Victory streaks on line Rams, Witches hope to roll on

Week six of the high school football season brings some contests which have gone a long way toward settling the playoff picture in respective conferences in recent years. Although some are not as attractive as preseason pundits expected, they’re no less important as teams start cementing playoff spots with two to three weeks left to go.

Oxford Hills (1-4) at Bangor (3-2), Cameron Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday: The Rams have rallied from an 0-2 start with three dramatic wins. The Vikings are reeling in the wake of the suspensions of 19 student-athletes, including several football players, who attended parties where alcohol was served.

The undermanned Vikings will have their work cut out for them as Bangor is starting to work more offensive balance into its attack with tailback Ryan Largay moving up to eighth among Pine Tree Conference rushers with 381 yards on 108 carries. Largay’s efforts are key to taking the heat off one of Bangor’s most productive passing attacks in recent years.

Zak Ray is second among PTC quarterbacks with 467 yards and four touchdowns on 28-for-61 passing. Bangor has three receivers among the top 11 in P.J. Dowe (seven catches, 178 yards), Wes Day (9-165), and Mike Prentiss (10-106). Nick Achorn is 7-for-7 on PAT kicks and leads PTC kickers with 16 points and Ben Payson is seventh in tackles with 57.

Vikings running back Tyler Slack is two spots ahead of Largay with 396 yards on 101 carries and QB Brent Grenier is just behind Ray with 401 yards on 33-for-69 passing.

Mount Desert Island (1-4) at Brewer (5-0), Doyle Field, 7 p.m. Friday: The Witches are enjoying their best start in decades and are perched atop the LTC Class B standings, but they want to keep their momentum going as they face a tough stretch run.

Brewer features one of the area’s best offensive backfields with Josh Caldwell (84 carries, 481 yards, five TDs), Seth Emerson (49-373) and Chris Rancourt (35-215). Brewer QB Sean Collins is coming off an LTC B player of the week effort in which he passed for 115 yards and one touchdown while rushing for two more TD’s.

MDI back David Zabala is just behind Caldwell and sixth overall in rushing (79-383, 6 TDs).

Brewer’s defense is third in the LTC with 184.4 yards and 8.4 points allowed per game. The visiting Trojans have allowed 286.8 yards and 26.4 points per game.

Foxcroft Academy (5-0) at Bucksport (4-1), Carmichael Field, 7 p.m. Friday: The premier matchup of the week in the LTC will likely leave the winner as the top seed in the LTC Class C playoffs and the loser as the No. 2 team.

The Ponies have been galloping along with 290.2 yards of offense per game, while giving up a stingy 125.4 to lead the LTC. Quarterback Josh Withee leads the offense with 334 yards and five TDs passing. Danny White and Josh Sands are fourth and fifth, respectively, among point scorers with 38 and 36 points.

The Bucks are averaging 293.4 per game while yielding 225.4. Dow Cain is fourth in passing with 404 yards and five TDs. John Harvey and Joey Carmichael have combined for almost 300 receiving yards.

Mattanawcook Academy (3-2) at Orono (3-2), 7 p.m. Friday: Another key LTC Class C could decide third and fourth place in LTC Class C. MA’s Dustin Hanscom leads the LTC with 879 yards and nine TDs passing while Orono’s Jason Coleman is right behind him with 679 yards and seven TDs. MA also can run with Tyler Gardner (85 carries, 501 yards).

Belfast (5-0) at Winslow (2-3), Poulin Field, 1 p.m., Saturday: The luster is off this perennial postseason preview a bit this year with Winslow beset by a slow start and depth problems due to injuries and academic eligibility. Jeff Parenteau is well on his way to another 1,000-yard season with 870 plus 14 TDs on 91 carries. Another returning 1,000-yard rusher, Winslow’s Ricky Vigue, is still questionable.