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A year ago they met with an Eastern Maine title on the line, a hard-hitting, physical affair on a cold autumn evening .
Expect more of the same Friday night when No. 5 Bangor visits No. 4 Brunswick in an Eastern A football quarterfinal.
Some of the star power has moved on from last year’s clash, which Brunswick won 14-12. Former Bangor tailback Mike Prentiss is now at Husson College, while Brunswick’s Ralph Mims is playing basketball at Florida State and bruising fullback Phil Warren is playing prep school football.
But plenty of talented athletes remain, as well as some newcomers who have stepped into prominent roles.
Both teams are big along the line of scrimmage and rely largely on the running game.
Both teams also are riding winning streaks, Brunswick five games and Bangor four in a row.
“They’re similar to us,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “We don’t make a lot of big plays, we like to pound it out, so if you have a lot of penalties or turnovers or a bad kick game you’re probably going to lose.”
Hackett and Brunswick coach Dick Leavitt expect this to be a battle of field position, which often is a product of turnovers and special teams.
“For us to beat them we will have to play error-free football and be hopeful we can cause them to turn the ball over and we get a short field,” said Leavitt.
Brunswick (6-2) and Bangor (7-1) have two of the top defenses in the Pine Tree Conference. Brunswick set single-season school records with three shutouts and fewest points allowed (67).
“Defensively we are led by our interior tackles Aaron Chaffin, Garrett Masse and Eric Sulzberger,” said Leavitt. “They have done a good job plugging the A and B gaps and keeping our linebackers free to make tackles.”
Justin Clark has stepped in at quarterback, and while the Dragons are not a prolific passing team he has completed about 50 percent of his attempts for more than 300 yards.
The Dragons use a variety of running backs in their wing-T set, led by Masse at fullback. Halfback Mike Martinez poses an additional threat with option passes, while Adam Aube, Brolin Frye and Demetri Rosetti also work behind a bruising front that includes Chaffin, Sulzberger and tight end Brandon Crouse.
“It is no secret that we like to run the ball,” said Leavitt.
It’s also no secret that Bangor’s offensive success is based on its ability to rush the football. Junior Nick Payson has emerged as one of the conference’s top backs with 966 yards and 14 touchdowns, including 203 yards in the Rams’ 21-14 win over No. 6 Messalonskee of Oakland last weekend
Senior quarterback Brian Hackett has completed 50 percent of his passes for 544 yards, while senior wideout Anthony DeRosa (eight receptions, 405 yards) is a top receiving threat.
Bangor’s line is anchored by seniors Eric Anderson, Kyle Oliver and Andrew Trundy.
Linebacker Ricky Dexter leads Bangor’s defense with 54 tackles. Oliver (51 tackles), Payson (48), Anderson (46) and Aaron Gallant (41 tackles, two interceptions) are other defensive leaders. The Rams have yielded just 86 points this fall.
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