Brewer, Belfast battling for No. 1 seed in LTC B Golden Bucks need win to secure playoff berth

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Week eight of the high school football season brings a marquee LTC matchup and the regular-season finales for teams in the Pine Tree Conference as the playoff picture clears up. Brewer (7-0) at Belfast (7-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Nothing much more needs to be said…
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Week eight of the high school football season brings a marquee LTC matchup and the regular-season finales for teams in the Pine Tree Conference as the playoff picture clears up.

Brewer (7-0) at Belfast (7-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Nothing much more needs to be said about this matchup than the winner is the top LTC Class B seed and possessor of home-field advantage until the state championship game. The loser is the likely No. 2 seed.

There isn’t much separating these teams, on paper or on the field, as both have given up exactly the same points per game (6.9) and are separated by only 6.3 index points in the Crabtree Point System rankings (Brewer leads 142.86 to 136.51). The teams split their two meetings last year as Brewer beat the Lions in a regular-season overtime match-up before Belfast came back to beat the Witches 36-8 in the LTC semifinals.

Jeff Parenteau leads the LTC in rushing for the second straight season with 1,071 yards and 16 touchdowns on 123 carries. The two-time 1,000-yard rusher also leads the LTC in points with 102. The Lions lead the LTC offensively with 377 yards per game.

Brewer, which is fourth offensively with 317.1 yards a game, also relies heavily on its ground game with backs Josh Caldwell (97 carries, 642 yards, 7 TDs), Seth Emerson (66, 534, 3), and Court Rancourt (44, 305, 4).

Defensively, Brewer leads the LTC with a stingy 139.8 yards-per-game average while Belfast is right behind at 152.7.

Messalonskee (1-5) at Bangor (5-2), Cameron Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday: This one looks like a mismatch as the Rams are charging into the postseason with a five-game win streak while the Eagles of Oakland have lost four straight.

Bangor’s Zak Ray is the PTC’s No. 2 quarterback with 632 yards and six TDs on 43-for-85 passing. Mike Prentiss (seventh), Wes Day (eighth), and P.J. Dowe (10th) are among the PTC’s top receivers. Ryan Largay is ninth among rushers with 529 yards on 152 carries.

Bangor’s defense, which is ranked fourth, has allowed 200.1 yards per game. The offense is fifth with 248.4 yards per game.

Messalonskee back Chris Duffy is fifth in the league with 589 yards on 102 carries, but has only scored three TDs.

Orono (3-4) at Bucksport (4-3), Carmichael Field, 7 p.m. Friday: The formula is pretty simple for the Golden Bucks: Win and you’re in. The Bucks are currently fourth in the LTC Crabtree rankings and a win guarantees them the fourth and final spot in the LTC Class C playoffs.

Foxcroft Academy (7-0) at Stearns (4-3), Alumni Field, Millinocket, 7 p.m. Friday: The visiting Ponies have LTC C’s top playoff seeding nailed down, but Stearns needs to win to hold off challenges from Bucksport for the third spot and Dexter for the final one.

Dexter (4-3) at Maine Central Institute (2-5), Pittsfield, 7 p.m. Friday: The Tigers need some help to get into the playoffs. Dexter tailback Adam Russell eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,035 yards and 10 touchdowns.


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