The high school football season reaches the midseason mark for many teams, and with that comes an array of questions.

Is unbeaten Gardiner for real in Class C, especially after last week’s win over Wells? Is Class D South heading toward a two-team race? Oh, and what is going on in the eight-man Large South division?

Here’s a look at five storylines heading into Week 4 …

Class A South unbeatens meet

There are three unbeaten teams in Class A South, but that will change after Noble (3-0) visits Bonny Eagle (3-0) on Friday night.

The Knights, ranked seventh in the Varsity Maine football poll, have fought hard to win each week, including a 17-14 nail-biter over Massabesic last Friday in Waterboro.

Noble’s 6-foot-5 junior quarterback, Mark Lapointe, and senior running back Logan Duquette lead the way offensively. Defensively, the Knights are led by junior linebacker Carter Ouellette and senior defensive back Jackson Mulligan.

Meanwhile, the second-ranked Scots have been on a roll, averaging 39 points a game, while allowing just four points per game. Senior running back Colby McCormack (36 carries, 329 yards, 3 TDs) and senior wide receiver Drew Gervais (6 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TDs) have stood out.

Bangor heads south for Class A North battle

The Rams (2-1) have an excellent opportunity to claim a stake at the top of the Class A North standings when they travel to Fitzpatrick Stadium to face top-ranked Portland (3-0) on Friday night (6 p.m.).

Bangor, led by quarterback Kyle Johnson and running back Zac Cota, is coming off a 42-0 victory over Lawrence in a Class A/B crossover game.

After battling Oxford Hills and Windham in their first two weeks, the Bulldogs rolled to a 34-0 victory over Deering. Senior quarterback and University of Maine commit Cordell Jones has rushed for 385 yards on 57 carries, with eight touchdowns. He’s also 19 of 31 passing for 232 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Alex Martin (36 carries, 246 yards) has also contributed for Portland.

Is Gardiner for real?

The Tigers have enjoyed some early season success during the last five seasons, but this campaign feels a bit different. Gardiner, which is playing in honor of longtime head coach John Wolfgram, who died in early August, has jumped out to a 3-0 start for the first time in 13 years.

One of those victories last week’s 28-26 overtime win over perennial powerhouse Wells. The Tigers will play at Brewer on Friday night.

The Tigers are greeted by one of Wolfgram’s favorite sayings, “Championship level,” on a banner near one of the end zones at Hoch Field.

The schedule does not get easier for the Tigers, who are tied for 10th in the Varsity Maine poll. They still have games remaining against Medomak Valley (2-1), Leavitt (1-1) and Foxcroft Academy (2-1). And, of course, there’s the annual Class B/C crossover against rival Cony (3-0) in the regular-season finale on Oct. 24.

Race for Class D South supremacy

Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale (3-0) travels to Dixfield to play Dirigo (3-0) on Friday night in the Varsity Maine game of the week. Though several teams are in the mix in Class D South, including Poland (2-1), Freeport (2-1) and Oak Hill (1-2), the Ramblers and Cougars are starting to pull away.

Both teams are strong and physical on both sides of the ball. The Cougars are led by junior quarterback Hudson Lufkin, who has put up video game-esque numbers in his first three games. He’s rushed for 601 yards on 45 carries, with five touchdowns. He’s also completed 33 of his 55 passes for 450 yards and 11 touchdowns, but with six interceptions.

Lufkin suffered a knee injury during Dirigo’s 26-22 win over Oak Hill last week, and head coach Joshua Newhall said his status for Friday’s game is questionable.

Winthrop will attack the Cougars with the running back combo of Carter Rand (36 carries, 264 yards, 4 TDs) and Ross Fichthorn (39 carries, 254 yards, 4 TDs). On defense, the Ramblers are led by linebacker Brock Dewar (24 tackles, 1.5 sacks).

Eight-man Large South wide open

Lake Region (3-0) is the only undefeated team remaining in eight-man Large South. The next four teams — Gray-New Gloucester, Mt. Ararat, Yarmouth and Spruce Mountain — are 2-1.

The Lakers are averaging 44 points per game while allowing 18 points per game. They rolled to a 46-26 win over Cape Elizabeth last weekend.

Lake Region travels to Yarmouth on Friday night, while Mt. Ararat visits Mount Desert Island and Spruce Mountain plays at Gray-NG.