December 23, 2024
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Bangor to battle ‘Dogs Mattanawcook hosts Foxcroft

Week 3 of the high school football season features four rematches from the 2006 playoffs, topped by two Eastern Maine finals revisited as Bangor treks to Class A state champion Lawrence of Fairfield and two-time defending Class C champ Foxcroft Academy is at Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln.

Bangor Rams (2-0) vs. Lawrence Bulldogs (2-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Fairfield: Bangor has not scored a touchdown in its last 11 quarters of three straight losses to Lawrence.

“We’ll be excited to score,” said Bangor coach Mark Hackett.

Bangor has had no trouble scoring early this season outscoring Messalonskee of Oakland and Brunswick by a combined 99-18.

Fullback Kyle Vanidestine (202 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and tailback Shane Walton (130 yards, 4 TDs) anchor Bangor’s rushing attack, while Ian Edwards has completed 46 percent of his passes.

Linebacker Tyler McDade ranks second in tackles in the Pine Tree Conference, while defensive backs Vanidestine, Edwards and Matt Kenny, linebacker Steven Seccareccia and end Renaud Collard-Seguin also have been heavy hitters.

Lawrence has a 13-game win streak, including victories this season over Mt. Blue of Farmington and Cony of Augusta.

Senior QB Jack Hersom has completed 15 of 19 passes for 185 yards and two TDs, while Shawn Champagne has 177 rushing yards and four TDs on just 18 carries and senior split end Nick Nelson has seven catches for 81 yards.

“Some people would like this game to be later in the season, but I like it right now,” Hackett said. “We’re developing and becoming a good football team, and from what I’ve seen on tape they’re doing the same thing.

“I think this will be a game that’s decided by big plays and turnovers.”

Foxcroft Academy Ponies (2-0) vs. Mattanawcook Academy Lynx (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Lincoln: Foxcroft and Orono are the only undefeated teams left just two weeks into the LTC season.

“We feel like at 2-0 we’re doing OK,” said Foxcroft coach Paul Withee, “but our goal is to get better every week and be playing our best football at the end of the season.”

Foxcroft has won eight straight against Mattanawcook, but the Lynx have come agonizingly close in its last two tries.

Last year Foxcroft rallied for a 21-15 regular-season win and then held off a furious MA rally in the final minute for a 14-13 victory in the Eastern C final.

Foxcroft’s defense features linebacker Ben Provost and ends Jon Geiger and Evan Worthing. QB Jamie Nason directs an offense that utilizes a bevy of ballcarriers, among them Provost, Jerod Rideout and sophomore Ian Champeon.

MA’s defense is led by linebackers Dustin and Ian Nevells and defensive back Derek Libbey. Libbey also is an offensive catalyst at quarterback, while Brady Vose is among the LTC’s top rushers and tight end Tyler White and wideout Peter Coggins are capable receivers.

Both teams are in the midst of rugged early schedules, with Mattanwcook set to square off against Bucksport next week while Foxcroft is set to battle Orono in Week 4.

“Their schedule has been brutal, but ours has been pretty tough, too,” Withee said. “It comes down to you have to play all the games because you’re battling for playoff position.”

Hampden Academy Broncos (1-1) at Gardiner Tigers (2-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Hampden faces a tough test in trying to bounce back from its 26-14 upset loss at Maranacook of Readfield last Saturday.

Gardiner, a PTC Class B finalist last fall, has rolled to victories over Oak Hill of Sabattus and Old Town. The Tigers have been led by senior quarterback Kyle Stilphen, who has scored three TDs and passed for three more, and senior running back Bass Chadwick. Chadwick, who spent the last two years playing hockey with the Portland Junior Pirates, has 323 rushing yards and six TDs.

Hampden last played Gardiner in the 2006 Eastern B semifinals, but is a vastly different team than the group that dropped a 28-6 decision to the Tigers. QB Shawn Smith has hit 15 of 26 passes for 180 yards with two TDs. David Piete has three interceptions for the Broncos, while Eddie Becker has 16 tackles.

Mount Desert Island Trojans (1-1) at Waterville Purple Panthers (1-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: Waterville opened its season by yielding 20 fourth-quarter points in a 32-22 loss at Morse of Bath. MDI got its first win in Week 2 by outlasting Morse 19-13 in overtime.

So expect a competitive game when MDI and Waterville meet for the second straight season in the Elm City. Last year they squared off in an Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinal won by Waterville 14-6.

Waterville features the PTC Class B’s top passer in Dan Hussey, who has completed 26 of 41 attempts for 382 yards and four TDs. Josh Gaudette (8-123) and J.D. Gurski (7-89) are the top receivers, while Peter Cote is coming off a 100-yard rushing effort in the Panthers’ 34-13 win over Nokomis of Newport.

MDI QB Tyler Crawford has completed 12 of 23 passes for 196 yards, while Terrence Jones has six catches for 136 yards. Jon Hall, Odane Gaynor and Danny Dunn are all rushing threats, while Dunn has 27 tackles to lead MDI defensively.


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