bucksport would like a win over the Red Riots to solidify its hold on the sixth and final playoff spot as the Golden Bucks end their regular season against undefeated juggernaut Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield on Oct. 23.
