AUGUSTA — Two teams with contrasting styles will meet tonight with similar objectives: To make a statement in the Pine Tree Conference Class B.

Brunswick (2-0) will host Cony (2-0) at Crimmins Field tonight in a game that could have big playoff implications.

It’s also a game that will feature two offenses that are putting up big numbers in different ways.

“It’s going to be the throwing Rams against the running Dragons,” Brunswick coach Dan Cooper said. “Cony is still that team that is going to be in our way to where we want to go. We’re different, no doubt about it.”

Different, but equally dominant through two weeks.

Cony, led by senior quarterback Ben Lucas, has scored 100 points after lopsided victories over Brewer and Messalonskee. Brunswick, meanwhile, has out-scored its opposition 101-2 in two games.

“It should be a great game,” Cony coach Robby Vachon said. “If we can stop their run, it will put pressure on them to stop our pass.”

It should be the first time this season that both teams will need their starters in the second half. Blowouts have prompted Vachon and Cooper to pull their starters early in each of the first two games.

“We’ve had some good competition but we haven’t played a full game with these guys yet,” Cooper said.

Cony beat Brunswick twice last season. The Rams won 34-7 in the regular season in Brunswick, then beat the Dragons 22-21 in the PTC A semifinals in Augusta.

The Rams expect to face a motivated Brunswick team this time around.

“It’s a different feeling having teams targeting you,” Lucas said. “But it’s a good feeling. This is our first real test of the season. We can’t wait.”

Lucas has completed 28 of 45 passes for 573 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He’s spread the ball around to an abundance of receivers, although Jonathan Saban and Tayler Carrier are his primary targets.

Reid Shostak has rushed for five touchdowns in his new role as running back, but the Rams will go as far as their passing game takes them this fall.

“They have a lot of weapons,” Cooper said. “Lucas can throw the ball 70 yards in the air or something, so that is hard to defend. But we feel we are more athletic in the secondary this year than what we were last year. We’re going to have to make some pays.

“We’ll have to knock down some passes. We have to make it that if (Lucas) is going to beat us he’ll need to make some big plays. However, we still haven’t been tested. The jury is still out, I guess. We’ll find out (tonight).”

The Dragons counter with a bruising ground game, led by Lucas McCue and 6-foot-2, 240-pound fullback Alex Bandouveres.

The two are sharing the carries and Cooper says that will continue tonight. The Dragons also return their entire offensive line, making their ground game all the more difficult to contain.

“They’re tough,” Vachon said. “We haven’t seen anybody like them yet. We know how good of a football team Brunswick is.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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