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Week 10 of the high school football season features the final four in Eastern Maine Classes B and C all vying for berths in next weekend’s regional finals.
No. 4 Hampden Academy Broncos (6-3) vs. No. 1 Gardiner Tigers (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Hoch Field, Gardiner: Hampden used a dramatic 30-24 overtime victory over Belfast to earn its first trip to the Eastern B semifinals in eight years.
The Broncos have come on strong late in the season, winning five straight games thanks in large part to a strong rushing attack featuring tailback Bob Seger and fullback Kyle Ross. Ross rushed for 181 yards against Belfast, but Seger suffered a broken foot in that game and is out for the rest of the season.
Solid line play from Mike Butler, Luke Rancourt, Matt York, Tyler Furrough and Josh Ranger has fueled that ground game, and their ability to help the Broncos control the football figures to be an important factor as they attempt to contain a high-powered Gardiner club.
The Tigers established themselves as the top seed in the Pine Tree Conference Class B ranks with back-to-back midseason victories over Waterville and preseason favorite Winslow.
Gardiner features a versatile quarterback in Kyle Stilphen, one of the conference’s top running backs in Dan Fortune, and punishing fullback Devon Brown.
“They’re big and physical, and their quarterback throws the ball well,” said Hampden Academy coach Harry McCluskey. “Their fullback really leads through the hole, and you’ve got to take him on. If you let him get to you, you’re going to have some problems.
“They’re also very disciplined on defense. They come across the line of scrimmage and get to about a yard deep and then they look for the ball. They don’t run up field like a lot of teams do. They’re going to be a real test, and playing them there is also tough.”
No. 3 Waterville Purple Panthers (7-2) vs. No. 2 Winslow Black Raiders (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday, Poulin Field, Winslow: Second-seeded Winslow is seeking its fourth straight win over its cross-river rival since this rivalry resumed in an official sense last year.
This also marks the second straight season the Black Raiders and Purple Panthers have met in the Eastern B semifinals, with Winslow a winner last year before losing to Brewer in the regional final.
Winslow topped third-ranked Waterville 41-13 two weeks ago, breaking the game open early in the second half.
The Black Raiders are averaging nearly 47 points per game thanks an offense featuring senior tailback Justin Lindie, senior fullback John Goulette and senior quarterback Stephen Siviski.
Waterville will be challenged to slow down Winslow’s attack, and it’s best bet will be to use a deep stable of running backs led by senior Mike Bernhardt to try to control the ball – and the clock.
No. 3 Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (6-3) vs. No. 2 Bucksport Golden Bucks (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Carmichael Field, Bucksport: These teams met midway through the season, with Bucksport’s 7-6 victory the difference as the Golden Bucks earned home-field advantage for this LTC Class C playoff matchup.
Bucksport has won six straight games since a 1-2 start. Offensively the Bucks feature Chris Maguire and Nate Warren, who have combined for 1,574 rushing yards, and receiver Todd Freeman, who earned LTC player of the week honors for his all-around efforts in the regular-season win over MA of Lincoln. Linebacker Matt Gray, the conference’s second-leading tackler, anchors the defense.
Line play also has been a key to success for Bucksport, as it has been for Mattanawcook. Brothers Ian and Nathan Nevells and Isaac Young have keyed a strong effort up front by the Lynx, who have won three straight since giving Foxcroft its stiffest challenge in a 21-15 loss in Week 6.
Sophomore tailback Brady Vose has rushed for 913 yards while working with fullback Steve Braley (603 yards), quarterback Shey Gardner and versatile junior Derek Libbey in the MA backfield.
No. 4 John Bapst Crusaders (5-4) vs. No. 1 Foxcroft Academy Ponies (9-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oakes Field, Waterville: John Bapst of Bangor already has played one playoff game of sorts, rallying from a 14-6 deficit to defeat Orono 34-20 and earn its first LTC Class C playoff berth since 1997.
The reward? A rematch against undefeated and top-seeded Foxcroft (9-0), a program making its 13th consecutive postseason appearance and the dominant team in the LTC throughout the regular season.
Foxcroft defeated the Crusaders 26-6 three weeks ago, and that was without leading rusher Brad Bellemare (736 yards on 86 carries). He returned from a shoulder injury last week to rush for 126 yards in the Ponies’ season-ending victory over Dexter.
John Bapst has big-play capability in tailback Nick Smith (1,035 rushing yards) and a passing game directed by quarterback Charlie Merritt (59 of 133, 820 yards), and will need big plays to overcome a deep and talented Foxcroft team that has shown strength on both sides of the line of scrimmage as well as on special teams.
Foxcroft ranks first among LTC teams in both total offense and total defense – and this game is at Oakes Field, where the Ponies haven’t lost in five years.
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