The Hermon High School football team had three shots to play for a Class C state championship over the previous five seasons only to lose in the regional final.
But the persistent Hawks were finally rewarded for their efforts, beating Medomak Valley of Waldoboro 24-14 in the C North title game and they will take on Fryeburg Academy in Saturday’s state championship game in Lewiston beginning at 11 a.m.
Interestingly, three of the four state games feature teams with the same records squaring off against each other with the lone exception being the Class D final although both teams will come into the 2:30 p.m. game at Lewiston undefeated as Foxcroft Academy from Dover-Foxcroft is 11-0 and defending state champ Wells is 10-0.
Hermon and Fryeburg Academy are both 8-2; the A final between Portland and defending state champion Thornton Academy of Saco involves a pair of 9-2 teams and the B title game between Falmouth and Kennebunk features a pair of 10-0 squads.
The A and B games will be at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.
Here is a look at the four matchups:
Hermon vs. Fryeburg, 11 a.m., Lewiston
Eighth-year Hermon High coach Kyle Gallant said the big key to the Hawks’ success has been their veteran leadership group.
“They had that will, grit and want. They do things the right way on and off the field,” said Gallant.
One of the senior leaders has been running back-linebacker Max Hopkins, who has rushed for over 900 yards including 101 in the win over Medomak Valley. He rushed for all four touchdowns.
Hopkins is a big, hard-running back who is difficult to bring down and he is complemented nicely by shifty and elusive Bruce Coulter, who has rushed for over 800 yards.
The youthful tandem of sophomore quarterback Ethan Curtis and freshman wide receiver Griffin Dunton has given Hermon a productive passing game to complement the ground game.
Sam Hopkins, Max’s younger brother, has been a consistent contributor as a runner and receiver.
The Hopkins brothers have been two of the defensive standouts at their linebacker spots along with the front four of Jacob Murzyn, Richie Romesburg, Tyler Slate and Michael Rene.
Dunton has six interceptions from his cornerback slot and safety Coulter has had games with 10 or more tackles.
Gallant said Fryeburg Academy is an exceptional team with “great size and great speed. They’re well-coached. We’re going to have to limit their speed.”
Fryeburg Academy has scored at least 33 points in eight of its 10 games and its only two losses were by one point to Falmouth and Wells.
The Raiders have three quality running backs in Daniel Ruiz, Ty Boone and Malik Sow and Boone and Michael Malia returned interceptions in their 38-0 C South final victory over defending two-time state champ Leavitt of Turner.
Fryeburg last played in a state final in 2018, losing to Nokomis of Newport 13-12.
Foxcroft Academy vs. Wells, 2:30 p.m., Lewiston
The Ponies will be anxious to avenge last year’s 22-21 loss to Wells in the state final.
Wells and Foxcroft Academy will be meeting in the state championship for the fourth time in seven seasons and Wells has triumphed in all three: 48-0 in 2017 and 55-20 the following year before last year’s 22-21 game.
FA had won back-to-back state titles in 2021 and ‘22.
This will be the FA’s sixth state title game appearance in seven years.
FA gave up just 15 points in its three D North playoff wins and has allowed more than 14 points in a game just once, a 42-20 win over John Bapst/Bangor Christian/Central.
Finn Holmes and Landon Smith are a formidable running back tandem and Aiden Harvey has also been good out of the wildcat formation in which he takes a direct snap out of a shotgun formation.
Quarterback Griffin Caruso is a passing threat with Silas Topolski and Lucas Sands being two of his primary targets.
Wells has scored at least 35 points in seven games and is coming off a 35-7 win over Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale in which Eli Potter ran for 214 yards.
Portland vs. Thornton Academy, 11 a.m. Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland
This is a rematch of last year’s A final which was won by TA, 24-14.
This will be their fourth meeting in a state final over the last nine seasons and TA has won the previous three.
Thornton Academy has captured three A championships the past five years and will be making its sixth final in a row.
Portland is looking for its first state title since 2002.
Portland beat Thornton Academy in Saco on Oct. 19, 14-7.
Thornton Academy reached the final with a 57-29 win over Noble of North Berwick in which Mauricio Sunderland rushed for 116 yards and three TDs on 13 carries and quarterback Wyatt Benoit ran for 90 yards on 11 carries and a TD.
Portland had three 100-yard rushers in its A North title game win over Bangor as Cordell Jones racked up 153 yards, Aidan McGowan had 108 and quarterback Louis Thornton added 107 more.
Falmouth vs. Kennebunk, 2:30, Fitzpatrick Stadium
Kennebunk is looking to make it two in a row after beating Lawrence of Fairfield in last year’s final, 40-20.
Kennebunk topped Deering of Portland 35-14 in the B South final as Moose Keys ran for 138 yards on eight carries, Austin West contributed 89 yards on seven carries and Ethan Burr lugged the ball six times for 58 yards.
Falmouth will be playing in its first ever state title game.
The Navigators reached the final with a 35-7 win over Lawrence in which quarterback Tres Walker completed 11 of 16 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns and its defense forced four turnovers and limited Lawrence’s rushing game to an average of just 2.5 yards per carry.