Thornton Academy (3-1) and Windham High (3-1) were the favorites in their Class A divisions when the season began.

The belief was the rest of the teams would fall in somewhere behind. But rarely do things go according to plan.

Portland (4-0) has emerged as a title threat in Class A North. And at the midway point of the regular season, Deering and Scarborough are off to 3-1 starts in Class A South.

Much could be revealed this weekend. Deering hosts Bonny Eagle (2-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. Scarborough plays at Thornton at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

With Deering moving to the South to balance the two Class A regions, an interesting matchup to end the regular season will be Deering at Scarborough on Oct. 23.

“We could be playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs,” said Scarborough Coach Lance Johnson.

Johnson likes the way his team has rebounded since losing to Portland 47-26 in the opener. One key: The offensive line is providing better protection for quarterback Jack Hughes.

With Hughes and talented receivers, the Red Storm will put the ball up 30 times a game. That’s not something Johnson prefers but he knows a team has to use its strengths. Running back Drew LeClair is expected back soon after getting injured in the first game; in his absence, backs Anthony Simoneau and Owen Garrard are off to good starts.

While Scarborough likes to put it up, Deering prefers to stay on the ground, although in quarterback Max Chabot it has someone who can throw. The Rams have plenty of depth at running back.

“We like to do running back by committee,” said Coach Jason Jackson.

Jackson hasn’t been surprised by the team’s fast start.

“Other people might be surprised. I knew we had the talent,” he said.

Windham quarterback Desmond Leslie picked a good time to have his best game of the season in last Friday night’s 24-14 victory against Thornton. Leslie gained key yardage and completed an early pass with a defender draped over him.

One of Leslie’s strength is his composure, said Coach Matt Perkins.

“He doesn’t get caught up in the moment,” Perkins said.

The Eagles have been hit hard by injuries.

“Since the start of the season we have seven guys who are starters or who were competing for a starting position lost to injury. We may get some of them back but the others I don’t know,” said Perkins.

Windham (3-1) plays Friday night at Edward Little (2-2).

“Edward Little always plays us tough,” said Perkins.

THORNTON STANDOUT Michael Laverriere’s availability for Saturday’s game with Scarborough is “still up in the air,” said Coach Kevin Kezal. “We’ll see how he does over the next few days with treatment.”

Laverriere was injured on the opening kickoff last week against Windham and didn’t play the rest of the game. Kezal termed his injury “a lower body injury.” If Laverriere is unable to play, Kezal said Greg Ruff will get the reps at fullback and Josh LePauloue will take Laverriere’s spot at safety.

PORTLAND, THE ONLY unbeaten team in Class A, faces a challenge Friday night from Cheverus (3-1) at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The game matches the top two teams in the Crabtree standings in Class A North.

The Stags have won two straight since being routed 57-0 at Thornton Academy on Sept. 12.

Freshman running back Tre Fletcher has given the Stags a big boost in the last two games. He scored two touchdowns in the first half last week in a 44-7 win over Edward Little. In the previous game, he scored three touchdowns against Lewiston.

GREELY, WHICH EARNED its first win of the season last Friday night, plays Saturday at Morse. Greely has had to scramble to find a starting quarterback after a season-ending injury to Matt Pisani in a scrimmage against Falmouth in August.

The Rangers tried two replacements before settling on Sam Peck, a converted running back. Peck threw for one touchdown and ran for another in a 41-8 win over Gorham last week. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.

“We have him doing a bunch of stuff for us,” said Coach Dave Higgins. “We use Sam in some wildcat formations. Everyone knows he’s going to run. Sam has matured as a player and developed into a strong leader.”

 

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