Waterville, Brunswick look to run

The Pine Tree Conference takes center stage with a pair of significant games Saturday.

Mt. Blue (1-0) at Waterville (1-0), 1 p.m., Drummond Field:

This game shapes up as a struggle between two divergent offenses: coach Gary `Pass’ Parlin’s Air Cougar attack vs. coach Frank Knight’s Powerful Panthers running game.

Waterville fullback Chad Hart rushed 21 times for 125 yards and halfback Chris DeGuzman tallied 114 yards on 13 carries last week and will look to duplicate that success on the ground by pounding away at Mt. Blue’s defensive line.

The Cougars will counter with the league’s second-rated passing game led by quarterback Davyd Collinson, who’s already demonstrated deep strike capability with 168 yards on four completions, three of which (for 155 yards) went to wideout Jon McCabe.

Brewer (0-1) at Brunswick (1-0), 1 p.m.:

The host Dragons are coming off a 42-41 thriller over Cony while the Brewer is still looking for its first points from the new single wing offense installed this summer.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve been looking all over for information on the single wing,” said Brunswick coach Dick Leavitt. “I got stuff sent up from New Jersey to prepare for that offense. I’m just glad we’re playing them early before they get too good at it.”

The Dragons hope to christen a brand new field with a victory in their home opener and will look to James Pederson – the PTC’s leading rusher with 198 yards and three touchdowns – to lead the way. Fullback Donald Weed, No. 3 in the PTC with 157 yards and two TDs, is equally dangerous.

Brewer’s offensive attack should be bolstered by the return of two key starters who had to sit out last week for training rules violations and the addition of transfer student Willie Sargent, who played at Bangor last season.

The Dragons will be without left guard-linebacker Jeremy DeWeese, who fractured his nose last week.