Sports

COMMENTARY: The overall health of high school football in the state still needs to be addressed.

But as the clock ticks, it may be difficult to find suitable opponents in New Hampshire for all Maine teams.

Class A teams will get to play a New Hampshire opponent, and all 11-man football teams will play some games based on divisional rankings.

King, 2011 graduate of Greely High before playing college football at Husson, and will lead the Rangers into the eight-man league this fall.

Bangor will host the Class C and D 11-man championships on Saturday, Nov. 19, while the Class A and B games will be played at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

For the first time, Class A schools would play a game against a New Hampshire opponent.

The Rangers have been part of a co-op with Falmouth since 2019 but are thinking about restarting their own program.

The senior all-star game that benefits Shriners Hospitals will be held at Lewiston High for the second straight year.

Brandon Dorsett takes over a program that was mired in a hazing scandal last year.

McDuffie is the first player from Cape Elizabeth High to win the trophy, awarded to Maine's top senior in high school football.

The award dinner returns after being called off last year because of the pandemic.

The panel also approves a ceiling of 33 players for teams intent on playing eight-man football.

The Stags played one year of eight-man football, dominating opponents last fall en route to the Large School Division championship.

UMaine gets commitments from two of the top players in Class A – Thornton Academy quarterback Jack Emerson and Bonny Eagle running back Zac Oja.

Bonny Eagle's Thomas Horton is one of three finalists for this year's award, given to the top senior in Maine high school football.

The school, which has won 22 Maine state championships, planned to have 150 players, coaches, parents and alumni at Fenway Park for an on-field recognition.

After playing youth and high school football across the country, McDuffie came 'home' to Maine and led the Capers to their first state title.

The awards, given to the state's top senior offensive and defensive linemen, come with $5,000 scholarships for the two winners.

Thomas Horton of Bonny Eagle, Will Ledbetter of Windham and Caden McDuffie of Cape Elizabeth are finalists for Maine's top high school football award.

After its 2021 season was canceled midseason amid a hazing investigation, Brunswick's varsity football program faces two-year ban from competition.

The award is given annually to the top high school senior football player in Maine.

Despite hiccups along the way, Morse, Mt. Ararat and Freeport turn in standout fall seasons.

Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Back after a year with no tackle football, teams battled coronavirus this fall to stay on the field.

Caden McDuffie throws five first-half touchdown passes as the Capers overwhelm Winslow in the Class C final.

The Hawks come up with clutch plays in the fourth quarter – one of them on a daring call – to hold off the previously undefeated Eagles, 14-13.

The Trojans build a 21-point halftime lead on their way to a 42-27 victory over Oxford Hills.

The Ponies score the go-ahead touchdown early in fourth quarter and hold on for a 19-16 victory.

The Capers, who lost in two previous state title games, play Winslow on Saturday for the Class C championship.

Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium will be the site of title games in Classes A, B and C, starting at 11 a.m.

Oxford Hills had six turnovers in a 31-23 loss to Thornton Academy on Oct. 15, while the Trojans struggled to get key parts of their game going.

Undefeated and top-seeded Foxcroft Academy takes on No. 2 Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale.

Andrew Goodwin – a fullback, middle linebacker, punter and special teams ace – has helped lead the Hawks on an impressive playoff run in Class B.

A senior tight end and linebacker, Garrison has come up huge in all three phases of the game for the 9-0 Eagles.

Several players on Midcoast teams also receive Campbell Conference recognition.

Coming off drama last weekend that will be hard to top, the state title games in Classes A, B and C all feature compelling story lines.

The Hawks dominate the previously undefeated Bulldogs, 35-0, and will play for a fourth straight state championship.

The Tigers stun Maranacook, 34-30, to claim their first football championship since 1987.

Dominic Trott scores three touchdowns in the Ramblers' 28-19 victory over the Falcons.

Dominic Trott scores three touchdowns for Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale in a 28-19 victory.

Caden McDuffie's 3-yard run, at the end of a 10-minute drive, gives the Capers a 25-23 win and a spot in the state championship game.

Eli Soehren tosses four TD passes and runs for another score, leading the second-ranked Vikings to a 34-7 semifinal victory.

The unbeaten Golden Trojans trailed 12-7 at halftime before taking control against an inspired Red Storm squad.

The second-seeded Black Raiders use balanced ground game to hold off the fifth-seeded Hawks, 38-30.

Will Ledbetter throws 5 touchdown passes — including 2 in overtime — to carry Eagles to the state final.

The Stags shut out Waterville to win the Gold Ball, 56-0.

Waterville plays Cheverus in the Large School division, and Maranacook and Dexter meet in the Small School final.