A new high school football season begins this weekend.

With it comes clean slates and high hopes, as 67 teams from Kittery to Millinocket seek to reach the pinnacle of Maine gridiron quests, a berth in the state championships games for Classes A, B and C scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18, in Portland.

Lewiston vs. Bangor, 7 p.m. Friday, Cameron Stadium, Bangor: Both of these teams knows how little margin for error there is in the 11-team Pine Tree Conference Class A ranks, which award just four postseason berths.

Each finished 5-3 last fall, but neither made the playoffs.

Lewiston beat Bangor 20-7 in their 2005 opener, and the star power on these two squads remains largely the same.

Bangor’s roster – mostly sophomores and juniors in ’05 – has the benefit of a year of experience that has transformed varsity newcomers into poised veterans. Quarterback Ian Edwards, tailback Alex Gallant, tight end Ryan Weston and split end Tom Crews are among those who give Rams’ coach Mark Hackett a variety of offensive options.

Lewiston counters with an offense featuring Fitzpatrick Trophy contender Jared Turcotte. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior tailback is coming off a big junior season, which began with 237 yards on 26 carries and three TDs against Bangor.

Brewer vs. Morse, 7 p.m. Friday, McCann Field, Bath: Brewer wears the title of state champion for the first time in 35 years as it hits the road for its PTC Class B opener.

But it’s a vastly different team with a new coach in Don Farnham, back after coaching the Witches for several years in the mid-1990s. Brewer’s offense – minus graduated 1,000-yard rushers Ricky Porter, Zach Wilson and Ben Caldwell – will be led by senior quarterback Ricky Adams, while running back James Butts and tight end Ryan Babin are other weapons behind a line led by senior Devin Fitzpatrick.

Brewer whipped Morse 40-0 last fall, but both teams return rosters that rely heavily on underclassmen. Brewer has 25 sophomores on its roster, while the Shipbuilders also expect to start several sophomores.

Junior Darrus Grate is Morse’s top returning rusher, having come on strong late last season for the Shipbuilders.

Belfast vs. Gardiner, 7 p.m. Friday, Hoch Field, Gardiner: This PTC B rivalry went overtime a year ago before Belfast earned a 20-17 victory.

This year’s Belfast club features senior Travis Lee among backs working behind junior Jake Arthers, a first-year starter at quarterback. The Lions figure to be solid on defense, with Lee and classmate Jon Walsh anchoring the linebacking corps.

Gardiner went 4-5 last fall, its first season back in Class B after playing in Class A for some 15 years.

Coach Matt Brown’s Tigers boast one of the league’s top all-around athletes in junior Kyle Stilphen, a third-year starter at quarterback. Junior tight end Mike LaVallee and senior fullback Devon Brown are other offensive threats.

Rockland Tigers vs. Foxcroft Academy Ponies, 7 p.m. Friday, Oakes Field, Dover-Foxcroft: Rockland took a 26-7 halftime lead and held on to stun Foxcroft 26-19 last fall.

The Ponies didn’t lose again until the Class C state final, while Rockland had its third straight 5-4 season but missed the playoffs.

Both teams enter this season with confidence. Foxcroft boasts a new quarterback in ex-guard David White, several talented running backs and considerable depth elsewhere.

The Ponies also have established a major home-field advantage, going unbeaten at Oakes Field since a 24-14 loss to Bucksport on Oct. 5, 2001.

Rockland features junior quarterback Andrew Weiss, a third-year starter, and senior tailback Mike Marsh, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2005.

The Tigers also expect to be improved defensively from last year, when they allowed 29 points per contest.

Hampden Academy vs. Waterville, 1 p.m. Saturday, Drummond Field, Waterville: Hampden improved steadily throughout the 2005 season to earn a PTC Class B playoff berth, and the Broncos are hoping to build on that momentum while extracting some revenge at the same time.

It won’t be easy. Waterville whipped Hampden 39-6 in last year’s season opener en route to the regional semifinals.

Starting quarterback Dan Hussey moved to New York, but in Nate Lancaster the Panthers have a replacement who got some quality experience last fall when Hussey was injured.

Hampden has a promising quarterback of its own in sophomore Shawn Smith, and an otherwise veteran roster that includes 17 seniors.

John Bapst vs. Dexter, 1 p.m. Saturday at Dexter: Tim Wilson leads Dexter for the first time since 1971 in his return to the coaching ranks.

He inherits a program that has struggled in recent years but is fielding more than 30 players, including senior quarterback Steve Robinson and senior tailback Ben Spizuoco.

John Bapst counters with a veteran team looking to challenge for one of the LTC’s four Class C playoff berths. Last year’s starting quarterback, junior Kyle Gallant, is now at tailback, and with 14 returning starters coach Dan O’Connell has the most experienced team of his four-year tenure.