Power Rankings:
1. Leavitt Hornets
2. Portland Bulldogs
3. Oxford Hills Vikings
4. Thornton Academy Trojans
5. Bonny Eagle Scots
6. Foxcroft Academy Ponies
7. Kennebunk Rams
8. Noble Knights
9. Lawrence Bulldogs
10. Oceanside Mariners
Games To Watch:
Class A: Lewiston Blue Devils (3-4) @ Windham Eagles (4–3) Windham HS Field
With only two weeks remaining in the season, Lewiston and Windham find themselves in what some may consider a must-win for both. Only the top four teams make it into the Class A North Regional playoffs, and right now a win for either Lewiston or Windham would help their cause. After starting the season 3-0 the Windham Eagles have gone 1-3 over their last four games, losing to Portland, TA, and, Oxford Hills. Despite their tough stretch, the Eagles remain as the third seed. For Lewiston the struggle to find consistency has been a theme, they’ve yet to win back-to-back weeks this season and sit in fifth just outside a playoff spot. Last week vs Mt. Blue Coach Versey and his team scored their highest point total of the season in a 35-7 win.
Class B: Gardiner Tigers (4-3) @ Cony Rams (4-3) Fuller Field
A rivalry that needs no introduction, the Gardiner Tigers and Cony Rams. These two teams enter the night with identical records, looking for bragging rights and a better seed in the Class B North Region. The Tigers go on the road struggling of late, dropping their last two contests to the Cheverus Stags and defending champion Skowhegan Riverhawks. On the other sideline, the Cony Rams have seemed to hit their stride. The Rams have won three straight games in the last three weeks with wins over Mt. Blue and Bangor, then got their revenge on the road at Falmouth last weekend. Fuller Field will be rocking tonight.
Class C: Cheverus Stags (6-1) @ Leavitt Hornets (7-0) Libby Field
The Leavitt Hornets will look to put an exclamation point on their season when they host one of Maine’s most prestigious football programs in Turner, Maine. Cheverus’ only blemish is a 27-7 loss to the Fryeburg Academy Raiders, and since have bounced back with wins over Gardiner Tiger and Westbrook Blue Blazes. What more can we say about the Hornets after last week? Noah Carpenter finished 6-17, 185 passing yards and 136 rushing yards, containing last year’s Gatorade Player of the Year won’t be an easy task.
Class D: Wells Warriors (5-2) @ Fryeburg Academy Raiders (6-1) Atwood Stadium
The Fryeburg Academy Raiders are looking to lock in the second seed in Class C South and can do so with a victory over the top seed in Class D South when they host the Wells Warriors. The Raiders have been rolling the competition since their week one loss to the Leavitt Hornets. While the Warriors have taken it on the chin twice this season, they enter this weekend’s game on a three-game winning streak where they’ve outscored their opponents 101-26 and looking to lock up the number one seed in Class D South.
8 Man Large School Class Northern regional quarterfinal:
#5 Waterville Purple Panthers (2-5) @ #4 Mountain Valley Falcons (3-4) Chet Bulger Football Field
The two-time defending 8-Man Large School champs are in unfamiliar territory entering tonight’s quarterfinal with the Mountain Valley Falcons. The Waterville Purple Panthers have been the standard for two years but now will go on the road to try and defend their title against a gritty Falcons side that scored 168 more points on offense than the Panthers did through seven games. The winner of this matchup will head to play the undefeated and top-seeded Camden Hills Windjammers next weekend.