Winslow’s streak on line vs. Stearns

Winslow High School will be putting a 24-game winning streak on the line Saturday when it hosts the Stearns Minutemen, winners of 21 of their last 24 games.

Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Poulin Field.

The Black Raiders were hacked apart by graduation losses, but tradition and depth should pay off this season. An early season matchup against the Minutemen will be a good test.

Chris Houston, who played in the shadow of a number of Winslow players last fall, steps to the forefront as a multi-purpose back/receiver. Only one full-time starter returns on both offensive and defensive lines, though.

Stearns, meanwhile, has 28 returning lettermen, including a number of key players on offense. Defense is where Stearns was hurt the worst by graduation. TB Jason Cyr, FB Brian Hallett, and TB Shawn Illingworth are key returees.

In other action:

Brewer at Dexter, at Dexter High, 1 p.m.

Don Farnham’s second season begins on the road… Chad Allen was impressive in an exhibition game against Class A Bangor and should key the team’s offense against Dexter… QB Dennis Roy and SE Tony Dennison are other keys… The Tigers only lost six starters from last year, but due to off-season financial question marks, only 24 kids returned, leaving the Tigers’ with depth of mud-puddle proportions… Keys are RBs Brent Cunningham and Danny Cummings.

Messalonskee at Rockland, at Rockland, 1 p.m.

Hurt by graduation losses on offense, defense will be the key to Messalonskee this season… And Rockland’s run-and-shoot will be a good early season test… Messalonskee’s strength is a tough defensive line, headed by Chris Fairfield… Rest of `D’ has improved over preseason… Rockland keys are: Josh Crafford and Isaac Carlson…

The rest of the schedule: Westbrook at Massabesic, Noble at Lisbon, Oxford Hills at Thornton Academy, Waterville at Cheverus, Winthrop at Leavitt, Oxford Hills at Thornton, Waterville at Cheverus