Miss the good old days when high school offenses tried to pound each other into submission? Have we got the game for you.
Lisbon and Wells aren’t identical, but they will see a lot of themselves when they look across Warrior Memorial Field on Friday night.
Both teams boast a perfect 6-0 record into Week 7. Both are physical, fundamentally sound and carry proud football traditions. And both would start each half with a 30-play, 99-yard scoring drive if they could.
How both teams go about grinding the opposition into dust does differ. The Warriors run the Wing T to a, well, T. Running back Nolan Potter and Tyler Bridge follow an offensive line that is starting to resemble the unit that dominated en route to the Class C state title last year. QB Michael Wrigley doesn’t have to throw the ball much but is usually efficient when he does.
The Greyhounds have been known to use the Wing T themselves, but will also utilize a variety of formations, often making major adjustments mid-game, to move the chains in the same deliberate fashion. Lucas Francis is perhaps the most physical running quarterback in the state, capable of lowering a shoulder to get through a linebacker but also able to our-run a lot of defensive backs in a race to the end zone. Running back Isaiah Thompson, who has been limited recently by a concussion, is his speedy, slashing complement. Sophomore Cam Bourget has helped pick up the slack with touchdown runs against Dirigo and Spruce Mountain.
Lisbon typically goes to the air more than the Warriors, and has some speedy, big-play threats. Francis has had long touchdown passes to Riley Quatrano and Henry Doyle in the last two weeks.
Lisbon’s defense has been stout in the middle of the season, allowing 13 points over the last three games. Linebackers Cole Bolduc and Dakota McIver lead a unit that will be trying to force the Warriors into third-and-long situations.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
