Bangor seeks first win; Brewer looking for second

Week two of the high school football season brings several more intriguing matchups, although the schedule isn’t quite as full of attention-grabbers that week one brought.

Bangor (0-1) at Gardiner (0-1), Hoch Field, 7 p.m. Friday: It’s much too early for anyone to be panicking, but both of these preseason playoff picks want to avoid an 0-2 start at all costs.

The defending state champion Rams aren’t used to being excluded from the top half of the team statistical ranks, but they find themselves seventh among the 12 Pine Tree Conference teams in total defense (yards allowed) with 279. The good news is the Rams are also once again among the elite in team offense with 312. That puts them second overall.

Keying Bangor’s offense is quarterback Zak Ray, the PTC’s leading passer with 163 yards and a 53.8 completion percentage (7-for-13) and leading receiver in tight end P.J. Dowe, who caught three passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns last week. Tailback Ryan Largay got off to a slow start with 69 yards on 21 carries against a tough Skowhegan defense.

Speaking of defense, Gardiner is ranked fifth after yielding 191 yards last week, but the Tigers are dead last in offense after being held to 65 total yards in a loss to Lewiston. Kris Ramsay is among the PTC’s top tacklers with 13 total.

Brewer (1-0) at Maine Central Institute (1-0), 7 p.m., Pittsfield Friday: The Witches want to keep on rolling through the early season after rolling up 296 yards on the ground last week. All eyes are on senior-tailback Seth Emerson, one of the LTC’s top returning rushers, but it was senior fullback Josh Caldwell who grabbed most of the yards with 162 on 25 carries. Emerson only touched the ball once last week, but busted a 64-yard gain.

The Huskies, who are young but talented with plenty of speed, are no slouches offensively as they feature the LTC’s top-ranked offense with 405 total yards last week. They’re also fifth defensively with 223. Brewer is right behind with 225 given up.

MCI spread the wealth in the backfield as four different backs gained 30 yards or more. Quarterback Ryan Bennett earned LTC “C” player of the week honors with a 195-yard, two-TD passing effort.

Winslow (1-0) at Foxcroft Academy (1-0), Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft, 7 p.m. Friday: The two-time defending Class B state champs (Winslow) meet a Class C state titlist favorite in the Ponies in one of the best crossover games of the season.

The visiting Black Raiders have a lethal ground attack with tailback Ricky Vigue, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, and fullback Derek Runnels, who gained 182 yards on 18 carries last week. Winslow is the LTC’s top-ranked defense.

Foxcroft is solid all around offensively as four different runners gained 22 yards or more last week in a dominating outing against Dexter.

Winslow will be trying for its 25th straight victory.

Belfast (1-0) at Stearns (0-1), Alumni Field, Millinocket, 7 p.m. Friday: Different year, same problem for Belfast opponents: How do you stop Jeff Parenteau?

The slippery, elusive tailback grabbed 170 yards and three TDs on 23 carries while quarterback John Lear accounted for another 79 yards on 10 carries.

Stearns didn’t roll up a lot of yardage against a stingy Winslow defense last week as the Minutemen of Millinocket managed 110 while giving up 371.

Hampden Academy (0-1) at Bucksport (1-0, Carmichael Field, 7 p.m. Friday: Another tough Class C opponent for the young Hampden Broncos will give the Class B team another tough test.

Orono (1-0) at John Bapst (0-1), Cameron Stadium, 7 p.m. Saturday: The Red Riots started off their season splendidly with a win over traditional rival Old Town while a young John Bapst squad is trying to snap a 32-game losing streak.