Victories by Bangor, Brewer would lock up playoff spots

As the final weekend of Eastern Maine regular season football action approaches, six of the 12 games on the schedule have taken on playoff significance.

Of those six, three loom as especially important local games:

Bangor (6-2) at Skowhegan (2-6), 7 p.m., Friday.

In a convoluted Pine Tree Conference playoff picture, Bangor’s is fairly clear: A win, and the Rams are in. They can finish second, third, fourth, or miss the playoffs entirely, but only if they lose.

The Rams bring the PTC’s top-ranked defense and offense into a battle with a Skowhegan team showing signs of steady improvement at the end of a season marked by growing pains.

“Certainly they’ve played every team in the league tough,” said Bangor coach Gabby Price. “I think they’re very tough up front on both sides of the ball.”

Skowhegan is coming off an emotional 26-20 loss to Oxford Hills, which downed the Rams 27-14 two weeks ago.

Rams tailback Pat Estey, the PTC’s third-leading rusher, sprained his ankle two weeks ago and did not play last week. Estey has practiced this week but Price says his status is “day-to-day.”

Hampden (3-5) at Brewer (5-3), 7 p.m., Friday, Doyle Field.

The Witches have won two in a row. A third straight would put them in the LTC Class B playoffs for the first time since 1991.

But with that berth in sight, the Witches will have to play without shifty quarterback Jeff Conlon, who sprained his knee in practice this week.

“We talked a couple weeks ago that we had to win the next three games and we still have that one step to go,” said Brewer coach Don Farnham. “We’re not even thinking playoffs right now.”

Farnham’s team can’t afford to look past Hampden Academy. The Broncos, who have had good success running behind a huge offensive line, can strike quickly for points.

“They run the ball real well,” Farnham agreed. “Their schemes are good so that if you don’t come to play, they can put you in a hole. Their offense can score a lot of points.”

Brewer running back Seth Burnes is almost back to 100 percent after a battle with the flu and a knee injury forced him into spot duty. Another banged-up player, defensive back John Schwarze, is probable for Friday’s game after spraining his ankle last week.

Maine Central Institute (3-5) at John Bapst (3-5), 7 p.m., Saturday, Cameron Stadium.

This game needs no buildup. Simply put, the winner goes to the playoffs. The loser stays home.

“MCI at this point in the season is a real dangerous team,” said John Bapst coach Matt Clark.

This game boils down to John Bapst’s proficiency inside the 20-yard line and the success of MCI running back Aric Friend, who coach Bob LeCours has referred to as “The Franchise.”

“Friend can beat you a lot of different ways. You have to keep him tackle to tackle,” said Clark.

John Bapst has a couple of key players back at full strength: running back-defensive back Mike Brockett (concussion) and co-captain Ben Pratt (slight knee ligament tear).