There is no shortage of exciting Maine high school football matchups on the schedule for this weekend, with five games in particular standing out here in the northern part of the state.
Playoff season got underway last week for some of Maine’s teams, but many of the top squads had bye weeks during the first round, and Class A squads still had one last regular season game to round out their schedule. Now it’s all playoffs all around the state, and that means a bunch of marquee matchups for Bangor-area teams.
Game of the week: Hermon vs. Nokomis
The only blemish on the 7-1 Hermon Hawks record so far was a 12-7 loss two weeks ago to Leavitt. A questionable call stood out as a pivotal moment in that game, but the Hawks weren’t making any excuses. Coach Kyle Gallant said last week that the loss has only made his team hungrier as they get set for another game against the strong Nokomis team from Newport.
Hermon edged out Nokomis 27-20 in their previous matchup this season on Oct. 17, and Gallant said the 5-3 Warriors have “one of the best backfields in Class C.” His Hawks will host that potent run offense at Pottle Field in Hermon at 6 p.m. Friday.
Expect the place to be packed Friday night for the battle between Class C’s No. 3 and No. 6 ranked teams.
Stearns/Schenck look to defend North title
The cooperative 8-man small school team from Stearns High School of Millinocket and Schenck High School of East Millinocket has been the team to beat in the North regional both this year and last. The returning regional champs finished at the top of the regular season standings, and continued to roll last Friday night with a comfortable 44-0 win over Bucksport.
But the Dexter Tigers and senior quarterback Bryce Cooper will look to make things much less comfortable for Stearns/Schenck this Friday night. Cooper put up a staggering five rushing touchdowns last week against a solid Orono team, and the Stearns/Schenck team will look to slow Cooper down as it fights for another chance at a state title.
The 7-2 Stearns/Schenck squad will host the 6-3 Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday in Millinocket.
John Bapst tries to stay perfect
The Crusaders from John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor have been on a memorable run so far this season in Class D North, heading into the playoffs with a perfect 8-0 record after mounting a gritty comeback against Class C team Hampden Academy to close out the regular season two weeks ago.
Coming off a first round bye, the Crusaders are now matched up once again with Maranacook of Readfield. John Bapst previously beat the Black Bears 47-20 on Oct. 4.
The 3-6 Maranacook team beat the cooperative team from Mattanawcook Academy, Lee Academy and Penobscot Valley High School in the first round of the playoffs, and will travel to Bangor on Saturday to play John Bapst at Cameron Stadium at 7 p.m.
Bangor needs to flip the script
Friday night might feel like Groundhog Day for the Bangor Rams and Oxford Hills Vikings.
The two Class A North teams played each other last Friday night in South Paris, and they’ll be right back there again this Friday night for a rematch.
The No. 3 Bangor Rams will need to flip the script on the No. 2 Vikings, after Oxford Hills delivered a 34-7 drubbing last week.
Both teams enter the Class A North quarterfinal matchup at 5-4.
Camden vs. MDI
The Camden Hills Windjammers look to keep rolling in 8-man large school football, facing off once again with the Mount Desert Island Trojans.
The 8-1 Camden team is ranked first in the 8-man large school North region, and head into the North title game on the heels of a 47-0 win over Waterville. The Windjammers beat MDI earlier in the season by a score of 34-22.
MDI is 4-5 after a first round playoff victory over the Houlton cooperative team that the Trojans won 46-8. Camden will host the game against MDI at 12 p.m. Saturday.
