One by-product of the new crossover scheduling system adopted around the state in high school football this fall is that three of this weekend’s four state championship games will be rematches from regular-season contests.
It looks to be an uphill climb to gold for the North.
The South not only went 34-7 during the regular season against the North, the South won all three previous meetings that matched the eventual state finalists in decisive fashion.
In Class B, Marshwood of South Berwick opened its season with a 55-12 victory over Skowhegan, and those teams will meet in the final game of Saturday’s state championship tripleheader at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. Game time is 6:06 p.m.
Cape Elizabeth topped Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield 35-15 in Week 4, and now those teams are poised to battle for the Class C state championship at the University of Maine in Orono at 7 p.m. Friday.
In Class A, Scarborough defeated Windham 66-7 in Week 6, and they’ll meet again in Portland at 11:06 a.m. Saturday with a state championship on the line.
The data doesn’t lie,” said Foxcroft Academy head coach Danny White, whose team is the lone North champion that won’t face a rematch when the Ponies challenge Wells at 2:36 p.m. in Portland for the Class D state crown.
“That’s certainly been the trend, that the South has been a stronger group than the North this year. You can’t really argue that.”
In Class B, Marshwood (11-0) is seeking its third state championship in four years while Skowhegan (7-3) last advanced to states in 2008 (a 26-6 loss to Bonny Eagle of Standish) and is trying to win its first state title since winning the Class B crown in 1978.
Marshwood — a school that has won state titles in all four classes — has averaged 40 points per game this fall and been tested just twice, in a 15-12 Week 7 victory over preseason Class B favorite Kennebunk and a 31-28 win last week over Falmouth in its regional final.
Skowhegan has evolved from an offensive juggernaut during the regular season to a defensive stopper during postseason play, yielding just 13 points in playoff victories over Brewer and Lawrence of Fairfield after allowing more than 37 points per game during the regular season.
The Indians’ defense enters Saturday’s game not having allowed a touchdown in its last 7 2/3 quarters of play.
The Class B final also is a rematch of the 1989 Class A state championship game won by Marshwood 26-14.
In Class C, MCI advanced from the No. 6 seed in the North to earn its fourth straight trip to the state finals after winning it all in Class D last fall.
Coach Tom Bertrand’s Huskies, who were dominant in Class D North the previous three years, used determination to defeat the top three seeds — all on the road — to secure this year’s Class C regional title.
MCI won its six Class D regional playoff games from 2014 through 2016 by an average of 33.7 points, but this year defeated No. 3 Nokomis of Newport, No. 2 Winslow and No. 1 Mount Desert Island by a combined 31 points.
The Huskies have won five of its six games since their regular-season loss at Cape Elizabeth and have been much deeper during the latter half of the season with the return to form of veterans Adam Bertrand and Pedro Matos from early-season injuries.
Cape, which is seeking its first state title, is riding a five-game winning streak and has won seven of its last eight behind quarterback Andrew Hartel and running back Ryan Weare, who rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Gardiner in the C South final.
The Capers’ defense may be even stronger, having allowed just 8.8 points per game this fall.
The Class D final matches combatants that competed in Class C last fall before being reclassified this year based on enrollment.
Foxcroft returns to a state final for the first time since edging Winslow 22-20 for the 2012 Class C crown, while Wells is the defending Class C state title winner.
Foxcroft (8-2) features the strong two-way play of senior quarterback Nick Clawson, who has both rushed and passed for more than 1,000 yards, outside quickness in receivers Hyatt Smith and Jeremy Richard, and a defense that has not allowed a point since a Week 7 loss at MCI.
Undefeated Wells (11-0 this year and 22-1 over the last two seasons) counters with a physical Wing-T offense featuring senior Nolan Potter, who rushed for four touchdowns during the Warriors’ 34-12 victory over Madison-Carrabec in the regional final.
In Class A, Scarborough (9-1) is riding a seven-game winning streak and avenged its only loss this fall with a 49-7 thumping of Thornton Academy of Saco in the South final.
The Red Storm are attempting to win their first state title since capturing the 2002 Class B crown.
Windham (7-4) finished fourth in a balanced Class A North field and went on to defeat two-time defending regional champion Portland 42-6 in last week’s final.
While its regular-season game against Scarborough at Windham was lopsided, the Eagles have won their last four games and should benefit from having three key players — quarterback Tanner Bernier, wideout Hunter Coffin and running back Stuart Salom — available Saturday who sat out the earlier meeting with injuries.
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