Even with a 4-1 record, the Winslow High School football team is fighting for home field advantage in the first round of the Campbell Conference Class C playoffs. The Black Raiders are currently one of four teams at 4-1 in the league and sit in fifth place in the Crabtree point standings, which determine playoff position.

Winslow has a chance to move up with a big game on Friday night at undefeated Maranacook (5-0).

“They have an outstanding line and an outstanding power game,” Winslow head coach Mike Siviski said of Maranacook. “They’re not undefeated for nothing.”

Siviski said stopping Maranacook tailback Jesse Evans will be key. Evans has 647 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns this season.

“He may be the best back we’ve seen this year,” Siviski said.

Winslow also must contend with Maranacook quarterback Caleb Castonguay and tight end Andrew Lachance.

“(Castonguay) can beat you with his feet and he can beat you with his arm,” Siviski said.

Winslow has a strong backfield of its own with Joe Hopkins, Zach Guptil and Dylan Hapworth splitting the carries.

“It’s a team game and our running is a directly related to the development of our offensive line,” Siviski said. “The game’s starting to slow down for a lot of them.”

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Messalonskee (5-0) is coming off back-to-back shutouts over Oxford Hills and Edward Little, but the Eagles’ defense knows its going to get its toughest test yet this season when it faces Brunswick’s strong running game on Friday night.

“Nobody’s really wanted to hit us in the mouth yet,” Messalonskee interim head coach Chapin LaBelle said. “I’m kind of interested in seeing how we respond.”

Brunswick (4-1) running back Jared Jensen leads the state with close to 1,500 yards rushing.

“Brunswick’s pretty good up front (on the offensive line),” LaBelle said. “They seem to fire off the ball pretty well.”

Jake Stinson and Brandon Mullen lead Messalonskee’s defensive line with Chris Delisle leading the linebackers. A young secondary of sophomores Jake Dexter and Zach Mathieu, junior Devin Warren and senior Josh Woodard is improving each week, LaBelle said. Woodard has moved around the Messalonskee defense, playing safety and some outside linebacker.

“He’s had a lot of responsibility,” LaBelle said.

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Mt. View is 0-5, and even if the Mustangs win out, they would need some help to make the Little Ten Conference playoffs. But with games ahead against MCI, Washington and Ellsworth, the Mustangs could pick up some wins and end the season on a strong note.

“We’ve got the easiest part of our schedule coming,” coach Jack Brady said. “We have three games coming we can win.”

Mt. View’s final three opponents enter this week a combined 2-13 with both wins belonging to Washington.

The Mustangs graduated 14 seniors from last year’s six-win team that advanced to the LTC quarterfinals.

“We’re playing hard, but (losing) because we’re young,” Brady said. “We improved dramatically during the game on Saturday (a 53-20 loss to Hermon), so I’m hopeful.”

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Around the state: Foxcroft is rolling. The Ponies are 5-0 and have four consecutive shutouts. Foxcroft has outscored its opponents, 282-8. The Ponies will try to extend their shutout streak when they travel to Bangor to take on John Bapst, the Little Ten Conference’s other undefeated team… The tightest race in the state right now is for the top spot in the Campbell Conference Class B. Five teams — Westbrook, York, Marshwood, Wells and Greely — are tied for the best record in the league at 4-1. Westbrook and York are tied for first place in the Crabtree point standings. The Blue Blazes and Wildcats play on Friday at Westbrook.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com