Two big matchups dominate the week seven of the Eastern Maine schoolboy football schedule as the season winds down to the final three weeks. Both loom as potential league title game previews.

Waterville (4-2) at Bangor (5-1), 7 p.m., Cameron Stadium:

Historically, this has been one of the Pine Tree Conference’s hardest-hitting, most closely contested games. Friday night’s should be no exception as both teams take aim at a home playoff berth.

“This could be considered a playoff game because the winner here inches closer to at least one home field game,” said Waterville coach Frank Knight, who is trying to avoid back-to-back losses. “But it isn’t the end of the world if you lose either.”

Both teams feature tough ground games on offense and five-maactive linebacking corps on defense.

“They’re very sound and balanced in the wing-T formation. I’m sure they’re aware what’s at stake and they’ll come in fired up,” said Bangor coach Gabby Price. “We expect a very hard-hitting, solid football game.”

The game also features three of the PTC’s top seven running backs in Bangor’s Hampton Clarkson, the top rusher with 1,207 yards and 16 touchdowns, and the Panthers’ punishing pair of tailback Chris DeGuzman (556 yards, 5 TDs) and fullback Chad Hart (560, 7).

Bucksport (5-1) at Stearns (6-0), 7 p.m., Alumni Field, Millinocket:

“We see this as our biggest game of the season,” said Stearns rookie head coach Tom Bertrand. “The kids have been looking at this one from the time we saw them in the preseason.”

This game should determine who finishes first in the LTC Class C ranks and may just be a prelude to a playoff championship rematch.

“It’s an exciting week,” said Bucksport coach Joel Sankey. “The kids are really anticipating this. As a matter of fact, we had to cut things down a bit because things got a little too intense in practice.”

Sankey will face another speed vs. size/strength battle as his fleet-footed Golden Bucks match up against a Stearns team that has dominated lines of scrimmage with brawn and power.

Both coaches are quick to point out they’re not one-dimensional as Stearns also features good speed and Bucksport has good size and a talented stable of running backs to wear teams out.

One horse in the Bucks’ stable who has been put out to pasture for the rest of the season is freshman speedster Warren Chase, who broke his collarbone last week.

Stearns is also undermanned. Senior running back-cornerback Seth Dickinson has missed the last two weeks with mononucleosis and is questionable for Friday. Senior offensive guard Rick McLain is banged up but will play.

Rockland (3-3) at Mattanawcook Academy (4-2), 7 p.m., Lincoln:

The loser of this game could have a tough time breaking into the top four and a playoff spot. Mattanawcook features the No. 2 offense (337 yards per game) in the LTC C ranks. Rockland’s fourth-ranked offense is keyed by running back Donald Williams, the league’s top scorer with 78 points.

Oxford Hills (4-2) at Skowhegan (3-3), 7 p.m., Clark Memorial Field:

The Vikings of South Paris need this game to avoid back-to-back losses while Skowhegan, which has won two in a row, is trying to get back into the thick of the playoff race after an 0-2 start.