Rams to host Panthers in PTC playoff; Witches face Winslow

While football teams in Classes B and C still have one more week of the regular season to play, it’s already playoff team in the Pine Tree Conference (Eastern Maine Class A) and the Southern Maine Activities Association (West).

Waterville (4-4) at Bangor (6-2), Cameron Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday: The Purple Panthers get a rematch with a team that edged them by three points two weeks ago. It’s an intriguing quarterfinal playoff matchup as both are traditional run-first, pass-later teams that are deriving an unusually high amount of offensive production through the air.

Waterville senior quarterback Ryan Lockard leads the PTC in passing with 921 yards after completing 54 of 102 passes for six touchdowns and just two interceptions. Bangor’s Zak Ray is right behind him with 781 yards and seven TDs on 53-for-101 passing and six picks.

Waterville fullback Nathan Hart is third in the PTC among receivers with 322 yards on 16 catches. Split end Mike Prentiss leads Bangor receivers and is fourth in the league with 321 yards on a league-high 27 catches. Lockard also likes to look for Brian Tormollan and Matt Hilton while Ray’s other favorite targets are Wes Day and P.J. Dowe.

Tailback Matt Hilton leads Waterville’s ground game with 704 yards on 150 carries, but has only been in the end zone three times. Ryan Largay has 538 yards to his credit and four TDs.

Winslow (4-4) at Brewer (7-1), Doyle Field, 7 p.m. Friday: The Witches may have the second seeding in the LTC Class B playoffs nailed down, although some shuffling is still possible. The visiting Black Raiders, however, need a win to cement a postseason appearance as they are in a flat-footed tie with Morse (5-3) for the fourth and final playoff spot. A Winslow win may not only give them a playoff spot, it might leapfrog them into third.

Brewer’s Josh Caldwell is the LTC’s third-leading rusher with 738 yards and seven TDs on 116 carries. Although 2001 1,000-yard rusher Ricky Vigue has only 542 yards on 91 carries, he is one of the LTC’s elite backs and Winslow is 2-1 since his return from injury.

Brewer is looking to avenge a 40-15 loss to the two-time defending state champs and badly want to head into the playoffs fresh off a win over the Black Raiders after being mauled by the Belfast Lions last week.

Mattanawcook Academy (6-2) at Stearns (4-4), Alumni Field, 7 p.m. Friday: The Lynx are comfortably ensconced as the second seed in the LTC C playoff hierarchy, but the Minutemen need a win to fight off Dexter, which is just 12 points behind in the Crabtree rankings and breathing down their necks for the last playoff slot.

The Lynx are one of the most offensively-balanced teams in the LTC with 1,198 rushing yards and 1,286 passing yards behind QB Dustin Hanscom, receiver Jon Carney (34 catches, 680 yards, 10 TDs) and tailback Tyler Gardner (705 yards rushing). Stearns’ back Derek DiFrederico has gained 543 yards on 63 carries.

Dexter (4-4) at Foxcroft Academy (7-0), Oakes Field, 7 p.m. Friday: This big rivalry has added spice to it this year as the Tigers need the win to get in the playoffs and the Ponies are the top seed among LTC Class C teams. Dexter’s Adam Russell has gained 1,157 yards and scored 11 TDs on 151 carries while FA gets everyone in the mix offensively through QB Justin Withee (701 yards, seven TDs passing).

Bucksport (5-3) at Maine Central Institute (2-6), 7 p.m. Friday: The Bucks, currently the third seed, are looking to head into the playoffs with two straight wins. Quarterback Dow Cain directs the attack with 773 yards and 10 TDs while MCI QB Ryan Bennett is fifth among LTC passers with 669 yards.