Class B, C sites shifted Portland to host 3 football games

Call it Super Saturday.

Due primarily to last weekend’s snowstorm and continuous precipitation the last two weeks, both the Class B and C state championship football games have been moved from central Maine locations to an artificial turf field in Portland.

The games originally scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Cony High School’s Alumni Field (Class B) and Winslow’s Poulin Field (Class C) have been shifted to Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. The A game (Edward Little vs. Portland) originally scheduled for 1 p.m. is now at 11 a.m., followed by the C game (Foxcroft Academy vs. Boothbay) at 3 p.m. and the B game (Belfast vs. Scarborough) at 7 p.m.

Officials at both Cony and Winslow contacted Maine Principals’ Association representatives Wednesday to let them know that their fields would not be ready for play by Saturday.

“We were hopeful we could play here, but it just wasn’t going to be possible,” said Cony athletic director Dan Bowers. “With the snow and the fact the field hadn’t frozen yet, and with no frost on there yet, it didn’t look good.

“The city got on the field with a tractor and a new snow blower and cleared a four-foot wide path for about 15 yards, and it was just too soft. So with the forecast and the conditions we had on there, there’s no way it would have been ready in time. There was crusted-over ice on the ground where the cheerleaders normally stand and a couple spots in the stands were icy.”

Bowers called his counterpart at Winslow, Sean Keenan, and was told conditions were identical there.

“They tried to blow their field this morning and blew more grass than they did snow and water, and they weren’t having much luck in Winslow either,” said MPA assistant executive director Larry Labrie. “The bottom line is there was too much damage.”

Stadium officials will have approximately 90 minutes to clear the stands and ready the field between games. Ticket prices are $5 (adults) and $3 (students), and fans may stay and watch all three games with one ticket, provided they don’t leave the stadium.

This is the first time weather has forced relocation or postponement of state games in five years, according to LaBrie. The games were postponed to Monday in 1997, but that wasn’t a very popular decision as many fans were unable to attend the rescheduled weeknight games.

LaBrie said the coaches of the teams affected were generally supportive of the decision.

“I’m disappointed because I’m not sure we’ll get as many fans to come to the game as we might have had in Winslow with a shorter distance, but I don’t think the kids or coaches care that much as long as we get to play,” said Foxcroft coach Paul Withee.

Players will be able to wear their regular cleats, and if either team cannot schedule practice on the turf field, neither team will be able to.

Withee said the venue change may actually help his Ponies.

“In this situation, I think it might benefit us more than Boothbay because we’re more of a speed team with size and they’re more of a size and power team,” he said. “I think if we’d played at Winslow, it might have benefited them because of our speed game.

“Of course, I think the people who benefit the most are the football junkies who have always wanted to see this and will be able to pay for one ticket and sit in the stands from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and watch football all day.”

Brewer’s Clark in Foot Locker

Brewer High senior Heather Clark will compete against some of the best runners in the region for a spot on the national team at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Northeast Regional.

Clark will run the Nov. 30 race at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y. The top eight boys and top eight girls to finish the 5,000-meter race will advance to the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals on Dec. 14 in San Diego.

The New York race is one of four regional 5K races held nationwide.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or aneff@bangordailynews.net