Teams hope to brave weather> Rams face Waterville; Brewer tilt postponed

The tropical storm formerly known as Hurricane Floyd is still managing to throw a kink into this weekend high school football schedule.

It had already affected two games Thursday night as both Rockland and Messalonskee of Oakland opted to move their games from Friday night to Saturday afternoon.

Rockland will host Maine Central Institute at 1 p.m. Saturday and Messalonskee will host Brewer at 1:30 p.m.

Storm or no, most teams expect to play Friday and here are some of the best matchups among them:

Waterville (0-1) at Bangor (2-0), Cameron Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday.

This rematch of a 1998 Pine Tree Conference quarterfinal playoff game has been circled on the calendars of returning Bangor veterans for a long time.

Bangor would like nothing better than to erase the bitter memory of the 31-0 quarterfinal loss Waterville ended the Rams’ season with.

Bangor enters the game with the PTC’s top-rated defense, top rusher, and best record. The Rams have allowed 210 total yards in two games behind defensive leaders Rob Bastey, Andy Hess, James Bradford and John Fergerson.

Waterville will play without three starters for the second straight week after they were suspended for athletic code violations.

Backup quarterback Chris Hart had a solid effort (2-for-3, 67 yards, 1 int., 1 TD) in Dean Carpenter’s stead last week, but the Panthers’ offensive star was fullback Tony Harmon, a transfer from Messalonskee. Harmon rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Junior tailback Justin Libbey of Bangor is picking up almost where Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist Hampton Clarkson left off last year. Libbey has totalled 332 yards and two touchdowns with 70 carries.

Mt. Blue (2-0) at Gardiner (0-2), Hoch Field, 7 p.m.

Mt. Blue is on a roll, but a better way to put it might be `in a glide’ since the Cougars have been dispatching teams through the air.

Senior quarterback T.J. Bell leads the PTC with 451 yards and eight TDs on 63 percent passing (39-for-62) in his first season as the starter.

Jon McCabe and J.R. Moreau are Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, among PTC receivers. McCabe has four TDs amd 205 yards receiving while Moreau has three and 182.

Two-time defending PTC champ Gardiner has been reeling since a couple preseason injuries knocked out key players like Andy Munzing.

Veteran quarterback Vinnie Lavallee leads the Tigers in rushing (85 yards) and passing (3-for-5, 76 yards), but the supporting cast is thin from injuries.

Bucksport (0-2) at Stearns (2-0), Alumni Field, 7 p.m. Friday.

This is another matchup of ’98 playoff teams, but the visiting Golden Bucks may be in the midst of a rebuilding season while the Minutemen are riding a 14-game win streak as they try and defend their ’98 Class C state championship.

Running back Justin Cummings of Stearns is No. 2 in the LTC in scoring with 48 points and No. 3 in rushing with 315 yards in just 14 carries.

Bucksport is led by Ronnie Hutchins, a bruising back who’s fourth in the league in rushing with 286 yards on 52 carries.

Lawrence (1-1) at Oxford Hills (1-1), Gouin Athletic Complex, South Paris, 7 p.m. Friday.

Both teams need this game badly as a potential springboard into playoff contention. The loser, at 1-2, could find itself two games behind with only five left in a season that promises to be ultra-competitive.

Fullback Don Thibodeau leads the Bulldogs with 140 yards and two touchdowns while the Vikings are paced by leading rusher T.J. Reece (276 yards, two TD’s).