CLASS B NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 3 LAWRENCE (7-3) vs. No. 1 FALMOUTH (9-0)
Where: Fuller Field, Augusta
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Last week: Lawrence def. Cony 28-18; Falmouth def. Messalonskee 51-7
Last meeting: Falmouth def. Lawrence 48-3 (Week 7)
Impact players: Lawrence — Michael Hamlin (QB), Colton Carter (RB/LB), Brady Richards (OL/DL), Preston Roy (RB/LB); Falmouth — Indi Backman (RB/LB), Gio Guerrette (WR/LB), Thomas Gale (OL/DL), Tres Walker (QB)
Outlook: The Class B North title game pits the defending regional champs against the team that’s been the toast of the league all season. Lawrence’s offense is finally heating up with Carter rushing for 703 yards in the past three games alone. An offensive line that’s gotten into its groove as the season has progressed has helped Carter, Roy and the rest of the Bulldogs’ rushing attack reach an elite phase. Falmouth, though, breezed past Lawrence three weeks ago behind four touchdown passes from Walker and 146 rushing yards and two scores by Backman. The Navigators have athleticism in brothers Gio and Joey Guerette, physicality in Gale and both in Backman, who might be the favorite to win Class B North Player of the Year. Don’t expect another 45-point difference in this one, but Falmouth is still the clear favorite to take down the Bulldogs and bring home the first regional championship in program history.
CLASS D NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 2 WINSLOW (6-4) vs. No. 1 FOXCROFT (10-0)
Where: Weatherbee Complex, Hampden
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Last week: Winslow def. John Bapst 56-34; Foxcroft def. Old Town 29-0
Last meeting: Foxcroft def. Winslow 35-3 (Week 3)
Impact players: Winslow — Liem Fortin (RB/LB), Hassan Hobbi (RB/K), Tucker Pomerleau (QB), Seth Bard (OL/LB); Foxcroft — Silas Topolski (WR/DB), Finn Holmes (RB/LB), Thomas Day (OL/LB), Landon Smith (RB/LB)
Outlook: To the average fan, the Class D North final looks like, potentially, the most lopsided title game of the weekend but that would be misguided. During the regular season, it looked like the Ponies would run away with the regional title. They won at Winslow, 35-3, in Week 3. Though undefeated, the Ponies have not been as dominant as in previous seasons. Foxcroft still has the ability to attack on the ground and through the air, averaging 32.7 points per game. On the flip side, this is not the same Winslow team from earlier this season, especially on offense. The offensive line has been changed around, and it appears the Black Raiders have finally found their best group with Zane Erickson at tackle, Bard at guard and Jacob Garcia at tight end. It showed in the win over John Bapst as Fortin (331 yards) and Hobbi (207 yards) rushed for a combined 538 yards and four touchdowns. Winslow wanted wanted this rematch, and it will take the game of the season to get to the Class D title game.
CLASS D SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 2 WINTHROP (8-1) at No. 1 WELLS (9-0)
GAME OF THE WEEK
Where: Warrior Memorial Field, Wells
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Winthrop def. Dirigo 36-6; Wells def. Oak Hill 55-14
Last meeting: Wells def. Winthrop 30-13 (Week 8)
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), Cal Moody (QB)
Outlook: From the jump, it’s seemed as if Winthrop and Wells, who entered 2024 with high expectations, have been destined to meet each other in the Class D South championship game. The two teams were undefeated prior to their Week 8 showdown in Wells, and three weeks later, the Ramblers and Warriors meet again in the same place with a Southern Maine title and trip to the Class D state final on the line.
Winthrop has had ample time to think about its loss in the regular-season finale, and on Friday, the Ramblers looked like a team on a mission in the 30-point win over a Dirigo squad that had won eight straight games. Cobb and Rivers, who combined for 355 yards and five scores on the ground against the Cougars, will be counted on as much as they’ve been all season in the regional title game. Cobb, Reynolds and Porter are all key to Winthrop’s defense, which welcomed back a key piece last week as defensive tackle Barrett Perkins returned after missing the regular season recovering from a torn ACL.
Yet Wells is still Wells, and the defending Class D champs are as reliable as running water. Like Winthrop, the Warriors also had best performances of the season last week, beating Oak Hill in the regional semifinal. Wells’ offense is firing on all cylinders with Moody leading a potent passing game. The Warriors two-headed monster of Buxton and Potter at running back rivals the Ramblers’ combo of Cobb and Rivers. The Warriors have been no less impressive defensively, allowing fewer than 10 points per game and keeping strong offenses such as Winthrop, Oak Hill and Fryeburg Academy from lighting up the scoreboard.
Winthrop wins if… its pass defense shows improvement and its run defense gets going. The Ramblers defended the run well in the regular-season finale against Wells, but they were gashed through the air as Moody passed for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The return of Perkins in the interior could create some more opportunities for Winthrop’s pass rush Friday, which would help that cause. On the other side of the ball, Cobb and Rivers combined for just 76 yards in the Week 8 loss to the Warriors, something the Ramblers can’t afford to have happen again.
Wells wins if… it gets the ball into the hands of its playmakers and avoids turnovers. Don’t let the Warriors’ classic Wing-T look fool you. This is a team that’s not afraid to mix it up to get the ball to players such as Buxton, Potter and Dom Carbonneau in space, something it did well against Oak Hill. Ball security will also be important for Wells as it was a Winthrop touchdown on a fumble recovery that prevented the Warriors from potentially turning the Week 8 meeting into a complete blowout. A Wells team that does those two things likely repeats in Class D South.