Witches face test; Rams, Blue Devils clash

Several intriguing matchups dot week four’s schedule as several games size up as make-or-breakers, statement games, or both.

Teams such as Bangor are trying to avoid making a return trip to the playoffs the hard way while unbeaten schools such as Brewer should find out just how good they are as they face their toughest opponents to date.

Brewer (3-0) at Scarborough (3-0), 7 p.m., Friday: The Witches are off to a 3-0 start for the second straight season and have been eyeing their second crack at the Red Storm, who dealt them their first loss of the season last year decisively.

“Oh, I think we’ve all had this date circled on the calendar for quite some time now,” Brewer coach Josh Emmett said with a chuckle a day after last week’s win over Fryeburg. “This is a big test for us.”

These teams couldn’t be much more even going into this contest as both have unblemished records and 10148.148 Crabtree Point System ratings. That total puts Brewer atop the LTC B ranks and Scarborough less than three points back of Lake Region.

The Witches feature a lethal running attack that has plenty of talent, durability, versatility and depth as LTC B player of the week Seth Emerson is coming off a 137-yard effort last week, Josh Caldwell is third among LTC point producers with 30, and both are ranked among the top five in yardage. Other players to watch when the quarterback hands off are Court Rancourt, Eric Trask, and Chris Fox.

Scarborough is poised for a return to the Western Maine finals with 12 starters back, including bruising running back Nial DeMena, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds.

Lewiston (2-1) at Bangor (1-2), Cameron Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday: The Blue Devils return to Bangor for the first time since a 13-6 Pine Tree Conference semifinal loss last November. Both games between these two teams were teeth-rattlers and arguably the hardest-hitting contests the Rams were involved in all season.

This week promises more of the same, although the defending champions aren’t quite as big and physical as they were last year. That means Bangor may have to employ more guile and finesse than it usually does against the huge and hard-hitting Devils.

Bangor certainly has finesse weapons to use with PTC leading passer Zak Ray (327 yards, 3 TDs), who has also rushed for 100 yards in a game; end P.J. Dowe (five catches for 171 yards and 3 TDs).

Lewiston counters with QB Brent Dube (237, 2 TDs) and receiver Kirk Bolduc (126 yards).

Mattanawcook Academy (2-1) at Maine Central Institute (2-1), 7 p.m. Friday: This battle between Lincoln’s Lynx and the Huskies should impact the postseason seedings as both shape up as playoff contenders.

MA tailback Tyler Gardner is the LTC’s fifth-leading rusher with 274 yards on 45 carries and QB Dylan Hanscom is the top passer with 562 yards and six TDs on 32-for-59 passing. MCI QB Ryan Bennett is No. 3 with 288 yards and five TDs on 13-for-28 passing.

MA has two of the LTC’s top three receivers in Jon Carney (17 catches for 311 yards and five TDs) and Brad Greenlaw (two, 118, one). MCI’s Marty Quint has four catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Wells (1-2) at Belfast (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday: This start couldn’t be much better for a program like Belfast, which turned slow starts and strong finishes into a staple. Tailback Jeff Parenteau leads the LTC with 555 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

Edward Little (2-1) at Skowhegan (3-0), Clark Memorial Field, 7 p.m., Friday: This looms as a big game for both teams as the front-running Indians try to put some space between them and the rest of the PTC pack.

Bucksport (2-1) at Dexter (1-2), 1 p.m. Saturday: The defending Eastern Maine Class C champs can’t really afford to stumble here as a loss would both slow the Bucks down, give the Tigers a shot in the arm, and open up the whole LTC Class C playoff picture.