WALES — Few opposing coaches in Campbell Conference Class D are more familiar with the Lisbon High School football team than Oak Hill head coach Stacen Doucette.

“Lisbon’s a part of me. I’m proud of that,” said Doucette, who played at Lisbon for four seasons and went on to coach there for 19 more. “Most of what I am as a coach is because of (Lisbon head) coach (Dick) Mynahan. He’s a great teacher, mentor, coach, person, colleague and friend.”

Oak Hill offensive lineman Austin Gaucher leaps for joy after Dalton Therrien scored the Raiders’ first touchdown during a Campbell Conference Class D semifinal game against Winthrop/Monmouth on Saturday in Wales. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

For as well as he knows the program, Doucette insists that both he and Mynahan — who got his 200th career win in the opening round of the playoffs against Boothbay — have changed since he left to take over the Raiders in 2012 and that his past knowledge will have little bearing on Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. Class D South championship game between the two teams in Wales.

Even still, it is hard to ignore the success Doucette has had at Oak Hill — particularly against his former team. In four seasons, Doucette has a 38-5 record and has never lost to Lisbon in seven games. While each instance has been closely contested, the Raiders have knocked the Greyhounds out of the postseason in each of the past three seasons — including a 7-6 win in the 2014 conference championship in Lisbon. The Greyhounds have not beaten the Raiders since a 24-14 win on Sept. 3, 2011.

“We’ve been blessed with some good athletes and we’ve won some close games,” Doucette said.

In each of the past two seasons when the Raiders and Greyhounds have met in the postseason the contest was decided by a single point, and Saturday’s game could very well be another classic.

“They’re tough. It’s nice to see Lisbon because … we’ve always had a rivalry with them since we were in like third grade,” Oak Hill junior Matthew Strout said. “It’s good to play them. It hits a lot closer to home than if we were playing someone we don’t know.”

The familiarity with the Greyhounds means Oak Hill knows exactly what its going up against, but that might not make it any easier. Lisbon had the stingiest defense in Class D South this season, allowing just under 10 points per game and also boasts one of the more diverse offenses in the conference.

Quarterback Tyler Halls is Lisbon’s most dynamic runner and it will be important for Oak Hill’s linebackers to take proper tackling angles to keep him from breaking containment on the outside. The Greyhounds also have big-play threats in Henry Adams, Tyrese Joseph and Shawn Grover, yet can also control the clock behind bruising running back Noah Francis.

Oak Hill has been equally — if not more — dangerous on offense, though. Quarterback Dalton Therrien is closing in on 2,000 total yards and has 28 combined touchdowns with just one turnover this season. When throwing, Connor Nilsson, Jonah Martin, Colby Spencer, Darryn Bailey and Steven Gilbert have each proven to be dangerous pass catchers.

Therrien is the home-run threat for Oak Hill in the running game, but the Raiders have a bevy of backs they can turn to depending on who has the hot hand. Levi Buteau and Cruz Poirier have gotten the bulk of the work in the backfield, while Gilbert, Martin and Brian Thorpe could each get touches as well.

Oak Hill has the edge in experience on the offensive and defensive lines — even if Brendon Tervo (leg injury) cannot to play — but the Greyhounds have size up front and have consistently developed throughout the season.

“We’re going to worry about the Raiders this weekend,” Doucette said. “Either way a great team from our conference is going to represent our conference in the state game.”

Evan Crawley — 621-5640

ecrawley@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @Evan_Crawley

Related Stories