Westbrook’s come-from-behind victory over York a week ago propelled it into first place in the Western Class B Crabtree point standings.

The Blazes shouldn’t get comfortable. With two weeks left in the regular season, it’s still a tight race among five teams.

Westbrook is followed by Marshwood, which it plays in two weeks, and Wells, tied for second. York is next, followed by Greely.

Westbrook, Marshwood, Wells and Greely are 5-1. York is 4-2.

“I think any of the top five teams are capable of winning the Western Maine championship,” said Westbrook Coach Jeff Guerette. “It’s an important next two weeks. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I think we have one of the toughest schedules so that should help us in Crabtree points.”

Adding intrigue is the top teams have knocked each other off. Westbrook has beaten Wells and Marshwood. Wells has beaten Marshwood. Marshwood has beaten York. York has beaten Greely and Greely has beaten Westbrook. Wells and York play their traditional last game of the regular season next Friday night.

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Trailing 22-8 at halftime against York, Westbrook scored 28 straight points and beat the Wildcats, 48-34.

“We shot ourselves in the foot in the first half with our penalties and York took it to us,” said Guerette. “At halftime we talked about cleaning up our mistakes and playing a disciplined second half. It was certainly our most important half of the season. It told us about our character and the type of team we are. When we play disciplined football, we can be a good team.”

Westbrook’s final two regular-season games are on the road, Friday night at Falmouth (1-5) and next Friday night at Marshwood. 

IN WESTERN CLASS A there’s Thornton Academy and Cheverus, then everyone else.

Heading into their showdown Saturday, Thornton is first in the Crabtree standings with Cheverus a close second, separated by just over two points. The winner of their game likely will sew up home-field advantage for the playoffs.

The real competition is for the final three playoff spots, with as many as seven teams in contention.

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Scarborough and Portland are likely in the playoffs. Certainly the Red Storm are with five wins. Portland can write its ticket by beating Scarborough on Friday night at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Windham, which has three wins, plays at Sanford, another 3-3 team in search of one or two more wins. Bonny Eagle, Deering, Noble, Sanford, Massabesic, Kennebunk and Biddeford still have playoff hopes. 

MOUNTAIN VALLEY Coach Jim Aylward was forced to miss last week’s game against Wells with what was termed a medical emergency.

Aylward explained his situation in an e-mail: “I am home now. I had a severe throat infection which required a couple of surgeries.

“It started with tooth extractions. There’s nothing bad in my prognosis. I just need time to heal up. Everything long term is fine. I attended football practice Thursday for the first time in a week. I had never missed a day of football in 28 years before this. That has hurt more than the throat.” 

CAMDEN HILLS will join other schools by bringing in portable lights for a night game. The Windjammers will play Nokomis at 7 p.m. Friday at Don Palmer Field.

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“This is the first time we’ve done it in Camden Hills,” said Athletic Director Steve Alex. “It’s something to promote the football team. Other schools have done it.”

Through funding by the Five Towns Booster Organization, the school is bringing in eight light stands. Alex said if it proves successful, the team will play under the lights next Friday night in its final game against Belfast.

Alex said there are no plans to install permanent lights.

Traip Academy played a home game against Dirigo last Friday night with portable lights. It was the second straight year the Rangers have brought in lights. Traip is looking to have permanent lights in a few years,

During halftime of the Camden Hills-Nokomis game, the Camden Hills fourth- and fifth-grade team will be honored by the boosters for winning the Maine Youth Football League Jayvee championship.

Mt. View in Thorndike and Medomak Valley in Waldoboro, which has a club team, have played under portable lights this season. 

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MADISON NAMED its football field in honor of Art and Carl Rudman, a former father-and-son coaching team, last Friday night. Art Rudman was the head coach from 1981-86 and led the Bulldogs to the 1982 Class C state championship. His son, Carl, was the offensive coordinator in those years, then took over as head coach from 1987-94. He guided Madison to state titles in 1988, ’89 and ’94.

Art Rudman became the head coach at Cheverus for a brief time after leaving Madison. 

JARED JENSEN of Brunswick has rushed for 768 yards more than the second-place rusher in Eastern Class A. Jensen also has carried the ball twice as much.

Jensen has gained 1,554 yards on 164 carries in six games. Corey MacKenzie of Messalonskee has 786 yards on 76 carries. Jensen has scored 16 touchdowns.

Cony quarterback Ben Lucas has thrown for 1,525 yards and 22 touchdowns.

His teammate, Chandler Shostak, has benefited from Cony’s aerial offense with 417 yards receiving on 29 catches, with 10 touchdowns.

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

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 


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