With only four teams qualifying for the Western Class B playoffs, the typical jockeying for the postseason has begun.

“So much will change over the next two weeks,” said Greely Coach Dave Higgins. “We’re all playing each other.”

Cape Elizabeth and Mountain Valley sit atop the league standings with 5-0 records. Greely and Wells are next with 4-1 records. Falmouth, which has lost two straight, stands at 3-2, followed by York at 2-3.

Greely plays at Mountain Valley tonight, while Cape Elizabeth is at Wells. Next Friday night, Cape is at Greely and Mountain Valley is at Falmouth.

In two weeks, Mountain Valley plays at York. Then, on the final Friday night of the regular season on Oct. 29, Cape is at Mountain Valley, Falmouth is at Greely and Wells is at York.

“The last Friday night of the regular season should be a humdinger,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Aaron Filieo. “There will be a lot of seeding implications.”

Greely is in the midst of a tough three-week stretch. The Rangers beat York for the first time, 21-6 last Saturday in Cumberland.

The Rangers put in a triple-option offense last season in Higgins’ first year as head coach. It’s taken a year for the players to feel comfortable with the offense.

“We’ve had a year under our belts running it. We were young last year. There’s been a lot of maturity,” said Higgins.

Greely has won four straight after losing to Wells 21-14 in the opening game.

It only takes a short losing streak to knock a team out of the top four. Falmouth was looking strong three weeks ago, but now likely will have to go at least 3-1 the rest of the way to make the playoffs.

“A team with four losses will definitely not get in unless something crazy happens,” said Filieo.

With the graduation of some standout playmakers over the last two seasons, Western Class B has a different look, said Filieo.

“The league is down in terms of big-play talent, but it’s a good defensive and scrappy league,” said Filieo.

One thing hasn’t changed.

“The usual suspects are battling for playoff berths,” he said.

And once again, it will play out over the next four weekends.

 

DEREK MILLER tied a Rockland High record when he scored seven touchdowns in a 66-6 win over Dexter. Miller, a 5-foot-4, 155-pound senior tailback, also threw a scoring pass late in the game. He finished with 24 carries for 194 yards.

“Derek doesn’t have great breakaway speed,” said Coach Woody Moore. “But he’s one tough kid who hits the hole hard. He can run inside or bounce it outside.”

Miller opened his scoring spree with a 70-yard punt return. After two touchdowns by teammates, Miller scored the next six touchdowns.

Grouped in the bunch were two runs of 1 yard each, along with runs of 11, 59 and 31 yards. Miller also caught a 21-yard scoring pass.

Miller’s performance tied Sam Weiss’ mark, set in 2007. Miller has 11 touchdowns and 640 yards heading into the Tigers’ game at Maine Central Institute (2-3) tonight.

It’s a pivotal game in the push to finish in the eight-team playoff field.

“MCI is fast and athletic,” said Moore. “They have a good quarterback and a strong offensive line. It would be a huge win for us.”

The Tigers (3-2) play at Calais on Oct. 16 and host Old Town on Oct. 22.

“The last game will have a lot of playoff implications,” Moore said.

 

LAKE REGION won its first home game in six seasons Saturday night, a 26-0 victory over Poland (0-5). Zach Simmons and Cody Gibbons led the Lakers (1-4) with two touchdowns apiece. Mike Shea had 120 yards rushing and Jonah Simmons added 80 yards.

“We’re improved and working hard to do the small things that help you win,” said Coach Jason Simmons.

The Lakers play at York tonight.

 

LANCE JOHNSON, Scarborough’s first-year coach, has the Red Storm primed for the playoffs with a 4-1 record, good for fifth in the Crabtree standings. The top eight teams make the playoffs in Western Class A.

The Red Storm aren’t looking beyond tonight’s game with Noble, but there’s an excellent chance Scarborough will finish the regular season 7-1 (after tonight, the Red Storm play Marshwood and Kennebunk on the road). That’s a far cry from recent years, when Scarborough won only six games over four seasons.

Johnson, a longtime assistant coach for Portland, knew he had some material to work with when he was hired.

“I knew there was some talent because (Portland) played them last year in a preseason exhibition game,” said Johnson. “I felt pretty good after watching all their game films.”

Scarborough’s biggest win was two weeks ago when it beat Biddeford, 21-9.

“We’ve really improved our line play in the last few weeks,” he said. “We’ve run the ball more consistently in our last three games.

“We have a lot of depth along with intelligent players who are committed to improving each week.”

Running the wildcat formation against Gorham, Dillon Russo, filling in for injured Zach Bean, passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more.

 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com