Deering and Portland meet Friday night at Fitzpatrick Stadium for the 102nd time in the regular season in a rivalry that started in 1891. Portland leads the series, 62-29-10. Counting Thanksgiving exhibition games, the schools have played each other 203 times.

After big losses in their openers, both teams are in need of a win. Deering will be without running backs Sambath Sao and Camille Kirongozi. Sao injured his collar bone and Kirongozi has a knee injury.

“We’ve got the injury bug pretty well,” said Deering Coach Matt Riddell.

One player returning to the Deering lineup is running back Ben Williams, who is ready to go after some nagging injuries slowed him in preseason.

Deering is a young team, with only six seniors. Quarterback Max Chabot completed 20 of 27 passes for 241 yards with four interceptions against Windham. Expect more passing against the Bulldogs.

Portland will get three starters back who missed the opener at Cheverus.

“We will probably open things up a little more,” said Portland Coach Jack Hartman. “We moved the ball against Cheverus, but penalties and fumbles killed us.”

The Bulldogs will count on quarterback Jordan Talbot and running backs Joe Esposito, George Lapine and Alex Oja to move the ball. Also look for wide receiver Jordan Floridino to get some touches. He had four catches for 61 yards against Cheverus.

“The kids played hard and we took away a lot of positives from the first game. We have a lot of players playing new positions and we’re looking to find our identity,” said Hartman.

BIDDEFORD COACH Brian Curit said quarterback Casey Twomey is likely to play Friday night at Massabesic.

“He’s been practicing this week and looking strong,” Curit said.

Twomey missed the opener at Bonny Eagle after spraining his ankle in an exhibition game the week before against Cheverus. Twomey, a senior, is well-suited to run the team’s option offense.

“Casey has quick feet and has a cannon for an arm,” said Curit.

Curit said he was pleased with his team’s performance against the defending Class A champions. The Tigers lost 32-12, but trailed only 12-6 at the half. Sophomore Joey Curit filled in at quarterback and did a good job. With Twomey returning, Curit will move back to defensive back.

“I was very pleased with our performance on both sides of the ball,” said Brian Curit. “We amassed good yardage, but we started in poor field position a lot of the time.”

Fullback/defensive end Capen Macomber, in his first official game since a knee injury in the fourth game last year, gained 155 yards and scored on a 1-yard run.

“Capen is one of the premier players in our conference,” said his coach. “He’s a 240-pound battering ram.”

THORNTON ACADEMY, which usually plays its home games on Saturday afternoon, will play a home night game Friday when it hosts Noble. Athletic Director Gary Stevens said the plan is for Thornton to host one game under the lights per season, always when Biddeford is on the road to avoid a conflict. Biddeford plays at Massabesic Friday night.

“We want to retain our tradition of Saturday afternoon games, which we have had since the 1890s,” he said.

Copy the Story Link