Poland’s Nicholas Aube slips between Oak Hill’s Ramon Spearman and Caden Thompson during a Class D football game in Poland last month. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
The Class D football playoffs are set to begin this weekend, and some intriguing matchups are in place.
Top-seeded Foxcroft Academy (8-0) will face No. 8 John Bapst (1-6). No. 2 Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale (5-1) will host No. 7 Bucksport (2-5) while No. 3 Freeport (5-2) entertains No. 6 Poland (2-4). Lastly, No. 4 Oak Hill (4-2) will face No. 5 Lisbon (3-3).
Madison/Carrabec/Valley (0-6) is the lone Class D team that failed to qualify for the postseason.
“It’s an exciting bracket from top to bottom,” Lisbon head coach Chris Kates said. “There is a lot of talent in the bracket, I’m excited to see how it plays out.”
Added Freeport head coach Paul St. Pierre: “Anything can happen, Dover-Foxcroft is of course at the top for a reason and Winthrop is right behind them. Anyone can shock you, everyone is 0-0 now.”
Oak Hill won the the regular season meeting with Lisbon 24-13 on Sept. 18.
The Greyhounds have won three straight games after starting 0-3. Kates brought up a couple of factors when discussing his team’s turnaround.
“Our schedule was a bit tough to start,” said Kates. “But we have a young team that’s improved every week. The results are showing on game days.”
Freeport is coming off its scheduled bye week. The Falcons didn’t see the Knights in the regular season after COVID-19 issues forced a cancellation.
“We have some film, but it’s quite different to experience a team up close and personal,” said St. Pierre. “It goes both ways, they haven’t seen us either.”
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