Of the three teams representing Western Maine in this Saturday’s state championship football games, only one wasn’t really expected to be there.

Judging from the early season buzz, the only thing preseason favorite Massabesic of Waterboro (Class A) and Winthrop (Class C) lacked were directions to the state game site and the name of their eventual opponents. Everything leading up to the state games seemed to be a mere formality.

But in Class B, the York Wildcats couldn’t afford to stand on formality as they were ranked no higher than fourth in the Campbell Conference.

“We brought that up at our meeting tonight, that we got a two-football ranking [out of a possible four] in the Portland paper,” said York coach Randy Small. “The kids used that for motivation.”

After losing their opener to preseason favorite Mountain Valley, the Wildcats won two straight before dropping a home game 39-25 to Belfast after leading 17-0.

“I think the loss to Belfast … If ever there was a good loss to have, that was it,” Small explained.

The loss forced Small to retool the starting lineup: moving middle linebacker Sean Bradburn to defensive end and all-conference outside linebacker Tyler Ross inside.

Since then, York has won seven straight, including its first wins over Kennebunk and Mountain Valley since Small took over four years ago. York’s defense, which uses four- and six-man fronts, notched three straight shutouts and 14 consecutive scoreless quarters to end the regular season.

Now, the Wildcats are preparing for their first state final appearance since 1989 as they take on east champ Winslow (10-1) at Cony’s Alumni Field Saturday at 1 p.m.

Offensively, York utilizes pro sets out of a basic I-formation.

Senior quarterback Josh Pitcher (75-for-135 for 1,650 yards and 17 touchdowns) runs the balanced attack while junior split end-cornerback-placekicker Nolan Patten is his favorite target with 990 yards receiving. Tailback-safety Nate Schoff has 800 yards rushing and 300 receiving while tight end Abe Zacharias has 400 yards receiving. Patten and Zacharias are former soccer players who are making big impact in their first year on the gridiron.

Tailback Brady McGowan is a 1,000-yard rusher and fullback Jason Sanborn has gained over 600 to complement the versatile attack.

Reaching the Class C state game is more a relief for Winthrop coach Norm Thombs.

“Yeah, well, everybody said we were gonna be back there before we even played our first game,” Thombs said of his 11-0 Ramblers.

Winthrop, which lost the state game 9-7 last year, will meet Maine Central Institute on Keyes Field in Fairfield at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“I was just a nervous wreck last week because we had posters around town advertising a pregame state championship breakfast … And we hadn’t even played the West final yet,” he said.

The Ramblers feature the state’s most potent passing attack with junior QB Lee St. Hillaire, who has thrown for a school-record 2,134 yards and 28 TDs this season. He already has more than 5,200 yards and 70 TDs in his record-breaking career.

St. Hillaire’s targets are receivers Ian Mortimier (565 yards, 13 TDs) and Matt Whitehouse (560, nine). Halfbacks Jason Pierce, Ryan Jeffe, and Clyde Moody have combined for 1,800 yards and 23 TDs on the ground as the Ramblers have put up 495 points for an average of 45 per game.

Meanwhile, Winthrop’s 4-3 defense has notched eight shutouts while allowing three touchdowns and 22 points – ALL SEASON.

“We’re really the complete package,” Thombs said.

In Class A, that distinction goes to Massabesic. The 11-0 Mustangs have galloped over opponents with 448 points and 4,360 total yards – 3,436 coming on the ground via the triple-option offense – en route to their first regional football title.

“They had a target put on their back the first week of the season when they were picked no 1 in the state, but these kids haven’t let the pressure get to them,” sid head coach John Morin.

The two biggest targets – quarterback Jason O’Tash and fullback Joe Olszewski – are believed to be the first 1,000-yard duo in Southern Maine Athletic Association history. Olszewski has gained 1,190 yards and 19 TDs with 118 carries and O’Tash has 1,126 yards and 18 TDs on 138 carries.

O’Tash has another 853 yards and nine TDs passing, although the Mustangs prefer to keep things on the ground as they try for their first state championship against 9-1 Bangor at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland at 1 p.m. Saturday.