Familiar foes highlight LTC playoff semis

The Eastern Maine Class C football playoffs have a familiar look. The same four teams that qualified for the semifinals a year ago are back.

Last year, Bucksport and Foxcroft Academy were the top two seeds – rankings that held up through the regional final, where Bucksport stopped a Foxcroft two-point conversion try inches short of the goal line in the final minute to preserve a 26-25 win en route to the state championship.

Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln and Foxcroft, both 8-1, are the top two seeds this year. In a quirk of the Crabtree point ratings on which the standings are based, MA is the top seed despite suffering a 14-12 loss to Foxcroft at Lincoln, because the Lynx earned the edge in the points by facing a stronger opponent in its crossover game against Western C foe Lisbon (8-1) than Foxcroft did in facing Livermore Falls (5-4).

Orono earned the No. 3 seed in a tiebreaker over No. 4 Bucksport and Rockland, which fell just short of earning its first postseason berth since 1979.

All three teams went 5-4, but Orono and Bucksport were tied in Crabtree points and ahead of Rockland, which knocked the Tigers out of the tiebreaker. Orono then earned the No. 3 seed by virtue of its 31-25 triple-overtime win over the Golden Bucks in Week 7.

No. 4 Bucksport Golden Bucks (5-4) vs. No. 1 Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, at Lincoln: These teams had a physical battle in Week 5, with Mattanawcook striking early en route to a 20-6 victory.

“This is a new season now,” said MA coach Art Greenlaw, “and every week you’ve got to go out and do the job and be prepared or your season will be over.”

The Lynx feature senior running back Duncan Markie, who rushed for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season, but boast a deep array of offensive threats that also includes quarterback Dylan Hanscom, fullback Jason Murchison, wideout Shey Gardner and tight end Isaac Young.

In its game last week at Stearns of Millinocket, MA was without its most experienced lineman in senior Ross Clapp, sidelined by a high ankle sprain. Greenlaw said Clapp was working out early this week and hoped he’d be able to the lineup Friday night.

Bucksport coach Joel Sankey has described his team’s regular season as a “work in progress,” but the Golden Bucks are playing their best football of late.

Bucksport got an added boost in last weekend’s 30-21 win at Rockland from freshman Nate Warren. Just recently added to the varsity roster, Warren rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the second half against the Tigers, and finished the game with 189 yards on 25 carries en route to earning LTC player of the week honors.

“He’s quick, and he doesn’t play like a freshman,” said Sankey.

Warren joins a group of backfield threats that also includes Chris Maguire, Joe Robicheau, and sophomore quarterback Derek Fish.

No. 3 Orono Red Riots (5-4) vs. Foxcroft Academy Ponies (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, at Dover-Foxcroft: Foxcroft is the hottest team in the division, with eight straight wins since an opening-night loss at Rockland.

“We’ve got enough kids on the team that have been through the wars and know that you can’t take anybody for granted,” said Foxcroft coach Paul Withee, whose Ponies have appeared in four consecutive Eastern C championship games. “You have one shot at it, and if you don’t play to your ability you could be going home for the season.”

The Ponies have three backs with 500 rushing yards or more in seniors Joey Caparrelli (699 yards) and James McPhee (641) and junior Brad Bellemare (500). Quarterback Logan Forrest has a contingent of receivers that includes five with at least 100 receiving yards, led by senior Jon Catell (283 yards).

The Ponies also find strength in numbers along the line of scrimmage, where senior Josh Pelletier has been a standout.

“A lot of kids have played a lot of football for us,” said Withee. “We’re probably in the best physical shape of any team I’ve been with at this point of the season, and that’s a real bonus for us.”

Orono, which lost its last two games as well as a 28-6 decision at Oakes Field in Dover-Foxcroft in Week 5, is seeking to cope with the injury bug as well as the Ponies.

Mardy Simon, the LTC’s leading rusher with 1,727 yards, is battling a broken thumb and a quadriceps injury, while fullback Nyasha Millard and lineman Rob Chauvette are among several other members of the Red Riots’ walking wounded.

“There’s no doubt about it, we’re beat up,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair, “but we are what we are and the kids are working hard.”

Orono, making its first back-to-back postseason appearances since the mid-1990s, hopes to use ball control to keep the ball away from the Foxcroft offense.