Bucksport and Foxcroft Academy have been frequent foes with Eastern Maine Class C football titles on the line.

In 2001, the Golden Bucks edged the Ponies 14-13 in overtime. In 2002, Foxcroft earned a 14-0 victory. Now comes a third meeting in four years, with yet another title at stake.

“We expect one heck of a game,” said Bucksport coach Joel Sankey, whose 10-0 Golden Bucks will host Saturday’s game thanks to a regular season that included a 34-21 win over Foxcroft. “The kids are really looking forward to this.”

Foxcroft (9-1) will be playing in its third straight EM final, having also edged Stearns of Millinocket 6-0 in OT last year before defeating Lisbon 26-20 to win the 2003 state title.

And recent history suggests a close game will be in the offing – three of the last four Eastern C finals have been decided in overtime, in 2003, 2001 and 2000 when Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield edged Stearns 22-14.

“I think it goes to the nature of playing a team for the second time in a season,” said Foxcroft coach Paul Withee. “Trying to beat that team a second time is a lot tougher. Injuries might factor into it. The ability of coaches to make adjustments, and just the familiarity of once you’ve played a team you know what they do and who you have to stop, all of that probably makes for closer games.”

Each team boasts star power in 2,280-yard rusher Nick Tymoczko of Bucksport and 1,755-yard rusher Bobby Gilbert of Foxcroft.

Those two senior tailback-linebackers played key roles when the teams met during Week 4. Tymoczko scored the first two times he carried the ball on runs of 55 and 78 yards. He added an 18-yard TD run later in the first quarter as the Golden Bucks took a 19-0 lead, and Foxcroft was left to play catch-up the rest of the way.

The Ponies closed within 19-13 on two TD runs by Gilbert, but a 3-yard run by senior QB Joey Carmichael with 34 seconds left in the first half gave Bucksport a 27-13 cushion.

Carmichael (558 regular-season passing yards) and senior fullback John Harvey (365 rushing yards, 241 receiving yards) complement Tymoczko in the Bucksport backfield. Ends Reed Beeson (106 tackles) and Deven Eaton (62 tackles, 10.5 QB sacks) and Harvey at linebacker lead a defense that has allowed 7.2 points per game.

“I think we’re different from when we first played them,” said Sankey. “We’re a little more diversified, our defense is very strong and has improved, and our special teams are improved. Our conditioning is very good, and our depth has gotten better.”

Foxcroft has retooled its offense since the earlier meeting, shifting junior James McPhee from guard to fullback where he has rushed for 542 yards on just 50 carries, moving senior Andrew Pomeroy to flanker, and installing junior Shayne Croan at quarterback.

The Ponies also have changed defensively to a 4-4 scheme, with Gilbert, senior linebacker Randy Briggs, senior tackle Robbie Blackburn and junior end Josh Pelletier among the leading tacklers during the regular season.

“Bucksport’s proven they’re the best team in Class C right now,” said Gilbert, “and if we don’t bring our ‘A’ game it won’t be close like it’s been the last three or four years because they’ll be up three or four touchdowns because they’re so explosive.

“But if both teams play their ‘A’ game, I believe it will go down to the wire because it’s crunch time, and for the seniors especially they know that it could be their last chance to play football.”