CLASS B

FALMOUTH (7-0) at MESSALONSKEE (3-4)

Where: Veterans Field, Oakland

When: 7 tonight

Last week: Falmouth def. Lawrence 48-3; Messalonskee def. Mt. Blue 46-0

Last meeting: Messalonskee def. Falmouth 47-8 (2023, Week 1)

Impact players: Falmouth — Indi Backman (RB/LB), Gio Guerrette (WR/LB), Thomas Gale (OL/DL), Tres Walker (QB); Messalonskee — Tatum Doucette (QB/DB), Dawson Dingus (LB), Drake Brunelle (WR/DB), Denny Martin (TE/DL)

Outlook: Falmouth showed just how dangerous it can be in the blowout win over another top Class B North team in Lawrence. Now, the Navigators can close out an unbeaten regular season with a win over Messalonskee. It will take an effort like the Eagles got in the win over Mt. Blue and then some for Messalonskee to deny a Falmouth team that might be the most athletic in the state.

MT. BLUE (1-6) at CONY (4-3)

Where: Fuller Field, Augusta

When: 6 tonight

Last week: Mt. Blue lost to Messalonskee 46-0; Cony def. Gardiner 21-6

Last meeting: Cony def. Mt. Blue 53-6 (2023, Class B quarterfinals)

Impact players: Mt. Blue — Dane Cousineau (RB/LB), Joey Hayden (OL/DL); Sam Rackliff (OL/DL), Gary Harkins (QB/DB); Cony — Parker Morin (QB), Ethan Demmons (WR/DB), Bohdy King Jones (OL/DL), Anderson Noyes (RB/DB)

Outlook: It’s been a rollercoaster of a regular season for the Rams, who got back on track with a win over rival Gardiner last week. There’s still plenty of work to be done for Cony before the regular season ends, namely cleaning some of the penalties and turnovers. Cony gets the chance to do that and find some rhythm for the B North playoffs on Friday night. Mt. Blue has lost six in a row since a 33-6 victory over Brewer on Sept. 6, but an upset victory over Cony would give a much-needed momentum lift to the program as it wraps up the regular season.

 

CLASS C

NOKOMIS (3-4) at BREWER (1-6)

Where: Doyle Field, Brewer

When: 6 tonight

Last week: Nokomis def. Skowhegan 39-21; Brewer lost to Hampden Academy 28-22

Last meeting: Brewer def. Nokomis 19-8 (2023, Week 7)

Impact players: Nokomis — Seth Bowden (RB/LB), Landon Rowell (QB/LB), Jeff Carr (RB/DB), Kentin Snowman (OL/DL); Brewer — Caleb Colby (TE/DL), Ethan Leavitt (QB/DB), Jake Perry (WR/DB), Morgan Judkins (RB/LB)

Outlook: Nokomis has played some nice football in recent weeks, losing by a combined eight points on the road against strong Hermon and Foxcroft teams and beating Hampden and Skowhegan at home. The Witches played a good game themselves in last week’s loss to Hampden, but if the Warriors play to their potential, they should win here and finish the regular season .500.

CLASS D

GAME OF THE WEEK

WINTHROP (7-0) at WELLS (7-0)

Where: Warrior Memorial Field, Wells

When: 6:30 tonight

Last week: Winthrop def. Maranacook 51-0; Wells def. Fryeburg Academy 21-20

Last meeting: Wells def. Winthrop 35-6 (2023, Class D South championship game)

Impact players: Winthrop — Carter Rivers (RB), Cody Cobb (RB/LB), Hunter Reynolds (OL/DL), Ben Porter (WR/DB); Wells — Dom Buxton (RB), Eli Potter (RB/LB), Cody Haynes (OL/DL), Riley Murphy (WR/LB)

Outlook: Game of the week? Try game of the year, at least in central Maine and Class D. It’s an unbeaten showdown between the two top dogs in D South with the winner set to receive the No. 1 seed in the regional playoffs. Both teams have played one tight game this year — Wells a 21-20 win over Fryeburg Academy last week and Winthrop a 22-21 triumph over Oak Hill in Week 4 — but have won by three scores or more in their other contests.

Both teams get it done on the ground. For Winthrop, the duo of Rivers (113 carries, 966 yards, five touchdowns) and Cobb (102 carries, 644 yards, 15 touchdowns) lead a rushing attack that’s averaging more than four touchdowns per game. Wells has an equally productive set of backs in Buxton and Potter, who have also combined for more than 1,500 ground yards on the ground out of the Warriors’ famed Wing-T. Together, they had 355 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in Wells’ impressive 50-21 win over Oak Hill in Week 5.

Both defenses are formidable, too. Winthrop (9.9 points per game allowed) has totaled 61 tackles for loss over its first seven contests with Reynolds (14 TFL), Cobb (11), Brock Dewar (nine) and Conner Williams (seven) terrorizing opposing offenses. Haynes and Will Martinez led a strong defensive line for Wells (8.4 points per game allowed), which also has a solid linebacking corps in Potter and Alex Albright and a potent secondary headlined by Murphy and Elias Curley.

Winthrop wins if… it gets a defensive effort akin to those of the last two weeks and delivers on special teams. The Ramblers are undefeated right now because, in Week 4, they got a field goal from Robinson and blocked an Oak Hill extra point in the fourth quarter. That special teams unit will need to be efficient again tonight, as will a defense that had 10 tackles for loss against Mountain Valley in Week 6 and forced three turnovers last week against Maranacook.

Wells wins if… it starts out strong and can make a few plays through the air. Wells had to rally from a 13-point deficit to beat Fryeburg last week and was also in a tight battle against Oak Hill before pulling away, and the Warriors can’t afford to put themselves in such a position this time. Given Winthrop’s success against some top backs this year, quarterback Cal Moody could also be counted on to deliver some key throws in this potential regional final preview.

MADISON (2-5) at MARANACOOK (2-4)

Where: Ricky Gibson Field of Dreams, Readfield

When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Madison lost to MCI 13-12; Maranacook lost to Winthrop 51-0

Last meeting: Maranacook def. Madison 57-0 (2010, Week 6)

Impact players: Madison — Nathan Cornforth (TE/DL), Mason Courtney (OL/DL), Jacob Hilenski (RB/LB), Jayden Horton (QB/DB); Maranacook — Parker Rand (QB/K), Jack Crosby (RB/LB), Brayden Quinn (WR), Cam Griffey (OL/DL)

Outlook: Maranacook, currently eighth in Class D South, enters this game needing a win and some outside help to earn its way into the postseason. The first half of that equation will require the Black Bears to get their offense going after being shut out three straight games. Madison, though, did just lose handily to a Poland team Maranacook beat by four touchdowns, so the Black Bears have a shot to save their season.

 

WINSLOW (3-4) at OLD TOWN (3-4)

Where: Victory Field, Old Town

When: 7 tonight

Last week: Winslow def. Belfast 48-6; Old Town lost to Foxcroft 21-6

Last meeting: Winslow def. Old Town 25-7 (2023, Week 1)

Impact players: Winslow — Liem Fortin (RB/LB), Hassan Hobbi (RB/K), Tucker Pomerleau (QB), Seth Bard (OL/LB); Old Town — Elijah Alston (RB/DB), Brady Paradis (OL/DL), Ethan Closson (QB), J.P. Reinzo (RB/LB)

Outlook: This is a key game as the winner has a good chance to earn the No. 2 seed in Class D North. Both teams are potent on the ground with Fortin, Hobbi and Broddik Bimpson leading the way for the Black Raiders and Alston and Renzo doing so for the Coyotes. Closson is only a sophomore but has proven to be a dual-threat QB for Old Town, so Winslow must be able to contain him if it hopes to win.

 

MOUNTAIN VALLEY (2-5) at MAINE CENTRAL INSTITUTE (4-3)

Where: Alumni Field, Pittsfield

When: 7 tonight

Last week: Mountain Valley lost to Freeport 22-6; MCI def. Madison 13-12

Last meeting: No recent meeting between teams

Impact players: Mountain Valley — Owen Gaudette (LB/RB), Julien Byam (DL/TE), Wesley Baltrus (DL/OL); MCI — Drew Shorey (WR/DB), Caleb Kennedy (QB/DB), Oscar Keresey (OL/DL), Dom Rizza (OL/LB)

Outlook: The Huskies are finding their rhythm, winning their last two consecutive games. MCI has shown an ability to battle for its wins, particularly in the last two weeks, and now has a shot to finish with a winning record. Although the Huskies are currently fifth in Class D North, they could shoot up the standings with a win over a Mountain Valley team that’s struggled in its first season back in the 11-man ranks with just one win in its last five games.

 

CROSSOVER

HAMPDEN ACADEMY (4-3) at LAWRENCE (4-3)

Where: Keyes Field, Fairfield

When: 7 tonight

Last week: Hampden def. Brewer 28-22; Lawrence lost to Falmouth 48-3

Last meeting: Lawrence def. Hampden 55-7 (2019, Week 1)

Impact players: Hampden — Andy Henaghen (WR/LB), Gavin Monyok (QB), Kaysen Wildman (WR/LB), Brady Smith (LB); Lawrence — Michael Hamlin (QB), Colton Carter (RB/LB), Brady Richards (OL/DL), Dustan Hunter-Bellows (RB/DB)

Outlook: This is an interesting crossover matchup. Whether it’s Monyok or Nick Johnston under center, Hampden loves to air it out. That could be a test for a Lawrence secondary led by Hunter-Bellows and Keegan Littlefield. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, are a run-first team, though don’t be surprised if Hamlin goes to the air as he’s done plenty this year. Expect a fun battle in Fairfield.

 

GARDINER (3-4) at OCEANSIDE (4-3)

Where: Wasgatt Field, Rockland

When: 7 tonight

Last week: Cony def. Gardiner 21-6; Oceanside lost to Hermonm 31-6

Last meeting: Oceanside def. Gardiner 14-12 (2022, Week 6)

Impact players: Gardiner — Asher Nagy (QB), Kyle Doody (RB/DE), Owen Chadwick (RB/DB), Brayden Elliott (WR/DB); Oceanside — Maddox McMahan (OL/DL), Brady Proctor (OL/DL), Zeb Foster (WR/DB), Robert Blair (RB/DB)

Outlook: Both of these teams have secured playoff spots in their respective conferences but are hoping for some pre-playoff momentum. Gardiner’s defense has been a strength all season and forced multiple turnovers out of rival Cony last week. Its offense, however, has struggled and needs to find consistency. Oceanside, the defending C North champion, has an explosive offense, led by Foster, who has over 1,000 rushing yards. But the Mariners are also dealing with injuries, including Foster, and are hoping to get healthy before their playoff run.

 

HERMON (5-2) at SKOWHEGAN (2-5)

Where: Reginald Clark Field, Skowhegan

When: 7 tonight

Last week: Hermon def. Oceanside 31-6; Skowhegan lost to Nokomis 39-21

Last meeting: First-ever meeting between teams

Impact players: Hermon — Bruce Coulter (RB/DB), Richie Romesburg (OL/DL), Colvin Hamm (TE/LB), Jake Murzyn (OL/DL); Skowhegan — Jason Aubin (QB), Bryson Howard (RB/DL), Ayden Mulcahy (RB/LB), Miller Foss (WR/DL), Jaimeson Shanoski (OL/DL)

Outlook: Hermon, which reached the Class C North final in 2021 and 2022, has firmly entrenched itself as a top program. This season, the Hawks have gained their success in a ground-and-pound attack, highlighted by Coulter, who rushed for 120 yards last week against Oceanside. The River Hawks have found some offensive success in the last couple weeks, led by the hard running of Mulcahy and Aubin, who can make plays with his arm and his legs. Skowhegan needs to shore up its defense, however, and Friday night would be a good opportunity to do it.

 

8-MAN

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND (3-4) at WATERVILLE (0-7)

Where: Drummond Field, Waterville

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: MDI lost to Camden Hills 24-6; Waterville lost to Old Orchard Beach 44-22

Last meeting: MDI def. Waterville 36-16 (2023, Week 4)

Impact players: MDI — Jarron Biekert (WR), Cal Hodgdon (QB/DB), Nate Olson (RB/DL), Evan MacKenzie (RB/LB); Waterville — Donovan Porter (RB/LB), Liam Pelotte (OL/DL), Xander Kornsey (OL/DL), Damien Prindall (QB)

Outlook: Ever since they joined the eight-man ranks back in 2021, MDI and Waterville have had some awesome battles. The Purple Panthers are eliminated from playoff contention, but a win here would be a good way for a young team to end the season. MDI is battling for playoff positioning, though, and the Trojans are sure to play a quality game here with their backs against the wall.

 

ST. JOHN VALLEY (0-7) at MOUNT VIEW (0-7)

Where: Mount View High School, Thorndike

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: St. John Valley lost to Stearns 64-0; Mount View lost to Traip Academy 48-6

Last meeting: Mount View def. St. John Valley 58-8 (2022, Week 2)

Impact players: St. John Valley — Sam Johnson (QB/DB), Gavin Severe (WR/DL), Dawson Levesque (RB/DB); Mount View — Jayden Hasenbank (TE/DL), Kalyb Dodge (QB), Aaron Hartley (RB)

Outlook: Two young teams will meet Saturday as St. John Valley makes the 225-mile journey south for this battle of Mustangs. Mount View will look to use its first points of the season last week as a building block, while Valley aims to get back on the scoreboard after two shutouts in a row and a forfeit three weeks ago. Either way, one team will end its season victorious in Thorndike.

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