Most football teams like to ease into their seasons, saving the biggest tests until later in the fall when the offense is fine-tuned and the defense is at its aggressive best.

Suffice it to say the schedule maker is no friend of the Mattanawcook Academy Lynx this year.

Coach Art Greenlaw’s club has been tasked with opening the season against four teams – Rockland, John Bapst of Bangor, Foxcroft Academy and Bucksport – that combined for a 28-13 record in 2006 and, with the Lynx, were the top five teams in the LTC Class C ranks.

MA earned a 22-12 win over Rockland last weekend, but Week 2 brings a new challenge as the Lynx visit a veteran John Bapst team at Bangor on Saturday night.

“You have to play them one at a time,” said Greenlaw. “The schedule is front-end loaded, but you still need to go out and have success. If we’re 3-1 or better after the first four games, then we’re in good shape. If we’re 2-2 then we’re like everyone else in the middle of the pack, and if we’re 1-3 then we’ve got a lot of work ahead.”

John Bapst has little sympathy for the Lynx’s schedule. The Crusaders dropped a 13-12 decision at defending Eastern Maine champion Foxcroft last Friday, and in MA John Bapst now must defeat the other participant in the 2006 regional final to avoid an 0-2 start.

“One of the goals we have as a team this year is to host a playoff game,” said John Bapst coach Dan O’Connell. “And there’s a good possibility that if we don’t win one of our first two games, we’re not going to be able to host a playoff game.”

Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (1-0) vs. John Bapst Crusaders (0-1), 7 p.m. Saturday, Cameron Stadium, Bangor: This battle will begin in the trenches, where both teams have physical, experienced lines.

“They’re big and physical, and they block as well as anyone in the league,” said O’Connell of MA. “They’ve been together for a long time, and they’re very cohesive five across, six including the tight end and seven including the wingbacks. They have a system, and they run it well.”

Both teams were solid defensively in Week 1 but took different routes to offensive success. Four different MA rushers gained at least 50 yards, junior Brady Vose leading the way with 106 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Derek Libbey added a strong all-around game, with 50 rushing yards on offense and 10 tackles, an interception and a blocked field-goal attempt on defense.

John Bapst procured 203 of its 266 total yards in the air, with Kyle Gallant completing 11 passes to a group of receivers including Derek Smith, Aaron Healy and tailback Nick Smith.

“John Bapst has some good receivers, and they’ve got some big people up front,” said Greenlaw. “They’re a very good football team, very physical, and it’s certainly going to be a test for us.”

Brunswick Dragons (0-1) at Bangor Rams (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Cameron Stadium: Bangor’s defense faced a run-oriented defensive challenge in its win against Messalonskee of Oakland last Friday.

The Rams’ Week 2 test will come through the air.

Brunswick, which dropped a 24-13 decision to Lewiston last week, has turned to the spread offense to feature the talents of junior quarterback Robbie Basquez and a stable of quality receivers led by wideouts Connor Breisacher and Taurean Easter and tight end Dan Scully. Basquez was 14 of 32 passing for 255 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions against Lewiston – 7 of 9 for 174 yards in the first half.

“They run a one-back spread and probably have three or four of the best receivers I’ve seen,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett. “We have to stop the pass first.”

Brunswick will be similarly challenged to contain Bangor’s Wing-T formation, which has produced 110 points combined in an exhibition win over Cony of Augusta (56-6) and last weekend’s 54-18 victory over Messalonskee. Bangor amassed 375 rushing yards on just 24 carries in its opener, with six TD runs of 31 yards or longer.

Hackett expects Bangor’s offense to face a tougher test against Brunswick.

“They’re big and they play a high-pressure defense,” he said. “We’re going to learn a few things about our offense this week.”

Bucksport Golden Bucks (1-0) at Orono Red Riots (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Both teams are coming off impressive Week 1 victories.

Bucksport handled Dexter 48-0, with tailback Nate Warren amassing 123 yards and four touchdowns on just six first-half carries and the defense pitching a shutout for coach Joel Sankey’s club.

“Warren is very, very fast,” said Orono coach Bob Sinclair. “If you give him a seam, and his line does a good job of doing that for him, he can make you pay.”

Orono used the big play to earn its 44-19 victory at Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield, scoring four touchdowns on plays of 21 yards or longer.

Kash Keezer passed for 179 yards, including TD strikes of 51 and 38 yards to Seth Dwyer. Colin Bates rushed for 147 yards and three scores.

“We played well,” said Sinclair. “Offensively we were very pleased. We threw the ball well, which is something different for Orono football.”

Bucksport handled the Red Riots 35-14 in Week 7 last season, with quarterback Derek Fish completing 7 of 10 passes for 107 yards.

Brewer Witches (0-1) vs. Oxford Hills Vikings (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday at South Paris: Brewer had a rough re-introduction to Class A football in Week 1 as the Witches were overwhelmed by Skowhegan’s double-wing offense in a 54-0 loss.

Coach Don Farnham’s club faces its second straight road test against an Oxford Hills team that ended a 10-game losing streak with a 14-7 win over Edward Little at Auburn in Week 1.

D.J. Drew, a junior tailback, paced the Vikings with 89 rushing yards on 16 carries and the game’s two biggest plays. He scored on a 58-yard run late in the first half, then took a screen pass from quarterback Justin Frechette 79 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Frechette completed 5 of 9 passes for 117 yards.

Brewer got 57 passing yards from Coby Hutchins in its opener, but will need to blend the pass with the run in order to take pressure off its defense.