While cross country is on the cusp of producing its state champions, the postseason fun has just begun in volleyball, field hockey and soccer with the football playoffs about to commence as well.

There have already been upsets, overtimes and dominant performances and this week figures to be action-packed throughout.

Buckle up, as here’s a glimpse of what’s occurred and what’s to come:

Cross country

South Portland’s boys and Cape Elizabeth’s girls qualified for states at last weekend’s regional cross country meet in Cumberland.

The Red Riots had 118 points and came in third behind Portland (43) and Scarborough (70) in the Class A South boys’ race to qualify for the fourth consecutive postseason. Evan Small led the way with a fifth-place individual finish, completing the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 8.97 seconds. Also scoring were Paul Sames (21st, 18:04.9), Nolan I’Aboni (22nd, 18:10.04), Geo Mayorquin (32nd, 18:40.08) and Tyler Bryant (38th, 18:55.3).

South Portland’s girls hoped to qualify for states for the first time since 2015, but their 234 points left them 10th and just eight teams made the cut. The Red Riots were paced by Julia Tompkins (10th, 20:52.9), who qualified as an individual. Also scoring were Audrey Lebleu (36th, 22:56.58), Ramona Falatko (54th, 23:54.38), Haley Field (59th, 24:35.98) and Samantha Murphy (75th, 25:40.47).

In Class B South girls, Cape Elizabeth tallied 109 points and was fourth (Freeport won with 51). The Capers, who have now qualified for states for 23 consecutive postseasons, featured Hannah Frothingham (10th, 21:00.28). Also scoring were Avery Palmore (20th, 22:12.97), Addie Mazzeo (21st, 22:20.0), Ella Boyer (28th, 22:55.85) and Cece Fremont (30th, 23:03.02).

Cape Elizabeth’s boys finished with 219 points and came in 11th, but only seven teams qualified, as the Capers missed out on a trip to states for the second straight year. Liam Nudd qualified as an individual by virtue of a ninth-place finish (17:42.08). Also scoring were Leo Ferrey (43rd, 19:35.27), Finn Zwintscher (44th, 19:35.28), Jonah Milton (61st, 20:11.09) and Ben McCalmon (62nd, 20:16.99).

Volleyball

South Portland’s Meron Carlisle serves the ball early in last week’s preliminary round loss at Scarborough. Hoffer photo.

Cape Elizabeth’s volleyball team was still alive at press time. The Capers seeded fifth in Class B, defeated No. 12 Marshwood in four games (25-13, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17) in last Thursday’s preliminary round, then rallied for a stirring five set (22-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 15-7) victory over No. 13 Kennebunk in the quarterfinals. Cape Elizabeth (12-4) went to top-ranked Washington Academy (15-0) for a state semifinal Wednesday. The teams didn’t play this year. The Capers beat the Raiders in the lone prior playoff encounter, 3-0, in the 2019 state semifinals.

If Cape Elizabeth sprung the upset, it will meet either No. 2 York (13-2) or No. 3 seed and five-time reigning state champion Yarmouth (12-4) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the Class B state final at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.

South Portland, ranked 11th in Class A, lost in straight sets (22-25, 13-25, 20-25) at No. 6 Scarborough in last week’s preliminary round to finish 6-9.

“This is a really special team that worked really hard,” said Red Riots coach Sarah Marckoon. “It was a good, close-knit group who loved each other and played for each other.

Boys’ soccer

Caiden Johnson and his Cape Elizabeth boys’ soccer teammates are hoping for a deep playoff run. Photo courtesy Lisa Mims.

Cape Elizabeth and South Portland’s boys’ soccer teams were both still alive at press time.

The Capers, ranked fourth in Class B South after a 9-4-1 campaign, welcomed No. 5 Lincoln Academy (8-4-2) for the quarterfinals Wednesday. The teams didn’t meet this fall. Cape Elizabeth won all three prior playoff meetings, with a 4-0 victory in last year’s semifinals the most recent.

If the Capers advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, they’ll either go to top-ranked Greely (13-0-1) or host No. 8 Fryeburg Academy (8-6-1).

The Class B South Final is Wednesday of next week in Fryeburg.

The Red Riots, ranked ninth in Class A South, beat No. 8 Kennebunk, 4-1, in last Friday’s preliminary round. Ben Morin scored twice and Christiana Jundo and Lamed Khelendende also had a goal while goalkeeper Michael Zaccaria made seven saves. South Portland (8-6-1) went to No. 1 Windham (11-1-2) Wednesday for the quarterfinals. On Oct. 17, the Red Riots lost at the Eagles, 3-0. Windham won the only prior playoff encounter, 4-0, in last year’s quarterfinals.

If South Portland sprung the upset, it would go to No. 4 Portland (11-2-1) or No. 5 Gorham (10-4-1) for the semifinals Friday or Saturday.

The Class A South Final is Tuesday of next week in Waterboro.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth, the No. 2 seed in Class B South, advanced Tuesday with a 4-0 home victory over No. 7 Fryeburg Academy. CC Duryee, Hailey Gorman, Noelle Mallory and Addie Miller all scored once.

The Capers (11-1-3) will host No. 3 Freeport (10-3-2) in the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. Cape Elizabeth won at Freeport, 2-1, Sept. 17, then the teams played to a scoreless draw Oct. 17. The Capers won both prior playoff encounters, with a 4-0 victory in the 2019 semifinals the most recent.

The Class B South Final is Wednesday of next week in Fryeburg.

In Class A South, South Portland, ranked 10th, lost, 4-2, at No. 7 Marshwood in last Friday’s preliminary round to end up 4-8-3. Marina Bassett and Charlotte Savage each scored once.

Field hockey

The South Portland/Westbrook co-op field hockey team, ranked 10th in Class A South, was eliminated at No. 7 Windham, 1-0, in last week’s preliminary round to wind up 6-8-1. Vivian Lolar made 12 saves.

Football 

On the gridiron, Cape Elizabeth finished its regular season 4-4 with a 33-18 home loss to Westbrook last Friday. The Capers’ points came on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Brady Inman to Eli Smith, a 4-yard Inman TD run and a 55-yard pass from Inman to Smith.

The Capers are the No. 2 seed in Class C South and have a bye into the semifinals. They will host No. 3 Leavitt (3-5), the two-time reigning state champion, Nov. 8.

South Portland snapped a three-game skid and improved to 5-3 and fourth in the Class A South Crabtree Points standings with a 39-20 win at Scarborough last Friday. The Red Riots trailed, 6-0, after one quarter, then came to life in the second period, as quarterback Easton Healy sandwiched touchdown runs of 31- and 3-yards around a 32-yard dash from Connor Gerard for a 20-6 halftime advantage. Healy scored on another 3-yard run in the third quarter and South Portland took a 26-13 lead to the fourth. There, Healy ran for a 5-yard score, then hit Matthew Berry from 16-yards out to put it away.

The Red Riots close the regular season at home Friday in the “Battle of the Bridge” versus Portland (6-2). Last year, the Bulldogs won, 34-6.