Pivotal points up for grabs in key games

It’s nitty-gritty time for teams in the playoff race as the season winds down for Maine’s high school football teams. This is the final week of the regular season in Class A as both the Pine Tree Conference and Southern Maine Activities Association begin their three-round playoffs next week. Everyone else has two weeks left to clear up the playoff picture.

Bangor (7-0) at Messalonskee (4-3), 7 p.m., Memorial Field, Oakland: The Rams already have the top spot in the Pine Tree Conference and the playoffs sewn up, but they’d like to become the first PTC team to end the regular season undefeated since Lawrence in 1996 and the first Bangor team to do it in 28 years.

The Eagles owned the top-ranked defense in the PTC a week ago, but then they gave up 31 points to Mt. Blue’s aerial attack and slipped out of the top five. Meanwhile, the Rams notched their third regulation shutout while rushing for more than 300 yards with the PTC’s No. 2-ranked defense and offense.

Bangor is led by senior tailback Buddy Nickerson, who retook the top spot among PTC rushers this week with 936 yards on 157 carries. He’s also the top scorer with 14 touchdowns and 84 points. Quarterback Chris Bombardier (43-for-81) is No. 3 among passers with 639 yards, but No. 1 in interceptions with four as a cornerback. Nick Achorn is No. 3 among placekickers with a field goal and 20 points off 17-for-18 accuracy on PAT kicks. Messalonskee counters with Chad Dennis, who’s among the conference’s top five rushers, and the No. 2 kicker in Eric Castonguay, who is 12-for-13 on PAT kicks plus four field goals – three from 31-40 yards away.

Belfast (6-1) at Brewer (6-1), 7 p.m., Doyle Field: Both the Lions and Witches appear well-positioned for the playoffs, but a win would cement the No. 2 spot behind Winslow for either team.

Brewer owns the top-ranked defense (129.0 total yards allowed per game) in the LTC and the No. 2 offense (323.1 per game) while Belfast is No. 1 in offense (363.0) and sixth in defense (208.1).

Belfast junior tailback Jeff Parenteau is the LTC’s top scorer and rusher with 12 TDs, 80 points, and 1,060 yards on 131 carries. Ben Cowan is the No. 3 quarterback with 24-for-44 passing for 540 yards and nine TDs and favorite target, senior wingback Colby Horne, is fourth among receivers with 10 catches for 224 yards and four TDs. Brewer’s offensive engine is built around the four-cylinder backfield of quarterback Sean Collins (208 yards rushing, 214 passing), wingbacks Seth Emerson (608 yards on 56 carries) and Chris Cote (389 on 50), and fullback Josh Caldwell (nine TDs, 332 yards on 69).

Stearns (4-3) at Foxcroft Academy (5-2), 7 p.m., Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft: Millinocket’s Minutemen are on the verge of a remarkable turnaround. After losing its first three games, Stearns is on a four-game win streak and in the third spot in the Class C playoff race. The Ponies are No. 2, but only by 4.76 Crabtree points – which determine the top four spots.

Key players are backs Ryan Sweeney (445 yards, seven TDs, 86 carries) and Derek DiFrederico (328, seven, 53) of Stearns, and FA backs Josh Sands (508, six, 78), Danny White (464, six, 56) and Derek Morong (304, five, 42). FA’s Josh Withee is No. 4 among passers with 454 yards and seven TDs.

Maine Central Institute (2-5) at Dexter (4-3), 1 p.m. Saturday: The host Tigers need a win to maintain the pace among the three teams currently tied, record-wise for the last two playoff spots in the East C ranks. Dexter will rely on halfbacks Kevin Armstrong (641 yards on 118 carries), Adam Russell (635 on 98) and quarterback Vinnie Greene (26-61 for 397 yards) – all of whom are among the top five in their categories. The bulk of the offensive load for the Huskies of Pittsfield is carried by Tom Twombly (563 yards, 83 carries).

Mattanawcook Academy (4-3) at John Bapst (0-7), 7 p.m. Saturday, Cameron Stadium: The visiting Lynx of Lincoln are out to earn a playoff spot while the Crusaders are out to snap a 30-game losing streak dating back three years. The Lynx occupy the fourth and final playoff spot among East C teams with two games to go and 10,104.76 Crabtree points – just 6.349 ahead of Dexter. Offensive leaders for each team are MA’s Ty Gardner (546 yards, four TDs) and Bapst’s Pat Healy (651, three).