CLASS A

Who: Thornton Academy (8-2) vs. Oxford Hills (10-0)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

Outlook: This game is a rematch of last season’s Class A final, won by Thornton, 42-27. In that game, the Trojans jumped to 21-0 and 28-7 leads with big-play touchdowns on defense (50-yard interception return) and jet sweeps. Thornton’s sweep game with receivers isn’t as dynamic this year, but running back Hayden Whitney (1,462 yards) is a big-play threat inside and outside. … Thornton, making its seventh trip to the final in 10 seasons (5-1 in championship games under Coach Kevin Kezal), is in the rare position of being the underdog. Oxford Hills won the regular-season meeting, 25-20, and had a 396-257 edge in yardage despite a rash of injuries, including quarterback Eli Soehren (ankle) exiting with four minutes left in the first quarter. … That was the only truly close game the Vikings have played. They have outscored their opponents 396-104. Since Soehren (67.4 completion percentage, 24 TD passes, three interceptions) returned to the lineup, the Vikings’ winning margin has increased to nearly 35 points per game. … Teigan Pelletier (43 catches, 878 yards, 11 touchdowns), a 6-foot-6 receiver, and 6-2 Tanner Bickford (47 catches, 709 yards, nine TDs) will be difficult covers for a Thornton secondary that might be without injured strong safety Caden True, whose status is likely a “game-time decision,” Kezal said. True is also the punter and a dangerous kick returner. … Thornton started the season 1-2, then edged Class B Kennebunk, 15-13. Since then, the Trojans have outscored opponents 262-48. The defense – led by linemen Brent Paulin, Jack Brochu and Ryan MacPhee, and linebackers Tommy Johnson and Harry Bunce – has allowed one first-half offensive touchdown in the last six games. … The Thornton offense has cut down on turnovers and penalties, featuring Whitney and the accurate passing of Ryan O’Keefe (82 of 132, 1,250 yards, 13 TDs). Senior receiver Carlos Eboli is his top target (44 catches, 633 yards). … Oxford Hills, which has a fast, physical defense led by outside linebackers Lincoln Merrill and Jake Carson, is looking for its first football championship in its third trip to the Class A final.

– Steve Craig

CLASS B

Who: Portland (8-3) vs. Skowhegan (9-2)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

Outlook: If one of these senior-led teams can control the other’s dynamic quarterback, it will have a big advantage. Both Skowhegan’s Adam Savage and Portland’s Kennedy Charles raised their games in the regional playoffs. The 6-foot-7 Savage ran the ball only 33 times during the regular season. In three playoff games, he’s carried it 67 times for 518 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also can throw, completing 82 of 125 passes this season. Charles, who switched to a quarterback after Portland started 1-3, has gained about 800 of his 1,583 rushing yards and has scored 11 of his 20 touchdowns in the past three games. Eight of his playoff TDs have been 36 yards or longer. … Portland will look to pound it on the ground. Reegan Buck (102 carries, 657 yards) and Andrew Brewer (120 carries, 583 yards) are effective runners. When Charles does throw, he looks to get the ball to Remijo Wani (34 catches, 452 yards). … Skowhegan senior 6-5 defensive ends Kyle and Collin LePage – two-thirds of the LePage triplets (sister Calloway played on the Class A championship basketball team) – have combined for 18.5 sacks but will need to focus on stopping the run. … Savage also has options for distributing the ball, with running back Hunter McEwen (91 rushes, 583 yards, 12 TDs) and wide receivers Quintcey McCray (44 catches, 605 yards) and Tyler Annis (28 catches, 391 yards). McCray and Annis are also threats in the running game. … Portland’s defense wants to play fast and physical, led by Charles and linebackers Andrew Brewer and Brayden Wales. … Portland has not lost to a Class B team. Skowhegan’s only Class B loss was to Windham, a week after being beaten up by Thornton Academy. … Both teams are 0-3 in title games since their last state championship. Portland’s came in 2002 in Class A, Skowhegan’s in 1978 in Class B.

– Steve Craig

CLASS C

Who: Leavitt (10-0) vs. Medomak Valley (9-2)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Cameron Stadium, Bangor

Outlook: The North champion Panthers will try to stop what has been a steamrolling Leavitt squad. The Hornets were relentless during a 43-0 win in the South final, dominating a Cape Elizabeth team it had beaten by one point in the regular season. Quarterback Noah Carpenter (102 carries, 1,093 yards, 20 touchdowns) is a punishing mix of speed and strength as a ball carrier, and he overpowered Cape’s defense for 237 yards on 16 carries in the regional final. … The Panthers also need to respect Carpenter’s arm, as the junior has thrown for 1,806 yards and 25 touchdowns, with just five interceptions. Sawyer Hathaway (39 catches, 703 yards, eight TDs), Dylan Calder (25 catches, 446 yards, 13 total TDs) and Brett Coburn (30 catches, 519 yards, eight TDs) are Carpenter’s top weapons. … Linemen Coburn and Jace Negley and linebacker Beau Mayo lead a defensive front seven on a Leavitt team that has allowed just 11.8 points per game. … Medomak Valley has shown some offensive firepower of its own, averaging 37.3 points in its three playoff victories. Hayden Staples has been the Panthers’ engine, rushing for 1,379 yards and 18 touchdowns on 220 carries this season. He ran for 163 yards and three scores in the North final victory over Hermon. … Quarterback Wyatt Simmons has needed to throw only 40 times all season, but he burned Hermon for a 45-yard touchdown pass to Blake Morrison. The Panthers are likely to need Simmons to make some plays, particularly if Leavitt keys in on Staples or jumps out to an early lead. … Marshall Addy (12 tackles for loss), Tucker Holgerson (nine) and Kaden Wright (eight) have been the Panthers’ most disruptive defensive players.

– Drew Bonifant

CLASS D

Who: Lisbon/St. Dominic (7-3) vs. Foxcroft Academy (9-1)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: Cameron Stadium, Bangor

Outlook: This game features two of the strongest Class D programs in recent years. Foxcroft won the championship last season and is playing in the state title game for the fourth time in five seasons. Lisbon won the Gold Ball in 2019 and also played for the state championship in 2016. … These teams met on Sept. 23, with Lisbon winning, 14-13, to give the top-seeded Ponies their only loss. It was the only time Foxcroft has allowed more than 10 points in a game. … The Ponies posted back-to-back shutout wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs. … Since opening the season with back-to-back losses, third-seeded Lisbon has won seven of eight games. Last week, the Greyhounds held off Freeport, which beat them in the season opener. … This game is a contrast in styles. Lisbon will try to control play with a strong running game. In last week’s win at Freeport, the Greyhounds never attempted a pass, running for 211 yards and grinding out long drives. Colby Levasseur and Josh Carter each has more than 1,000 yards rushing. Jack Ramich and quarterback Jimmy Fitzsimmons also are running threats. … Despite being one-dimensional on offense, the Greyhounds have been held under 20 points just twice, and one of those times was the win over Foxcroft. … The Ponies boast one of the top passing attacks in the state. Quarterback Wyatt Rayfield has 1,434 yards passing, with 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Foxcroft’s top receiver is Caden Crocker, who has 45 catches for 646 yards and 14 touchdowns. When the Ponies run the ball, Kemsley Marsters heads a deep group of backs, with 413 yards and five touchdowns. … Linebacker DJ Scheel leads Foxcroft’s defense, along with Crocker.

– Travis Lazarczyk

« Previous

Football: Unsung seniors help Thornton return to Class A title game

Next »

Football: Medomak Valley program makes rapid climb to state title game