Bangor, Brewer at home Orono-Rockland among key games

As the temperature inevitably drops each fall, Maine’s gridirons begin their annual descent from plush green to frosty mud.

And with that change, so, too, does the game itself change, a fact that may be in evidence during Week 6 of the high school football season.

“You can’t be as elusive when the frost gets in the ground,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “I’m just happy we’re mudders. We have a lot of hockey players and a lot of big, strong kids on our team. I don’t know how it will affect everybody else, but I’m confident we’ll do well when the fields get muddy.”

Waterville (1-4) vs. Bangor (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m., Cameron Stadium, Bangor: Bangor is one of three 4-1 teams atop the Pine Tree Conference Class A North standings, along with Mt. Blue of Farmington and Messalonskee of Oakland.

“At the start of the year we thought it would be a pretty balanced league,” said Hackett, “and I think that’s shown itself to be the case so far.”

In Waterville the Rams face a Purple Panther squad that’s coming off a pair of three-point decisions, a 20-17 overtime win against Cony of Augusta in Week 4 and a 25-22 loss to Oxford Hills of South Paris last Saturday.

Waterville and Bangor have had a strong football rivalry over the years, though that may end after this game as Waterville is considering a drop to Class B.

The Purple Panthers feature a freshman quarterback in Dan Hussey, one of two Waterville rushers to top 100 yards last week, along with Tyler Madore.

Bangor has been nicked by the injury bug in recent weeks, with lineman Jeremy Tyler and linebacker Mike McPike among those who have missed playing time. Tyler may return to action this week, though McPike may sit out a third straight game, according to Hackett.

Lake Region (1-4) vs. Brewer (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m., Doyle Field, Brewer: Brewer hopes to avoid a letdown after last week’s emotional victory at Belfast.

This marks the third straight week the undefeated Witches have played in a Homecoming contest, only this time it’s their own.

Given the results of the previous two games, Brewer coach Ed Ortego has a coaching tool at the ready.

“We’ve been to two Homecoming games the last two weeks and the home team has lost,” he said. “We want to defend our home field.”

Lake Region is off to a rough start, its lone victory coming in Week 3 against winless Falmouth. The Lakers have made three straight postseason appearances, but a fourth trip looks unlikely given the strength of Western B leaders Wells, Gorham, Mountain Valley of Rumford and York.

Orono Red Riots (4-1) vs. Rockland Tigers (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m., Wasgatt Field, Rockland: Orono and Rockland have used vastly different approaches to reach the middle of the season with winning records.

Orono’s fast start has been buoyed by a balanced rushing attack out of the Oklahoma split-T formation. Rockland’s success has been fueled by a passing attack featuring freshman quarterback Andrew Weiss and jack-of-all-trades Wade Oliver, the league’s top receiver. Rockland did turn to its rushing game in last Friday night’s 38-22 win at Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield, as Oliver amassed 260 yards and four touchdowns.

“We’re different with what we do,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair. “But they’re different, too, with their passing game, so it’s going to be a contrast in styles to say the least.”

Belfast Lions (3-2) vs. Winslow Black Raiders (3-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Poulin Field, Winslow: Belfast and Winslow are poised to return to postseason play after meeting in the 2003 Pine Tree Conference Class B championship game, but each could use a win Saturday for confidence purposes.

Each is 3-2 and in a three-way tie for second place in the conference with Leavitt of Turner Center, and each is coming off a loss. Belfast dropped its Homecoming game to Brewer, while Winslow enters its Homecoming weekend on the heels of a 14-0 defeat at Leavitt.

Belfast features running backs Josh Aldus and Garren Horne and Winslow is led by brothers Justin and Ryan Lindie and wideout Eric Lopez. The Lions and Black Raiders also should be fairly well-matched along the line of scrimmage, suggesting another competitive game in a series that has been evenly matched for more than a decade.