January 10, 2025
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

New tests for teams in openers Bangor at Lewiston; Brewer hosts Morse

Week 1 of the 2005 high school football season marks the first chapter in unraveling the mystery of who will represent Eastern and Western Maine in this year’s state championships, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

Let the games begin.

Bangor vs. Lewiston, 7 p.m., Franklin Athletic Complex, Lewiston: The defending Eastern Maine Class A champion Rams will have a new-look offensive backfield featuring sophomore quarterback Ian Edwards, junior tailback Alex Gallant and senior wingback Ben Silver.

Gallant was pegged as the starting quarterback at the outset of training camp, but Gallant’s versatility and Edwards’ solid play in preseason convinced Rams’ coach Mark Hackett that an Edwards-Gallant combination would be in the best interest of the Bangor backfield.

“It lets us play both of them at the same time,” said Hackett. “Alex gives us that big-back threat at tailback, and Ian can certainly do the job at quarterback.”

Lewiston, 2-6 a year ago, boasts a third-year starter at quarterback in senior Chris Ford. Junior tailback Jared Turcotte rushed for more than 1,000 yards last fall, while Garrett Preston is an experienced fullback for coach Bill County’s club.

“Their quarterback, fullback and tailback are all super running backs,” said Hackett. “They’re a tough team, they’re well-coached and they do a lot of different things.”

Morse vs. Brewer, 7 p.m., Doyle Field, Brewer: Expect a physical encounter when these teams clash.

“[Morse is] a real big team, bigger than Bucksport,” said Brewer coach Ed Ortego, whose Witches squared off against the defending Class C state champion Golden Bucks in an exhibition game at Doyle Field last Friday night.

Brewer is coming off a run to the Eastern B final a year ago, while Morse’s playoff hopes were hindered by a 22-21 Homecoming loss to Brewer. In that game, the Witches scored the winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter.

Like Brewer, which returns just five starters this year, Morse suffered some significant graduation losses. But the Shipbuilders do have some veterans up front and a returning quarterback in senior Dan Sigurdson, who will work frequently out of the shotgun for first-year coach Jason Libby.

Brewer senior quarterback Ricky Porter and running back Zach Wilson have been nagged by injuries during preseason, but both are expected to play in the season opener. They will be two-way keys for the Witches, along with fullback-linebacker Ben Caldwell as they work behind a new offensive line.

Gardiner vs. Belfast, 7 p.m. at Belfast: Gardiner makes its debut in the PTC B ranks against an opponent from yesteryear in the Belfast Lions.

The teams were rivals for many years, but have not met since the early 1980s, according to Belfast co-coach Butch Richards.

The Tigers were a Class A playoff team in 2004, and feature sophomore quarterback Kyle Stilphen, who will direct Gardiner’s new West Coast offense.

“They have an outstanding quarterback in Stilphen, and we’ll have to give him a lot of attention,” said Belfast co-coach Butch Arthers.

Belfast has a veteran quarterback in Andy Whalen, but is rebuilding the rest of its backfield behind a line that has its share of veterans.

“We don’t have that outstanding player to run the ball, or at least no one has emerged yet. Time will tell,” said Arthers. “We have to replace our backfield, but we have returning people in the line and five or six starters back on defense.

Bucksport vs. Jay, 7 p.m., Taglienti Field, Jay: These teams last met in the last game of last season, the Class C state final where the Golden Bucks capped off an undefeated season with a 42-20 victory.

A year later, both teams are markedly different at the skill positions where Bucksport graduated Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Nick Tymoczko, quarterback Joey Carmichael and fullback John Harvey while Jay graduated quarterback Justin Wells, a 2,000-yard passer.

Chris Maguire steps in at quarterback for Bucksport, and will work behind a veteran line featuring seniors Cody Wilson, Chad Cottrell and Chris Gray and tight end Deven Eaton.

Coach Mark Bonnevie’s Jay club will rely more on a balance between the run and pass than it did a year ago, as well as a veteran defense.

Orono at Mattanawcook, 7 p.m. Friday, Curry Field, Lincoln: These teams both reached the LTC playoffs a year ago, Orono in part on the strength of its thrilling 30-29 regular-season win over MA.

Mattanawcook is considered one of the preseason favorites in the LTC this year, a sign of respect for the talent the Lynx return under coach Art Greenlaw, the longtime Stearns of Millinocket head coach who takes over the reins at MA.

Orono is coming off its first playoff appearance since 1996, and figure to be among the contenders to return to postseason play again this fall under veteran coach Bob Sinclair, now in his second year with the Red Riots.


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