Another high school football season in Maine is upon us, and for the most ardent fans across the state, the first Friday night feels like Christmas morning: So much anticipation, so much joy.
Everything is new and shiny.
In the spirit of Christmas, let’s look at 12 games this season — one per week — that could help
On the first week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Winthrop/Monmouth at Lisbon
This is a run-down-the-stairs at the break of dawn kind of game. Two teams that have been labeled the favorites by other Class D South coaches face off in the first week of the season. This game could determine homefield advantage in the playoffs, even if the postseason is seven weeks away.
These are two of the more veteran teams in the conference, and the Ramblers bring back nearly everybody. Included in that is three-year starter at quarterback Matt Ingram. The senior signal-caller has a firm grasp on coach Dave St. Hilaire’s system, and he has weapons abound to get the ball to.
The Greyhounds have a veteran senior quarterback of their own, in Tyler Halls. The dual-threat QB might be the most electrifying player in the conference. And Lisbon is always a punishing team on both sides of the ball under coach Dick Mynahan.
Lisbon gets the advantage of playing on their home field on a Saturday afternoon. But a win for the Ramblers could mean a second meeting at their place in November.
Also on the nice list: Westbrook at Leavitt
On the second week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Oxford Hills/Buckfield at Lewiston
A state title may be a long stretch for these two programs, but the matchup between these two teams last year was a battle of wills that was scoreless heading into overtime. The Blue Devils then scored the only points in an 8-0 road win.
Only one team in Class A North will miss out on the playoffs. The winner of this game will put themselves in good position to not be that team. Both the Blue Devils and Vikings feel they have improved from last year, and a win in this week two matchup will give either one of them a stress-reducer early in the season.
Also on the nice list: Mt. Blue at Brewer
On the third week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Lawrence at Mt. Blue
A rebuilt Mt. Blue team will find tough sledding early in its season. After opening on the road at Cony and Brewer — the teams just below and just above them in the standings last year — the Cougars finally get to play at home in week three. But it doesn’t get any easier, having to face a Lawrence squad that is seemingly always a tough out.
Coach Jim Aylward is hoping his inexperienced players will grow as the season wears on — with two of the toughest games to end the regular season — and a game against a quality opponent to start the home slate wil be a good gauge of that.
The Cougars like what they have on defense, and they might have to defend their home well to earn a ‘W’ and get off to a winning start to the season.
Also on the nice list: Spruce Mountain at Cape Elizabeth
On the fourth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us ...
Spruce Mtn. at Gray-NG
This is the game on last year’s schedule that the Patriots’ out-of-nowhere 3-0 start came to an end. With a thud. The Phoenix held serve on their home field for a 48-16 win.
This year’s game will be at Gray, and if the Patriots want to avoid going backwards from last season they will need to be competitive with teams of Spruce Mountain’s caliber. The Phoenix play two of their toughest games on paper (Wells, at Cape Elizabeth) in the first three weeks. They would like to beat Gray-NG again to avoid falling behind in the Class C South standings.
Also on the nice list: Lewiston at Bangor
On the fifth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us ...
Cape Elizabeth at Mountain Valley
Remember “The Rivals”? A rivalry is at its best when both teams are competitive. Mountain Valley is coming off a string a down years by its program’s lofty standards, but the Falcons think they could return to glory this year.
The Capers are already at the level that Mountain Valley is trying to get back to. Cape Elizabeth was one of the top teams in Class C South last year, and things shouldn’t change this year.
The Falcons seemingly have more to prove in this matchup, but a trip to Chet Bulger Field is never an easy task for any opponent.
Also on the nice list: Oak Hill at Winthrop/Monmouth
On the sixth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Oak Hill at Lisbon
How about a rematch of the last two Class D South regional finals on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend?
The way these two programs churn out talent, it could be a preview of a third straight regional final.
There’s the Dick Mynahan-Stacen Doucette, teacher/apprentice storyline, a short 20-minute drive between the two schools.
And, oh yeah, they’re both perennially good football teams that play good defense and run over and around opposing teams on offense.
What better way to spend the holiday weekend?
Also on the nice list: Greely at Leavitt
On the seventh week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Leavitt at Spruce Mountain
This budding rivalry matchup may be a bigger game for the Phoenix, who get to play up a class for a week, but the Hornets won’t want to lose it either. A young Leavitt squad needs all the wins it can get in a tough Class B South, and picking up Crabtree points from a potentially good Class C South team won’t hurt either.
Both teams should know their identity by the regular season’s penultimate week, and any areas of weakness earlier in the season should be strengthened.
Expect a plethora of points to be scored.
Also on the nice list: Mt. Blue at Brunswick, Oak Hill at Dirigo
On the eighth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Edward Little at Lewiston
It doesn’t matter where these teams are in the standings. This longtime rivalry is always a big game.
But where they are in the standings could matter, and a win for either the Red Eddies or Blue Devils will matter a lot for playoff positioning in Clas A North.
The winner of this game could be looking at a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
Depending on how the first seven weeks shake out, the loser could be ending their season.
As if this game needed any more intrigue.
Also on the nice list: Gray-New Gloucester at Poland, Biddeford at Leavitt
On the ninth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Regional Quarterfinals: Spruce Mtn. at Mtn. Valley
If this matchup comes to fruition, it would be the second week in a row these two teams meet at Chet Bulger Field.
There would be a little more on the line in the rematch. Obviously.
The Phoenix won this matchup at Griffin Field handily last year, but the Falcons think they will be a much improved team from the one that lost that game.
This could and should be a hard-hitting game, with both teams sporting tenacious defenses. But they’ll both have to catch (and tackle) some fast backs.
Other hypothtical matchups: Lewiston at Edward Little, Mt. Blue at Cony, Leavitt at Falmouth, Gray-New Gloucester at Cape Elizabeth, Poland at Wells, Old Orchard Beach at Oak Hill, Dirigo at Maranacook
On the tenth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Regional Semfinals: Oak Hill at Lisbon
The Class D South regional final the past two years becomes a regional semifinal this year.
Both of those games were decided by one point, as was a semifinal matchup in 2013. In fact, these two teams have met in the playoffs each of the past four years.
It may be a “down” year for the Raiders, but they have plenty of depth this year, and nine weeks should be plenty of time to figure out their identity.
The Greyhounds know who they are and what they, which should be enough to erase four years of bad memories.
Other hypothtical matchups: Dirigo at Winthrop/Monmouth, Edward Little at Windham, Mt. Blue at Brunswick, Mountain Valley at Wells
On the eleventh week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
Regional Final: Lisbon at Winthrop/Monmouth
The regional slate in Class D South will end the same way it began. Except this time it will be played in Winthrop.
On a Friday night.
This would be Lisbon’s third straight trip to the regional final, while it’s been a longer wait to get back for the Ramblers, and their first since Winthrop and Monmouth Academy merged.
The Greyhounds are looking for their first state title game appearance since winning back-to-back Class C championships in 2006-07. Winthrop lost in the Class C state game a year later for their last appearance.
On the twelfth week of football, our schedule-makers gave to us …
State Championship: Winthrop/Monmouth vs. MCI
For the first time since the merger, Winthrop/Monmouth will be playing for a state title (meaning more heartbreak for Lisbon).
The Ramblers hypothetical opponent for the Class D state championship is MCI, which has lost in back-to-back years to Oak Hill. The Huskies also lost to Winthrop in the 2000 Class C state championship.
MCI has a big advantage in big-game experience, and the Pittsfield school has become a football factory in Class D. The Ramblers can hang their hats on a narrow loss to Oak Hill in last year’s South semifinals as their recent big-game experience.
Just like waking up on Christmas morning, we’ll let the winner of this game be a surprise.
Other hypothetical matchups: Bonny Eagle vs. Portland (Class A), Falmouth vs. Brunswick (Class B), Wells vs. Winslow (Class C)
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