Top-seeded Witches to host Leavitt

Week 10 of the high school football season is Final Four time in Eastern Maine, with berths in the Eastern Maine finals on the line.

Brewer is the top seed in the Pine Tree Conference Class, but after a loss at Winslow last weekend the Witches know the road to a title is lined with challenges.

In the LTC, the Bucksport Golden Bucks are the favorites after a regular season that ended with coach Joel Sankey’s club one of three unbeatens left among Maine’s 66 high school football programs.

No. 4 Leavitt (5-4) vs. No. 1 Brewer (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Doyle Field, Brewer: These teams met two weeks ago, with Brewer earning a 13-0 victory in a game that was scoreless at intermission.

“We started slower than we wanted to, and we want to try to correct that,” said Brewer coach Ed Ortego. “We’re more familiar with them, but they’re more familiar with us, too, so the team that plays harder is probably going to come out on top.”

Brewer has a balanced rushing attack, with Zack Wilson (637 yards), quarterback Ricky Porter (572), Matt Littlefield (492) and Kevin McAvoy (441) all capable of big games.

Leavitt counters with a spread offense led by quarterback Matt Cote (62 of 117 passing for 1,029 yards) and Broc Hardacker (615 rushing yards, 288 receiving yards).

“They have a very good quarterback who is able to either run or throw, he’s probably the best combination quarterback in the league,” Ortego said.

No. 3 Belfast (6-3) vs. No. 2 Winslow (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday, Poulin Field, Winslow: These teams meet twice every season, it seems. Last year Winslow won during the regular season, but Belfast was victorious in the PTC Class B final. This year Winslow also won the regular-season meeting, a 43-28 Week 6 shootout that left the teams with 12 wins apiece in their last 24 meetings.

Belfast has the PTC’s leading rusher in senior Josh Aldus, whose 1,531 yards is nearly 700 yards more than his nearest PTC B rival. Aldus, who gained 142 yards in the earlier meeting, teams with Garren Horne (785 yards) in the Belfast backfield.

Winslow’s offense is keyed by reigning PTC Player of the Week Justin Lindie (564 yards), a sophomore who scored four TDs in the earlier meeting. Eric Lopez, a 6-3 senior wideout, is another threat – he had five catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in the Oct. 9 clash.

No. 4 Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (6-3) vs. No. 1 Bucksport Golden Bucks (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Carmichael Field, Bucksport: Mattanawcook gets the task of trying to contain Nick Tymoczko and Co., a talented contingent that also includes quarterback Joey Carmichael and fullback John Harvey.

Tymoczko has had a season to remember, with LTC regular-season records of 2,071 rushing yards and 33 TDs. He rushed for 187 yards and three TDs in a 28-0 win over the Lynx on Oct. 22.

“He just has such great vision, he cuts back and finds the hole,” said MA coach Mike Bisson. “You have to be really disciplined defensively and you have to make tackles.”

Bucksport also features an aggressive defense led by linebackers Harvey and Bryce Babson and defensive end Deven Eaton.

Mattanawcook will benefit from the presence of tailback Duncan Markie, out since being injured midway through the season. Markie (680 yards) saw some duty last weekend, rushing for 84 yards on 10 carries in the Lynx’ 46-0 win against Stearns of Millinocket.

“Duncan adds explosiveness for us,” said Bisson. “He’s our most elusive runner.”

Markie joins fullback Mackenzie Haines (552 yards), quarterback Dylan Hanscom and tight end Isaac Young (14 catches, 204 yards) as offensive leaders behind an experienced line.

No. 3 Orono Red Riots (7-2) vs. No. 2 Foxcroft Academy Ponies (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft: These teams last met nearly two months ago, when Foxcroft jumped ahead early to earn a 33-6 victory. Each has lost once since then – at Bucksport.

Foxcroft is led by senior tailback-linebacker Bobby Gilbert, who has 1,576 rushing yards and 31 TDs for the defending Class C state champs. He is joined in the backfield by senior Andrew Pomeroy and junior James McPhee (479 yards), who has averaged about 100 yards per game since taking over at fullback a month ago.

“Beyond the fact they have Bobby Gilbert, who’s an outstanding player, they’ve got a very good offensive line, Pomeroy can run and McPhee at fullback gives them a new dimension,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair.

Orono runs the Oklahoma split-T offense as directed by quarterback Adam Chase. Mardy Simon (1,161 yards), Mo Nazmy (545) and Joe Fullwood (518) are all quality backs.

“Orono’s really an offensive machine,” said FA coach Paul Withee. “They moved the ball against us the first time, and they were without Simon.”

The Red Riots will be without senior fullback-linebacker Dusty Thomas, victim of a broken foot bone suffered in last Friday’s loss at Bucksport.