Each week, the Sun Journal sports staff will pick high school football topics to discuss — sometimes the discussions will turn into spirited debates.
Agree? Disagree? Let us know via Twitter (@WilTalkSports and @FunkFlashyRob) or email (wkramlich@sunjournal.com and arobinson@sunjournal.com).
Sun Journal assistant sports editor Wil Kramlich
WIL KRAMLICH: It’s getting to be crunch time for high school football. We’re more than halfway through the regular season. It still feels like the season just started a few weeks ago, but a lot has happened. But what haven’t we talked about enough? What’s the biggest under-the-radar story in Sun Journal territory?
ADAM ROBINSON: I know we’ve mentioned them, but the Leavitt Hornets have been a powerhouse this season.
Degan Jordan has been blocking punts, scoring defensive touchdowns and finding the end zone as a runner and a receiver. Noah Carpenter has led Leavitt to its last two wins, against Gardiner and Westbrook, while filling the injured Hunter Hayes’ spot at quarterback. The Hornets have also only given up six total points in their three victories.
KRAMLICH: It’s crazy to think that Leavitt could be under the radar, but having its first two games canceled and two of its first three games played on the road have done just that. They won’t be under the radar much longer, especially with the Hornets’ marquee matchup with Cape Elizabeth up next. Leavitt will very much be on our radar the rest of the way, I would imagine.
I also feel that Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale has been in the shadows some since its great season-opening win against Bucksport. Between a bye week and cancellations, the Ramblers haven’t been heard from much since. But if they keep winning and looking like the top team in Class D, then they will also be very much back on our radar.
Sun Journal sports reporter Adam Robinson
ROBINSON: Class D is really intriguing to me. Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale has the athletes to run with anyone and also the offensive and defensive lines that can move or stop anyone. Oak Hill just beat Bucksport last week with defense and a great quarterback performance from Jackson Arbour and now has won three consecutive games. Then there’s Foxcroft, which is 4-0 and has a couple more weeks until it has to face the Ramblers on Oct. 22.
Lewiston has been an interesting team. Started poorly, had a coaching change and then beat Mt. Blue and almost came back to beat Sanford.
KRAMLICH: Lewiston flying under the radar has been because the Blue Devils have been hard to track on the radar. They had COVID-19 issues in the preseason, a sudden, surprising coaching change, change at quarterback, injuries, you name it. The flashes they showed when I saw them beat Mt. Blue make them very intriguing. New QB Donovan Jackson is dynamic, as are their receivers, but QB-turned-running back Kam Caron is an old-school football player who hits hard.
Hopefully all of our teams get enough of a look on the radar by season’s end. Every team has a story to tell, and we all love telling them.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
