CLASS B NORTH PLAYOFFS

No. 3 LAWRENCE (6-3) at No. 2 CONY (5-3)

GAME OF THE WEEK

Where: Fuller Field

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Lawrence def. Skowhegan 42-13; Cony IDLE (def. Mt. Blue 47-21 in Week 8)

Last meeting: Cony def. Lawrence 42-21 (Week 2)

Impact players: Lawrence — Michael Hamlin (QB), Colton Carter (RB/LB), Brady Richards (OL/DL), Preston Roy (RB/LB); Cony — Parker Morin (QB), Ethan Demmons (WR/DB), Bohdy King Jones (OL/DL), Anderson Noyes (RB/DB)

Outlook: Does high school football in central Maine football get much better than a playoff game between Lawrence and Cony? It’s the third postseason meeting in four years between the Bulldogs and Rams, who also met in last year’s Class B North championship game as well as the 2021 regional semis. Lawrence won both encounters, and now, the Rams are hoping they can overcome the Bulldogs in November.

Cony knows it can beat this Lawrence team — after all, the Rams did so in the Week 2 win as Morin threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns in the three-score win. It was a game that saw the Rams flip the script from last year’s regional final as they also improved in run defense against a Bulldogs team that steamrolled them on the ground last year. Cony, which is well rested off the bye after winning its final two regular-season games, is 4-1 against the rest of the Pine Tree Conference this year with the only loss coming in a Week 3 loss to Falmouth.

Lawrence, though, might finally be hitting its stride. The Bulldogs rushed for 372 yards in the regional quarterfinal win over Skowhegan after going for 499 on the ground against Hampden Academy in the regular-season finale. Carter has put up gaudy numbers in the backfield for Lawrence, and although the Bulldogs have missed the injured Dustan Hunter-Bellows’ versatility, Roy has kept the ground attack versatile. Lawrence is big in the trenches, and although its offensive line still might not be as strong as last year’s unit, it appears to be jelling at the right time.

Lawrence wins if… its secondary steps up and it wins the battle in the trenches. Hunter-Bellows presence in the Lawrence secondary is thoroughly missed, meaning players such as Keegan Littlefield and Leighton Bradford will be counted on to stop Cony’s passing attack. Up front, Lawrence’s offensive line must continue its late-season progress, while its defensive line must pressure Morin and not allow the Rams’ passing attack to develop.

Cony wins if… it can gash Lawrence for big yardage through the air. Morin’s success in the passing game doomed the Bulldogs in the Week 2 meeting, and as Lawrence showed in giving up 340 yards and five touchdowns through the air in the loss to Hampden two weeks ago. If Cony beats the Bulldogs to return to the Class B North championship game, that victory could look a lot like the win they had in the matchup early in the season.

 

No. 4 MESSALONSKEE (4-5) at No. 1 FALMOUTH (8-0)

Where: Falmouth Stadium Field, Falmouth

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday

Last week: Messalonskee def. Gardiner 27-6; Falmouth IDLE (def. Messalonskee 31-14 in Week 8)

Last meeting: Falmouth def. Messalonskee 31-14 (Week 8)

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

Outlook: Two teams that met two weeks ago battle again with a regional title game berth on the line. Although the Navigators won the first contest by more than two touchdowns, the score was deceiving as the Eagles trailed just 17-14 entering the fourth quarter. Falmouth has had a stunning turnaround, going undefeated in the regular season for the first time in its history a year after going 2-6. The Navs will hit the Messalonskee defense hard with a run game led by Backman, a potential Fitzpatrick Trophy candidate. But the Navs can also throw; Walker has a strong arm and threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns on Messalonskee in Week 8. As for Messo, its offense will go as far as Doucette takes it. The junior can make plays with his arm and his feet, something he showed in accounting for 300 total yards and four touchdowns against Gardiner. Cusano and Brunelle are top threats for the Eagles in the receiving game. Whichever team brings its defense on Friday night will advance to the regional final.

 

CLASS C NORTH PLAYOFFS

No. 3 NOKOMIS (5-4) at No. 2 MEDOMAK VALLEY (6-2)

Where: Medomak Valley High School, Waldoboro

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Nokomis def. Brewer 26-8; Medomak Valley IDLE (def. Belfast 58-6 in Week 8)

Last meeting: Medomak Valley def. Nokomis 32-6 (Week 2)

Impact players: Nokomis — Seth Bowden (RB/LB), Stephone Ross (RG/LB), Jeff Carr (RB/DB), Kentin Snowman (OL/DL); Medomak Valley — Jaydiin Ruiz (RB/LB), Shamus Pease (RB/LB), Porter Gahagan (RB/DL), Gabe Lash (WR/DB)

Outlook: Both of these teams have exceeded expectations this year, setting up an interesting semifinal showdown. Despite being only a freshman, Ruiz has emerged as one of Class C’s best players, gashing foes for big yardage on the ground. Defenses being forced to account for Ruiz and Pease frequently sets up the Panthers to spring a big pass play to Lash à la their Week 3 win at Nokomis, though Lash himself has also been incorporated into the rushing game as of late. Nokomis, on the other hand, has dominated on the ground through Bowden the past two weeks and has been plus-nine in the turnover department over the past three. The Warriors will need those trends to continue if they want to knock off Medomak and play for a regional title.

 

CLASS D NORTH PLAYOFFS

No. 3 JOHN BAPST (5-4) at N0. 2 WINSLOW (5-4)

Where: Poulin Field, Winslow

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: John Bapst def. Mattanawcook Academy 27-12; Winslow def. Madison 44-18

Last meeting: John Bapst def. Winslow 35-21 (Week 5)

Impact players: John Bapst — Aiden Ouellette (QB/DB), Malcolm Butler (HB/LB), Thomas Curtis (RB/LB); Winslow — Hassan Hobbi (RB/K), Tucker Pomerleau (QB), Liem Fortin (RB/LB), Seth Bard (OL/LB)

Outlook: After a tough midseason stretch, Winslow enters the playoff on a three-game winning streak. In those three victories, the Black Raiders have outscored opponents by a 126-30 margin. There’s no secret to Winslow’s offense; the Black Raiders will try to pound the ball with their rushing attack over and over again, looking for long, sustained drives to help knock time off the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of the John Bapst offense. As for the Crusaders, they’ve now won five out of their past seven games after starting 0-2. John Bapst attacks with a triple-option offense, one that has averaged 28 points per game this season. Ouellette, in his third year as a starter, is a seasoned quarterback. Winslow will have to play smart, disciplined, physical defense to win and advance to the D North title game.

 

CLASS D SOUTH PLAYOFFS

No. 5 OAK HILL (6-3) at No. 1 WELLS (8-0)

Where: Warrior Memorial Field, Wells

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday

Last week: Oak Hill def. Freeport 22-21; Wells IDLE (def. Winthrop 30-13 in Week 8)

Last meeting: Wells def. Oak Hill 50-21 (Week 5)

Impact players: Oak Hill — Forrest St. Laurent (OL/DL), Kaiden Delano (RB/LB), Braden Dubuc (QB), P.J. Smith (WR/DB); Wells — Dom Buxton (RB), Eli Potter (RB/LB), Cody Haynes (OL/DL), Cal Moody (QB/LB)

Outlook: Both of these teams were predicted to be among Class D South’s best at the beginning of the season, so it’s no surprise to see them facing off in the regional semis. The margin of Wells’ win over Oak Hill in Week 5 is a bit misleading as it was a one-score game before the Warriors pulled away in the second half. Still, the Warriors are favorites not only here but in all of Class D, especially with Moody finding his groove at quarterback. Oak Hill has the weapons to challenge Wells’ defense with Dubuc and receivers Smith and Nate Dillman in the passing game and Delano in the running game, but it will still take a monumental effort from the Raiders on defense to pull the upset down south and end the Warriors’ reign in the smallest 11-man class.

 

No. 3 DIRIGO (7-1) at No. 2 WINTHROP (7-1)

Where: Charlie’s Field, Winthrop

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Dirigo def. Mountain Valley 32-6; Winthrop IDLE (lost to Wells 30-13 in Week 8)

Last meeting: Winthrop def. Dirigo 38-8 (2016, Class D South semifinals)

Impact players: Dirigo — Hudson Lufkin (QB), Dakota White (TE/DL), Nathaniel Wainwright (WR), Trevor Crosby (WR/DB); Winthrop — Carter Rivers (RB), Cody Cobb (RB/LB), Hunter Reynolds (OL/DL), Ben Porter (WR/DB)

Outlook: The two best teams in Class D South not named Wells meet for the first time this season. The Cougars have arguably been the best team to make the jump from eight-man football to 11-man, having won seven straight since falling 27-26 to Freeport in the season opener. Led by Lufkin, who can make plays with his arm and his feet, Dirigo’s offense is averaging 32.4 points per game. Winthrop, meanwhile, has had a week off to recover after the loss to Wells in the regular-season finale. The Ramblers have had a steady offensive attack all season, hitting foes with the rushing duo of Rivers and Cobb. Winthrop’s offensive line has repeatedly shown to open holes in the run game all season, while its defensive line has shown an ability to pressure quarterbacks. The more physical team here will likely move onto the regional final.