AUGUSTA — Everything seems to be falling into place at the right time for the Cony High School football team.

After getting off to a rough 1-2 start with losses to Brewer and Brunswick, the Rams have hit their stride with three wins in a row.

Additional Images

Staff file photo by Gordon Chibroski In this October 2013 file photo Greely QB #7, Matt Pisini, prepares to pass to Connor Hanley in the end zone as Cony #52 Alex Neill tries to stop him. The two schools renew the rivalry Friday night.

“This year feels real similar to last year,” Cony senior Elijah Tobey said. “The two games that we lost were one game that we shouldn’t have lost against Brewer and then Brunswick, which was the same as last year.

“…We just have to play tough, finish out the season and we’ve got to get a win (against) Greely on Friday. That’s big and then we’ve got to get a win at Gardiner, too.”

Cony still has a chance at earning a top two seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye, but will likely have to win out in order to do so. First up will be Friday’s meeting with Greely, where the Rams will be looking for a little payback after the Rangers handed them one of their two losses last season.

Here’s a look at the matchup:

Last season: Greely 35, Cony 21

Cony players to watch: WR/LB/KR Tayler Carrier, QB Mitchell Caron, RB/LB Reid Shostak, OL/DL Elias Younes, WR/CB Joel Bennett, WR Kyle Armstrong, WR Anthony Brunelle, DT/OL Elijah Tobey, DE Benaiah Willhoite, DE Dylan Tudeen.

Greely players to watch: RB/LB Sam Peck, QB Matt Pisini, OL/DL Ryan Pomeroy, WR/DB Nick Dubois.

Cony coach Robby Vachon on Greely: “The quarterback, Pisini, he’s only a junior and he ripped us pretty good last year so once again we’re going to have our hands full Friday night.”

Greely coach Dave Higgins on Cony: “Cony is a very good football team and we’re hoping we can have a nice game against them Friday. We’re going to have to play an error-free game.”

Three keys for Cony:

• Defensive reanaissance. The Rams are allowing just 11 points per game over the last three contests and a big part of that has been the play of Willhoite and Tudeen. Toss in moving Spencer Buck and Max Storey to linebacker with their preexisting defensive core and Cony appears to have figured out a winning formula with its personnel up front.

• Scouting report. Vachon said he had an opportunity to scout the Rangers in their 22-12 win over Kennebunk on Oct. 2 and also has had a chance to study them on film. Even though the Rams are facing a team with no common opponents, they should have a good idea of what to expect out of Greely.

• Stay balanced. Offensively Cony has a ton of weapons and will be best served to keep Greely on its toes. Mixing in carries for Shostak will only make the Rams’ multifaceted passing game that much more difficult to defend.

Three keys for Greely:

• Pressure Caron. The Rangers will have to get a good pass rush on Caron if they hope to hang with the Rams. If they give Caron time in the pocket, he’ll pick them apart like he has done again most of the competition this season.

• Repeat performance. Pisini torched the Rams with both his legs and his arm in last year’s win over Cony, rushing for a pair of touchdowns and throwing for two more. The Rams have been better on defense in recent weeks but will need to stop Greely’s junior signal caller to have a shot.

• Win the turnover battle. The last thing the Rangers need to do is give a dangerous offense like Cony’s extra possessions. There is a chance rain could linger into Friday night’s contest and with sloppy conditions holding onto the football will be that much tougher.

Evan Crawley — 621-5640

ecrawley@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @Evan_Crawley

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