Belfast, Foxcroft among teams seeking state championships

Week 12 of the high school football season is Championship Saturday, with six surviving teams set to compete in three state finals at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. Gold Balls await the winners.

Class B: Belfast Lions (8-2) vs. Gorham Rams (8-2), 6 p.m.: Belfast is playing in its sixth state final in the last nine years, and seeking its first title since 1999, when the Lions were 29-16 winners over Kennebunk.

Belfast narrowly missed winning it all a year ago, its drive for a go-ahead TD halted at the 1-yard-line with 1:28 left as Scarborough earned a 14-12 victory.

Belfast’s offense is triggered by senior quarterback Nick Arthers and features 1,000-yard rusher Josh Aldus, fullback Paul Herman, and Garren Horne, a threat on both offense and special teams.

Linebackers Herman and Arthers also are pivotal players on a Belfast defense that has posted four shutouts this fall.

“Belfast has great team speed, they’re very fast,” said Gorham coach David Kilborn. “They suffered a tough loss in the state game last year, a game they probably should have won, and I’m sure that motivates them.

“And they come from a football town, which is something we’re trying to develop here.”

Gorham has had varsity football for just five years, and has just five seniors on this year’s roster. The Rams run the double wing offense, with three capable rushers in sophomore Andy Oldenburg (1,200 yards), junior Tyson Nason (750 yards) and freshman fullback Andrew Hutton, who has gained more than 100 yards in both of Gorham’s playoff wins.

“Their double wing is an old-style, hide-the-ball type of offense where they get behind their blockers and kind of wedge it up there,” said Butch Arthers. “For a team like us that relies on playing assignment football, defensively we’ve got to be efficient in terms of our assignments against them.”

Class C: Foxcroft Academy Ponies (11-0) vs. Lisbon Greyhounds (11-0), 2:30 p.m.: Foxcroft returns to the state final for the fourth time during coach Paul Withee’s 14-year tenure. FA defeated Old Orchard in 1996, dropped a 19-14 decision to Lisbon in 1997 and last fall lost to Boothbay 25-20.

“Our goal right from the get-go was to get back to the state game, and we’ve accomplished that,” said Withee after Foxcroft edged Stearns 6-0 in the LTC final. “We’ve gotten here two years in a row at 11-0, and hopefully we can finish our business.”

The Ponies averaged nearly 400 yards in total offense per game during the regular season, an attack directed by senior Josh Withee, a third-year starter at quarterback and defensive back.

“They have a good quarterback who looks like he pretty much runs their team,” said Lisbon coach Dick Mynahan. “He never seems to get rattled, and he has a nice, easy passing delivery. He’s capable of breaking the game open.”

Foxcroft’s ground game is led by junior tailback Bobby Gilbert, a 1,000-yard rusher, and senior fullback Lincoln Robinson. Seniors Greg Perry and Matt Earnest are the Ponies’ top receiving threats.

“I remember seeing them play when the kids who are seniors now were sophomores,” said Lisbon coach Dick Mynahan. “Their skill people were fast and good as sophomores, and now they’re fast and good as seniors.”

Foxcroft’s defense, led by linebackers Robinson and Gilbert and senior Max Kennedy, yielded just one touchdown in LTC playoff wins over Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield and Stearns of Millinocket.

That defense will be challenged by a Lisbon offense that relies on the rushing of John Tefft and Tony Walker, two of eight seniors on the roster. Each is approaching 1,000 yards on the season.

“They run a double wing with some motion,” said Withee. “When you say Lisbon you think of tough, hard-nosed kids, and that’s exactly what they are.”

Chris Kates, one of two juniors on the team, is the quarterback, although the Greyhounds are not prolific passers.

“We’re the kind of a team that’s not real explosive,” Mynahan said. “I think it’s important for us to stay with them in the first 12 minutes and not allow the big play and then settle into a slower-paced game.”

Class A: Brunswick Dragons (10-1) vs. Deering Rams (11-0), 11 a.m.: It’s been a long time between state title games for both teams. Deering of Portland last reached the final in 1978 and won its only Class A title in 1959. Brunswick last appeared in a state final in 1983, and last won 20 years earlier when it shared the 1963 Class B crown with Madison.

Deering has been regarded as the No. 1 team in the state since the season began, while Brunswick had high hopes but no recent tradition – a 3-5 record last year, 4-28 over the last four seasons.

Both teams feature plenty of offensive weapons. Brunswick is led by quarterback Ralph Mims and 1,788-yard rusher Phil Warren, a fullback who rushed for 134 yards and two TDs in a 14-12 win over Bangor in the PTC Class A final.

Deering counters with a balanced offense led by quarterback Ryan Flaherty and featuring 1,800-yard rusher Joe Marsh at tailback, fullback Ryan Reid, wide receivers Mike Joyce and Adam Bishop, and tight end Rob Sampson.

Linebackers Reid and Jon Presby lead a defense that has allowed a state-low 39 points this fall, including just seven points in three playoff wins.