AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association football committee devised a plan for four classes on Wednesday, knowing that what they came up with now is nowhere close to being a finished product.
“This is a starting point,” MPA assistant director Mike Burnham said. “This is not final.”
If a four class structure is approved by the MPA membership, it would not be until next spring and would begin with the 2013 season. The next step, Burnham said, is to send this first draft proposal to all the schools , and see which schools want to apply to play up a class.
After hearing back from the membership, the football committee will work toward creating a final recommendation this fall, with a vote in early 2013.
The proposal created by the committee on Wednesday features 18 teams in Class A, 18 teams in Class B, 20 in Class C and 20 in Class D. In order to maintain consistency with other sports, a previous idea to name the largest division AA was dropped.
Committee chair Mike Bisson of Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln suggested the largest divisions be the small schools. That way, teams can choose to petition to play up in a larger class.
“They’ll trickle up instead of trickle down,” Bisson said.
Class A would be schools with enrollments over 850 students. Class B would be 625-849, while Class C would be schools with enrollments between 450 and 624 students. Schools with enrollments below 448 would be Class D.
The alignment constructed on Wednesday would see some schools switch regions. In Class A, for instance, Cheverus, Portland and Deering would play in Eastern Maine. While those three Portland schools would be placed in Eastern Class A, that doesn’t mean they could not play traditional Western Maine rivals in the regular season. This proposal is just to set up divisions for the playoffs.
“I think some of the A issues can be addressed through scheduling. I really do,” said Massabesic head football coach John Morin, the coaches’ liaison to the committee. “We need two divisions for playoffs, but they can set up schedules any way they want.”
Oceanside and Camden Hills would move from Eastern Class B to Western Class B under this proposal. Morse and Leavitt would become Western Class C schools. Both are currently in the Eastern Class B Pine Tree Conference. Winthrop and Maranacook, currently members of the Class C Campbell Conference, would move to the Eastern Class D division. Winslow, which dropped to Class C last season and moved West, would move back to the East.
The committee expects a few schools to petition up. For instance, Cheverus, a private Catholic school with 500 students, has a standing request to play in Class A in all sports. Biddeford could request to play in Class A, as could Lawrence, which despite its low enrollment (718 students) has been successful in Class A in recent years.
Lawrence athletic director Bill MacManus said travel would be one consideration when the Bulldogs decide to play in up in Class A or remain in Class B when the four division structure takes effect.
“We haven’t really discussed it yet,” MacManus said. “We might even try and find out from the community, and see what they want. We have a lot of tradition here.”
With 622 students, Gardiner would be the largest school in Class C, and athletic director Jeff Turnbull said the school would consider playing in Class B where it could renew old rivalries, particularly with Cony. Since Gardiner moved to Class B in 2005, the annual Cony-Gardiner game has been an exhibition.
“I know it’s a discussion we’d have,” Turnbull said. “We’d most likely stay where the number put us. It would be a tough call for us.”
Defending Class B state champion Wells and perennial Class B power Mountain Valley would be in Class D and also could be candidates to play up a class.
Ellsworth/Sumner will play its first varsity season this fall. The team replaces Calais, which recently suspended its football program, in the Class C Little Ten Conference. With an enrollment of 777 students, Ellsworth/Sumner has a decision to make after the upcoming season. Move up to Class B or play two more seasons at a lower level as the program develops.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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