Bangor will depend on defense vs. Cony MCI, Stearns both seeking rebound

High school football’s regular season is nearing the final turn, with just two weeks remaining on the Class A schedule and three weeks left in Classes B and C.

For some teams, Week 7 marks an exercise in postseason positioning. For others, it’s a fight for playoff survival.

Cony Rams (3-3) vs. Bangor Rams (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday, at Bangor: Bangor is coming off its second shutout victory of the season, a 21-0 win at Waterville. The Rams have allowed only 34 points in six games – and just 14 points during their current four-game win streak.

That defense should get a boost this week as linebacker and fullback Ben Payson is expected to return after sitting out the Waterville game due to injury.

Payson’s hard-hitting presence could play a key role against Cony, whose losses have come to Deering, Skowhegan and Mt. Blue – teams with a combined 15-3 record.

“Cony’s a good football team, and they could be our biggest challenge up front,” Bangor coach Mark Hackett said. “They run a double wing, and it’s student body left and student body right. We have to be ready for it or we could look like we’re on roller skates.”

Bangor counters with a highly effective ground game of its own featuring senior Mike Prentiss, one of the state’s leading rushers with more than 1,150 yards and 14 touchdowns.

While Bangor is in line for one of the top seeds in the Pine Tree Conference Class A North, Cony is battling for the division’s fourth and final playoff berth. Coach Tom Hinds’ club took a big step toward securing that spot with a 7-6 victory over fifth-place Messalonskee of Oakland last Friday.

“We knew if we wanted to make the playoffs in the PTC we’ve got to be in the top four, and to do that we had to beat Waterville, Lawrence and Messalonskee,” said Hinds.

Cony is led by Miles Whitlock, who plays middle linebacker on defense and normally plays offensive guard. This week, he is expected to play fullback to fill a void caused by injuries.

Injuries also may play a role in who plays quarterback for Cony. Junior Chris Gay was the starter until suffering a concussion during a Week 5 loss to Mt. Blue. He may return to the lineup Friday night, but if not freshman Gabe Hinds – the coach’s son – will get the call.

Maine Central Institute Huskies (4-2) vs. Stearns Minutemen (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday, at Millinocket: This is a matchup of teams on the rebound from Week 6 losses.

Stearns was unable to hold a 13-0 second-half lead in falling to Foxcroft Academy 14-13 in a battle of the unbeatens.

MCI was victimized by big plays in its 20-7 loss to Bucksport. The Golden Bucks never trailed, and scored two of their touchdowns on a 65-yard run and a 74-yard kickoff return.

“When you play teams like Bucksport and Foxcroft and Stearns, you have to maintain a high level of play if you’re going to win,” said MCI coach Tom Bertrand. “We’re both coming off a loss, but they were different situations because they had a chance to win and lost it, and we were never really in a position to win because we got behind early.”

Stearns is led by senior quarterback and linebacker Derek DiFrederico, one of the Minutemen’s top tacklers as well as a passing and rushing threat on offense.

DiFrederico is a kid you have to account for on every play,” Bertrand said. “He can run the ball, he can make things happen when he puts it in the air, and he’s a natural leader. The kids around him play hard because of how he plays. He brings a lot of intangibles.”

MCI counters with senior running back and linebacker Jonathan Smith, who provides similar multifaceted leadership for the Huskies.

“They’ve got great team speed, and once the ball is snapped guys fly to the football,” Stearns coach Chris Preble said. “Offensively, Smith is a great running back. Once he gets outside he’s hard to stop, and he uses his body well to protect himself from the defense.”

While neither team has clinched a postseason berth, the winner will take a solid step toward securing home-field advantage for the first round of the LTC playoffs.

“If we want to have a home playoff game, this is one of the games we have to win,” Preble said. “And, obviously, we’re not in the playoffs yet, so we have to win a couple of more to get there.”

Brunswick Dragons (5-1) at Skowhegan Indians (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday, at Skowhegan: The game of the night in the PTC Class A features the conference’s two most prolific offenses.

Skowhegan has bounced back from a 17-0 loss at Bangor in Week 4 with solid wins over Messalonskee and Lawrence. The Indians, averaging nearly 35 points per game in their victories, are led by senior running back Jarred Walker, who runs behind one of the state’s largest lines.

Brunswick, which shares the PTC Class A South’s best record with Gardiner, has ripped off five straight wins since a season-opening shutout loss to the Tigers. The Dragons are led by 240-pound fullback Phillip Warren, who has rushed for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns. The senior erupted for 281 yards and five touchdowns – one on a 92-yard run -in a 34-13 win against 4-2 Oxford Hills last Friday to make up for the absence of quarterback Ralph Mims.