It’s week two of the regular season for Maine high school football teams, and Friday night’s schedule is packed with marquee matchups for teams in the Bangor area.
While the season is just getting started, these games could provide early tests for several local programs as they go head-to-head with talented competition.
Hermon vs. Wells
The Hawks went farther than any Hermon team before them last year, falling to Fryeburg Academy in the Class C state championship. And they started this campaign off right with a 26-6 win over Foxcroft Academy in last week’s season opener.
Hermon will host its first home game at 6 p.m. Friday night against reigning Class D state champion Wells, which didn’t lose a single game last year and took Nokomis down 32-12 last week.
“I think any football program that wants to do things right and wants to be in the top of the league — top of the state — has to play the best teams,” Hermon coach Kyle Gallant said Thursday. “And we certainly want to do that.”
Gallant credited Wells for their preparation and discipline.
“So you have to play equally disciplined football against them,” Gallant said. “You have to trust the guy next to you that they’re gonna do their job. That way you can do yours.”
Gallant was hesitant to highlight any particular players who could prove pivotal for the Hawks, stressing that it will require a team effort.
“We have 50-some-odd guys on the roster, and every single person plays a role,” Gallant said. “And whether it be practice, game day or off-field stuff, everybody matters.”
Orono vs. Stearns
The Orono Red Riots get to start their 8-man small school season off against the two best teams from last year, and coach Bob Sinclair wouldn’t have it any other way.
After falling to returning champion Old Orchard Beach last week 60-18, the Red Riots get Stearns of Millinocket, last year’s runner up.
“Actually we were pleased with the schedule,” Sinclair said. “We figured that we’d find out where we were early. Both teams are very good teams.”
Sinclair said Orono and Stearns know each other well, calling the visiting minutemen a “very solid program” with some speed on the roster. And he stressed that there is a lot of respect between the two teams.
“They’ll be well coached,” Sinclair said. “They like to run the option. We’ll have our hands full tomorrow night for sure.”
Old Town vs. Gardiner
Friday night will also be the home opener for the Old Town Coyotes, who are looking to rebound after a close 30-28 loss at Medomak Valley last week.
It will also be the first home game under the leadership of new head coach David Gross, and it pits the Coyotes against 1-0 Gardiner. The Tigers ran away from Oceanside 1-0 in their season opener last week.
Gross, a former UMaine lineman, has made nonstop effort a centerpiece to the new culture he’s building in Old Town.
“We keep telling the kids, ‘You play football this way because you love it,’” Gross said during a preseason practice. “Football is a short period of your life. You only get four years to play high school football. So if you’re on the field for us, you’ve got to be full speed.”
Old Town and Gardiner face off at 7 p.m.
Bangor at Thornton Academy
The biggest test on this list might also be the farthest away from the Bangor area. The Bangor Rams are headed south to Saco to face perennial powerhouse Thornton Academy.
Neither team has given up any points so far this season. Thornton took down Scarborough 44-0 last week, and Bangor shutout Deering 21-0 at home last Friday night.
Quarterback and Linebacker Kyle Johnson leads the way on both sides of the ball for Bangor, and head coach Dave Morris said the Rams are approaching Friday like any other game while bringing a healthy respect for last year’s state runner-up Trojans.
“Well, obviously you respect what Thornton’s done. I mean, they’ve got a good program,” Morris said earlier this week.“Their record speaks for itself.”
Bangor made it to last year’s Class A North regional title game before falling to eventual state champ Portland.
Friday night’s game in Saco starts at 7 p.m.
