Both teams are undefeated and ranked near the top in almost every offensive category in the LTC’s Class B division.

On paper, Friday’s Orono at Belfast game promises to be one of the best matchups of the week.

“It’s a big game for our program becaue we’re trying to get to that point where we can compete with anybody. We took a first step by beating Winslow and this is the next step,” said Belfast coach Butch Arthers.

The 7 p.m. game pits a team with the league’s top-ranked rushing offense [Orono] against another with the top passing offense. It is also Belfast’s homecoming game.

The 3-0 Red Riots have rushed for 1,110 yards so far this season. Belfast, with 647, is ranked third in rushing.

Senior Eddie King is the LTC’s leading scorer and third-leading rusher with six touchdowns, two rushing PATs, and 346 yards. King is nursing a sore ankle, but is expected to see action Friday.

Starting end B.J. Bryant is out for two weeks with a shoulder injury and starting offensive guard Blade Woods is nursing a strained knee from the Winslow game, according to Arthers.

The Riots’ leading rusher is halfback Sal Casanas, who has 287 yards and three TDs despite missing a game. Fullback Kyle Bishop is six points behind King in the scoring column with five TDs and two rushing PATs.

The 3-0 Lions prefer to move the ball through the air, totalling 964 passing yards in three games. Orono is fifth in the league with 157 yards.

Dickie Gould is the Lions’ field general. The senior quarterback has thrown for 291 yards and three touchdowns while only being intercepted twice. He has completed 66 percent of his passes.

“Our line has given him a lot of protection and is blocking well for our backs,” said Arthers.

Orono’s passes will come from Robey Rhoads. The junior quarterback has 137 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions on 9-of-22 passing.

Defensively, Orono is toughest against the run. The Riots have allowed a league-low 178 total yards on the ground while Belfast is fourth with 436.

Orono is also tough against the pass, allowing only 325 yards to Belfast’s 592.

Gardiner at Waterville, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.: This could be the best matchup of the week in the Pine Tree Conference as the 2-1 Tigers roll into Waterville.

“Gardiner’s the best team I’ve seen this year, although I haven’t seen Bangor yet,” said Waterville coach Frank Knight.

The Purple Panthers from Waterville are sporting an unblemished 3-0 mark.

A quick look at the statistics shows why Waterville stands tall among the PTC powers.

Senior fullback Adam Hamel has accumulated 230 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries, ranking him sixth in the rushing stats.

But Gardiner’s rushing game is no slouch itself, featuring the PTC’s top-ranked rusher Phil Alley, who has rushed for 360 yards and found the end zone five times on 65 carries. Senior quarterback Paul Stilphen has passed for a pair of touchdowns while completing eight of 21 attempts for 156 yards, and rushed for five more scores.

Defensively, Waterville may be tougher, with three players ranked among the top 20 PTC defenders. Linebackers Hamel, Lucas Adams, and Aaron Additon have combined for 88 tackles, with Adams leading the pack at 10 solo tackles.

“Their defense is real solid, so I think we have to protect the football,” Knight said. “Yards will be at a premium against them.”

Bucksport at Foxcroft Academy, Oakes Field, 7 p.m.: Bucksport coach Joel Sankey will bring the Little Ten Conference Class C’s leading rusher and passer into the Ponies’ pasture tonight, but he’s not sure he can tame their defense.

“Watching film, I can’t understand why they’re not 3-0,” Sankey said of 1-2 Foxcroft. “They should have beat Winslow, they should have beaten Lincoln.”

“We have to be able to stop their fullback [senior Steve Smith], we have to stop their running game,” Sankey said.

But Foxcroft boss Paul Withee is worried about running back Zach Adams, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, and quarterback Chris Soper, who sports a 48.1 completion percentage.

“Most of the teams we play against during the season will just run and pass in obvious situations,” Withee said of the Golden Bucks’ diversified offense. “It just concerns me the way [Soper] can throw the ball short, the way he can throw it deep.”