It is the halfway stage for the high school football season and teams will be looking to improve their position in the Crabtree standings.
Here are four North Division games to keep an eye on this weekend.
Foxcroft Academy (4-0) at Hermon (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
It is a battle of division leaders.
The Foxcroft Academy Ponies are where they usually are, atop the Class D North standings, while the Hermon Hawks are leading C North.
Foxcroft Academy has five D North championships over the past six seasons and two state titles.
The Ponies lost a heart-breaker, 22-21 to Wells in last year’s state final.
Foxcroft has outscored its four opponents 156-30 although it is coming off its closest game of the season, a 20-6 triumph over Mattanawcook Academy/Penobscot Valley/Lee.
All four of Hermon’s games have been decided by six points or less: wins over Medomak Valley of Waldoboro (14-8), Hampden Academy (22-21) and Nokomis of Newport (28-26) and a 35-34 loss to Messalonskee of Oakland.
Hermon, which has won seven of its last eight regular season games dating back to last season, will be looking to avenge a 48-0 loss to Foxcroft Academy last season.
Medomak Valley (3-1) at Oceanside (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
These two neighbors and arch-rivals are separated by just 4.2 miles.
This will be an intriguing battle between Oceanside of Rockland’s high-powered offense, averaging 34.75 points per game, against Medomak Valley of Waldoboro’s stout defense, which has surrendered only 8.25 points per game.
Oceanside has scored at least 33 points in its three victories and its only setback was a 30-14 loss to D powerhouse Foxcroft Academy.
The most points given up in a game by Medomak Valley is 14 in a 14-8 loss to Hermon.
Oceanside has had problems keeping opponents out of the end zone, allowing 97 points in its last three contests.
Oceanside is second in the C North standings entering the game and Medomak Valley is close behind in third.
Their last two regular season meetings have been thrillers with Oceanside winning at home 36-30 last season and Medomak Valley earning a 35-32 home win in 2022.
Houlton/Hodgdon/So. Aroostook/GHCA (4-0) at Stearns/Schenck (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
This game features the top two teams in the 8-man Small North class.
Number one Houlton/Hodgdon/SA/GHCA has averaged 56.25 points per game while Stearns/Schenck has held three of its four opponents to eight points or less.
Stearns/Schenck gave up 42 points in its only loss to 8-man Large South class contender Greely of Cumberland Center (42-40).
But Stearns/Schenck bounced back from the loss with an impressive 34-8 road win over defending state 8-man Small state titlist Orono.
The teams have one common opponent.
Stearns/Schenck beat Bucksport 60-8 and Houlton/Hodgdon/SA/GHCA bested the Bucks 54-30.
Stearns/Schenck has won the last two meetings: 62-28 last year and 56-52 in 2022.
Bangor (1-3) at Windham (0-4), Saturday, noon
Bangor picked up an important road win over Class B North Lawrence of Fairfield, 33-24, last weekend after suffering a last-second 10-7 loss to Lewiston the previous week.
Windham’s record is misleading because the Eagles have lost to four Class A teams who possess a combined record of 14-2.
The teams have two common opponents.
Bangor lost to Thornton Academy of Saco 42-0 and to South Portland 42-26 while Windham lost to TA 54-14 and to South Portland 41-20.
Bangor went 4-5 a year ago and missed the A North playoffs while Windham went 5-4 and was the third seed before losing to No. 2 Oxford Hills of South Paris 6-0 in the A North semifinals.
Windham posted a 35-6 home win over Bangor in their regular season match-up last season.
