Waterville-Gardiner battle tops Friday schedule

Potential playoff previews and significant matchups dot the Friday night schoolboy football schedule as teams head into Week 3 of the season.

Waterville (2-0) at Gardiner (1-1), 7 p.m., Hoch Field:

The statistical matchups alone – the Pine Tree Conference’s No. 5 offense (Gardiner) vs. the No. 3 defense and No. 4 offense vs. the No. 4 defense – make it the PTC’s marquee game.

Don’t expect a lot of passes to be thrown as the Purple Panthers will try to wear down Gardiner’s front line as they’ve done in their two previous games. The Tigers will counter with a run game which has produced only 20 fewer yards than Waterville (581 to 601).

“It’s a little early, but this could be a separation point for both teams as far as who moves on,” said Panthers coach Frank Knight.

Stearns (2-0) at Foxcroft Academy (2-0), 7 p.m., Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft:

The rematch of last season’s Eastern Class C semifinal, won by the Ponies 9-6, could be a preview of this year’s LTC Class C championship.

Foxcroft will have to make do without tailback-cornerback-punter-kicker Brian Bellemare. The third-leading scorer in the league is out after suffering a sprained neck and/or pinched nerve after hitting a tackling dummy wrong in practice Wednesday.

Mattanawcook Academy (2-0) at Maine Central Institute (2-0), 7 p.m., Pittsfield:

Another big LTC Class C clash matches up two much-improved teams unfamiliar with playoff runs.

The MCI Huskies and MA Lynx have finished fifth and sixth each of the last three years and neither has made the playoffs in the last four years.

Bangor (1-1) at Lawrence (0-2), 7 p.m., Keyes Field, Fairfield:

The young Bulldogs are reeling after being hit hard by injuries the last two weeks, but the Rams won’t be looking past this game – a traditional pound-a-thon between two programs that love to run.

“If you can’t get excited once a week and play against a big rival like Lawrence, I don’t know what will get you excited,” said Bangor coach Gabby Price.

Two weeks ago, the Bulldogs lost fullback Chris Bolduc for the season after he broke his arm in two places. Also gone for the year is defensive end-wingback James Bickford, who tore ligaments in his knee in the same game.

Last week, things got even worse as backup fullback and nose guard Chad Harrington suffered temporary paralysis from severe whiplash he received while making a tackle. The junior visited practice Wednesday and recently started to regain full use of his arms and legs, but will not play football again.

Another casualty is starting center Jake Rogers, who’s out for two weeks with a broken finger.

“It’s been real tough. Our kids have been through a lot this month, but we tell them `Tough times don’t last. Tough people do,” said second-year head coach Brad Bishop.

Skowhegan (0-2) at Brewer (0-2), 7 p.m., Doyle Field:

They may be winless, but both teams have shown flashes of success. Brewer’s defense in an 8-0 loss at Brunswick and Skowhegan’s passing game in a 21-14 loss to Bangor turned heads last week.

“Their guy [Ben Clark] throws as well as any high school quarterback I’ve seen,” said Brewer coach Josh Emmett, whose defense stuffed Brunswick twice on drives inside the 10-yard line.

“We take a lot of pride in our defense,” he said. “Offensively, we’re going to start do some things that will force teams to honor other things besides our run.”

Old Town (1-1) at Hampden Academy (2-0), 7 p.m.:

The Broncos have put up 138 points the last two weeks.

“Any team that does that, you have to take some extra time to prepare against,” said Old Town coach Ian Braun. “We’d like to take the air out of the ball but they won’t let us.”

So Old Town will try to mount long drives and avoid turnovers, which could be deadly against Hampden’s opportunistic offense.