This is the fun time of year. Every high school football team in the state is unbeaten – although yes, everyone’s still winless, too.

But that’s what makes it fun, because even the most underdog of underdogs has a chance for a quick start, and a quick start could evolve into a magic season.

Will that happen? It’s not impossible, but unlikely – particularly in a sport where the physical nature of the season and the number of contributors required for success make depth as important as talent.

A year ago, Mt. Blue of Farmington in Class A, Brewer in Class B and Foxcroft Academy in Class C, emerged as Eastern Maine champions, but they will continue to enjoy that status only until the first whistle of the new season, when they rejoin the masses in pursuit of the next gold ball.

And there are plenty of quality challengers seeking to dethrone the champs.

In Eastern A, Bangor in particular is a year wiser and boasting of talented backs and receivers working behind a physically imposing line. Many on the roster, including quarterback Ian Edwards, tailback Alex Gallant, fullback Kyle Vanidestine and wingback Shane Walton, are coming off a state championship baseball season last spring, and that success can only boost the confidence of a team as deep as anyone at the skill positions.

In Eastern B, Winslow’s talented senior class, led by Stephen Siviski, Justin Lindie and Kevin McCabe, has come close in two previous playoff runs, reaching the 2004 state championship game and making the regional final last year before falling to Brewer. Now with one last chance, those three-year starters are motivated to go out on top, and that motivation may make the difference.

In Eastern C, Rockland, for one, aspires to join last year’s finalists, Foxcroft and Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, atop the LTC pack. The Tigers have featured a potent offense in recent years, but the fate of their championship quest may rest in an improved defense.

For what it’s worth, I’ll take Bangor, Winslow and Foxcroft to represent Eastern Maine in the state finals Nov. 18 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

As for the West, Deering in Class A, York in Class B and Boothbay in Class C look like logical candidates.

And what of this year’s Fitzpatrick Trophy, awarded annually to the state’s top senior player? Many consider it a two-man race among a pair of Division I prospects, quarterback Chris Treister of Portland and tailback Jared Turcotte of Lewiston.

Each has laid the foundation to merit favorite’s status entering the 2006 season, Turcotte with 1,700 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior, and Treister by passing for 1,804 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall despite missing two games due to injury.

Given that the Fitzy is a Portland-based award, Treister might loom as the early favorite, particularly that Portland is ranked among the elite teams in Western A and was picked by no less a Maine high school sports authority as Sports Illustrated to win the 2006 state title.

But Turcotte, named the state’s top player by SI, may be in line to rush for 2,000 yards this fall, and those numbers may be too much to ignore.

It says here that Turcotte wins, with Treister, Lindie and Bangor’s Alex Gallant the other top contenders.

But enough of the prognostications. Check out the games, and see the season play out for yourself.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net