Witches facing big test

Week 9 of the high school football season in Classes B and C has different meaning to different teams.

For some, it’s the final test of gridiron might for the 2003 campaign; for others it’s a final tune-up before post-season play.

While the playoff teams have been determined, some seeding issues remain to be finalized and some momentum remains to be nurtured.

Winslow Black Raiders (7-0) vs. Brewer Witches (6-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Doyle Field, Brewer: This matchup for Pine Tree Conference Class B bragging rights – and the home-field advantage that comes with it – figures to have the aura of a post-season contest.

At least Brewer football coach Ed Ortego hopes so, because few of the current Witches saw any playing time during the team’s playoff runs each of the last two seasons.

“We think the atmosphere will be much like a playoff game, and we want our kids to understand what that’s like,” Ortego said. “The intensity of the game will be much like it is in the playoffs.”

Both teams are coming off impressive victories. Brewer outmuscled Hampden Academy 15-6 at Doyle Field in Brewer last Friday night, and after a season seemingly spent on the road, tonight’s clash offers the Witches a second straight home date, with a third straight likely in the offing when the Pine Tree Conference Class B playoffs begin next weekend.

“I think the kids feel pretty good about themselves,” Ortego said. “Now we’re looking at fine-tuning some things we need to do offensively and defensively heading into the post-season.”

For unbeaten Winslow, this marks the second of two straight rugged road tests to end the regular season. Coach Mike Siviski’s Black Raiders earned a passing grade last weekend, spotting Belfast an 8-0 lead before rolling to a 28-14 victory.

“They’re very aggressive on defensive, and they have a stable full of hard-running backs,” said Brewer coach Ed Ortego.

Belfast Lions (5-2) vs. Hampden Academy Broncos (4-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Hampden: Belfast will be looking to regroup before the PTC Class B playoffs begin after last Friday’s loss to Winslow. The Lions will be seeded either second or third among the four teams that qualify for post-season play.

Getting Nick Arthers another week of work at quarterback after he sat out the much of the season with a pair of shoulder injuries will be another major objective for Belfast.

Lions’ tailback Josh Aldus, the division’s leading rusher, needs 163 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

Hampden Academy needs to win this game to maintain any playoff hopes, though that already may be out of its control, as current fourth seed Oak Hill closes out its regular season at winless Old Town on Saturday and already owns a head-to-head win over the Broncos.

Coach John Sparacio’s Hampden club also will be looking to secure a winning season after the team’s back-to-back 2-7 finishes in 2001 and 2002.

Dexter Tigers (2-6) vs. Foxcroft Academy Ponies (8-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft: A Foxcroft victory would give the Ponies their first back-to-back undefeated regular seasons since 1939-40.

A win in this clash of LTC rivals also would give FA head coach Paul Withee his 100th career victory.

Foxcroft will enter the LTC playoffs next week as the No. 1 seed, with Stearns of Millinocket, Bucksport and Maine Central Institute set to round out the four-team field field.

The Ponies are coming off a 49-14 victory at Rockland keyed by reigning conference player of the week Bobby Gilbert. The junior tailback rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns to complement three TD passes by senior quarterback Josh Withee.

Dexter dropped a 34-6 decision to MCI at Pittsfield last Friday night, but is 2-2 after an 0-4 start this season.