One presumption in team sports is that defenses have the edge at the outset of competition because they merely react to offensive forays that must be developed over time. And with just one week for star football players from around the state to prepare, the… Read More
Tyler Benjamin of Belfast and Mike Marsh of Rockland were among 21 Maine football standouts honored recently as recipients of the 20th annual scholar-athlete awards presented by the State of Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Benjamin, a 5-foot-10,… Read More
Daryle Weiss helped the Rockland District High School football program grow from one whose future was in doubt to a team that has produced winning records in each of the last three years. Now he’ll tackle another struggling program, this time at the Class A… Read More
OLD TOWN – Old Town High School has had three head football coaches in the last two seasons alone. Longtime former Mount Desert Island coach George “Toogie” McKay is now adding his name to that list but hopes to provide what he sees as the… Read More
The Interscholastic Management Committee of the Maine Principals’ Association voted unanimously Wednesday to uphold a decision by the MPA’s football committee that rejected a bid by Calais and Woodland high schools to field a cooperative varsity football program beginning next season. The football committee had… Read More
NEWPORT – The SAD 48 board of directors voted 17-0 Monday night to accept football as a varsity sport at Nokomis Regional High School. That acceptance was a requirement for the school to field a varsity football team next fall. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
The football committee of the Maine Principals’ Association voted Thursday to accept Mount View High School of Thorndike and Yarmouth High School as new varsity programs beginning with the 2007 season. But a similar application for a cooperative varsity football program made by Calais and… Read More
PORTLAND – Jared Turcotte, a running back and linebacker from Lewiston High School, was named Sunday night as the recipient of the 36th James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy presented annually to the state’s top senior high school football player. Turcotte led Lewiston to an Eastern Maine… Read More
Running backs Aaron Champagne of Lawrence of Fairfield and Jared Turcotte of Lewiston and quarterback Chris Treister of Portland have been named finalists for the annual James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy. The trophy, given annually to the top senior high school football player in the state,… Read More
CALAIS – It’s getting closer to pigskin time Down East style with a varsity football team made up of students from Baileyville and this border city. Area residents want to start a cooperative high school football program that would include youngsters from both Woodland and… Read More
Josh Ranger didn’t know the Fitzpatrick Trophy existed, let alone its prestige within the state’s high school football community, until a couple of weeks ago. That’s when somebody stopped him on the street to congratulate the Hampden Academy senior for being named a semifinalist for… Read More
PORTLAND – Saturday’s Class A state championship football game was supposed to pit speed and finesse against size and power. Well, it did, but not the way everyone expected. The quick and agile Lawrence Bulldogs of Fairfield took a page from the playbook of Lawrence… Read More
PORTLAND – Faced with a challenge somewhat of its own making, the Lisbon High School football team responded in championship-clinching fashion at Fitzpatrick Stadium on Saturday. Thirteen plays and 62 yards later, the Greyhounds had the breathing room necessary to pull away to a 30-14… Read More
PORTLAND – Mountain Valley used two Andy Shorey touchdown passes to rally from a 10-point halftime deficit and earn a 24-16 victory over Winslow in the Class B state football championship game. The Falcons of Rumford completed a 12-0 season with the win over the… Read More
The pre-game interviews and pep rallies are over, as are the extra weeks of practice that separate them from the other 61 high school football teams that played their first games in early September. For the six survivors still with a chance to win a… Read More
FAIRFIELD – In 1976 and 1977, twin brothers helped Edward Little of Auburn win back-to-back Class A football state championships – and their dad was the coach. Three decades later, twin brothers along with a third sibling hope to help Lawrence of Fairfield win the… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – Their final offensive play of the 2005 Class C state championship game forever will be etched in the minds of the Foxcroft Academy football players. Facing fourth-and-goal from the Lisbon 4-yard-line, the Ponies attempted a pass into the end zone, only to have… Read More
Western Maine’s representatives in Saturday’s football state championship tripleheader are no strangers to battling for the gold ball. All three – Class A Gorham, Class B Mountain Valley of Rumford, and Class C Lisbon – have made the trek to Fitzpatrick Stadium before. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
The last time Foxcroft Academy played in an afternoon state final, it won its most recent championship. That came in 2003, when the Ponies defeated Lisbon 26-20, and those teams will meet again in the afternoon this Saturday as the second of three 2006 state… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – As the players, coaches, family and friends of the Foxcroft Academy football team lingered around Oakes Field after Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class C championship game they were celebrating, to be sure. They also were breathing a collective sigh of relief, as the Ponies… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – Depth has been a key component of Foxcroft Academy’s football success this fall. On Saturday, it was Jon Geiger’s turn. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0;… Read More
FAIRFIELD – It doesn’t have a fancy title or creative nickname. The coaches and players on Lawrence High School’s football team simply call it option reverse. Bangor would score no touchdowns on this chilly and crisp Friday night in November, and the option reverse signaled… Read More
FAIRFIELD – Ten years removed from its last regional championship, the Lawrence High School football team played with perhaps a larger mission as it hosted Bangor in Friday night’s Eastern Maine Class A final – restoring the tradition to a football-proud community. The undefeated Bulldogs… Read More
While the Eastern Maine Class A football champion was to be crowned Friday night, the five other berths in next weekend’s championship Saturday will be won today in regional title games. All three state finals are set for Saturday, Nov. 18, at Fitzpatrick Stadium in… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class C football final is an example of familiarity breeding respect. When top-ranked Foxcroft Academy hosts No. 3 Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln for the regional title in a 1 p.m. start from Oakes Field, not only will it mark the… Read More
The Bangor High School football team has fielded one of Eastern Maine Class A’s top offenses this fall – with one notable exception. That came in Week 6, when the Rams dropped a 3-0 decision to Lawrence of Fairfield. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
LINCOLN – One hallmark of the Mattanawcook Academy football program for years has been the presence of big, talented players along the line of scrimmage. As the Lynx prepare for Saturday’s 2006 Eastern Maine Class C final at Foxcroft Academy, nothing has changed. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
WINDHAM – Rachele Burns scored with less than 12 minutes left in the game as the Gorham High girls soccer team defended their 2005 state championship and won their third straight state crown with a 2-0 victory over Mount Ararat of Topsham. Gorham, which wraps… Read More
GARDINER – Devon Brown had nine carries for 101 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead top-seeded Gardiner past No. 4 Hampden Academy 28-6 in the PTC Class B football semifinals Friday night. Brown added 14 tackles and one sack on defense for the Tigers. Read More
The Mount Desert Island football team saw its season end Monday with a 14-6 loss at Waterville in the Pine Tree Conference Class B quarterfinals. But for a program that hadn’t experienced playoff fever since 1998 and endured an 0-9 season two years ago, its… Read More
WATERVILLE – The Waterville High School football team did what a favorite is supposed to do Monday afternoon. But Mount Desert Island did something else – proved it belonged. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
Postponements caused by Saturday’s inclement weather mean it’s playoff Monday for several high school football teams – some officially and others in an unofficial, but just as real, sense. The unofficial playoff game is set for 5 p.m. at Cameron Stadium in Bangor, where John… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor football team ended its regular season on an explosive note Friday night, using the big play to overwhelm winless Oxford Hills of South Paris 45-21 in a Pine Tree Conference Class A matchup at Cameron Stadium. And no one was bigger… Read More
LINCOLN – Shey Gardner completed seven of nine passes for 83 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mattanawcook Academy to a 39-0 football victory over Stearns of Millinocket FRiday night. Brady Vose carried the ball 11 times for 107 yards and scored in the first… Read More
Week 9 of the high school football season marks the start of the Eastern Maine Class B playoffs, while the final week of regular-season play in Eastern A and C brings with it several questions remaining to be answered. Belfast Lions (4-4) vs. Hampden Academy… Read More
The shift of Brewer back to Class A and the addition of Nokomis of Newport to the Eastern Maine Class B ranks are the only changes expected in the state’s high school football ranks for the next two years. The football committee of the Maine… Read More
For the eight survivors of the Pine Tree Conference Class B football regular-season wars, this weekend marks a new season – the playoffs. For at least two of the teams in the field, it also marks a new beginning of sorts. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
ROCKLAND – Brady Vose logged 32 carries for 228 yards and scored four touchdowns Saturday to lead Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln to a 28-16 LTC Class C football victory over Rockland. Vose rushed for a touchdown in each quarter. Steven Braley carried the ball 15… Read More
BREWER – Mud Bowl ’06, Thunder Dome, Lions Lightning, Witches Washout, Doyle Field Deluge… Whatever they end up calling the Friday night monsoon in which they tried to play a Pine Tree Conference Class B football game between Brewer and Belfast, those who were there… Read More
FARMINGTON – Nothing like a little mud football to raise the Bangor Rams’ collective the energy level. Coming off a loss to undefeated Lawrence followed by a bye last week, Bangor thrived in the monsoon conditions that engulfed much of Maine on Friday night and… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Josh Daley scored four touchdowns and rushed for a two-point conversion to lead Dirigo of Dixfield to a 39-14 high school football victory over the Stearns Minutemen Friday night. Daley recovered a fumble and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to open… Read More
For several teams in the Pine Tree Conference Class B ranks, Week 8 of the high school football season marks the playoffs to make the playoffs. While Class A and Class C teams in the region have two more weeks of regular-season play, this is… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – David Frasz rushed for touchdowns of 10 and 6 yards and opened the second half with an 85-yard touchdown return to guide the Foxcroft Academy Ponies past the Stearns Minutemen 53-6 in schoolboy football action Friday night. Shaw Weeks, Wade Witham, Brian Hanson,… Read More
LINCOLN – The coaches on Mattanawcook Academy’s football team were concerned all week about Friday’s LTC Class C showdown with John Bapst of Bangor, and for good reason. The visiting Crusaders were 4-2 and making a major playoff push. The Lynx of Lincoln were reeling… Read More
The seventh week of Maine’s schoolboy football season offers a few intriguing matchups that have playoff positioning implications. A few teams are even in position to nail down home playoff berths with two weeks left in the regular season. John Bapst (4-2 ) at Mattanawcook… Read More
BANGOR – Jake Steele played the role of a shadow Saturday night, but the Winthrop High School sophomore certainly didn’t play in the shadows. Steele rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries, had two pass interceptions, a fumble recovery and helped contain John Bapst of… Read More
BANGOR – Last year, Lawrence of Fairfield capitalized on Bangor mistakes to rally for a victory that helped announce the Bulldogs’ re-emergence among Class A football’s upper echelon. This year, there’s no mistaking the Bulldogs’ defensive dominance. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
BELFAST – Ryan Lindemann booted a 26-yard field goal with four minutes left to boost Hampden Academy to a 31-28 football victory over Belfast Friday night. Belfast got the ball back and marched down the field, but the Lions fumbled the ball at the goal… Read More
BANGOR – On the surface, Friday’s Pine Tree Conference Class A football clash of the unbeatens between Bangor and Lawrence of Fairfield is a battle of offense against defense. Bangor boasts the conference’s most prolific offense, averaging 33.4 points per game in its 5-0 start. Read More
Week six of the high school football season features some showdowns for divisional supremacy and some key contests among other teams seeking to enhance their postseason potential. Winslow Black Raiders (4-1) vs. Mount Desert Island Trojans (4-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Bar Harbor: When these… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Nick Smith racked up 183 yards on 16 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead the John Bapst Crusaders to a 54-18 high school football victory over the Stearns Minutemen Friday night. Charlie Merritt was 11-for-12 passing with 153 yards and three touchdowns. Read More
Week 5 of the high school football season may provide plenty of midseason drama, with playoff scenarios now moving ever-so-closer from the far away to the here and now. Bangor Rams (4-0) vs. Messalonskee Eagles (2-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Oakland: Bangor built a 22-0… Read More
BANGOR – Nick Smith’s 3-yard touchdown run, a PAT kick by Kyle Gallant, and a late defensive stand helped John Bapst complete a rally and defeat Rockland 27-26 Saturday in high school football action. Smith scored his third TD with less than four minutes left… Read More
BUCKSPORT – After watching Bucksport dominate the line of scrimmage and use a mix of big plays and old-fashioned, ball-control offense to defeat Stearns of Millinocket Friday night, it’s hard to believe the Golden Bucks considered their rushing attack a weakness. Bucksport ran over, by,… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Having lost their last two games at home by a combined score of 88-6, the Brewer Witches sought refuge and a bit of redemption on the road Friday night. But as their Pine Tree Conference Class B football matchup against previously unbeaten… Read More
AUGUSTA – Ian Edwards completed five of six passes for 130 yards, including four touchdowns, to lead Bangor to a 34-7 rout of Cony in high school football action Friday night. Shane Walton caught a TD pass and also ran in a touchdown for Bangor. Read More
Believe it or not, Week 4 of the high school football season marks the midpoint of the regular season for high school football teams in Classes A and B who play eight-game schedules. For Class C, which plays a ninth game, that same midpoint is… Read More
The football committee of the Maine Principals’ Association is studying the feasibility of expanding high school football in the state from three to four classes, perhaps as soon as next year. According to a memo sent Monday by the committee to the state’s high school… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Brad Bellemare carried the ball 20 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns to help lead unbeaten Foxcroft Academy by Bucksport 30-0 in Saturday football action. Ben Provost had 11 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown while Ian Imbert rushed for a… Read More
BANGOR – On a Friday evening when Bangor’s offense was somewhat sluggish, the Rams’ defensive front picked up the slack. Ends Sean Flynn and Jon Thompson, nose guard Ben Bambrick, and tackles Robert Seccareccia, Adam Kearns, and Brad White controlled the line of scrimmage after… Read More
DYER BROOK – Rochelle Nadeau scored on a Kaylea Collier assist with 11 minutes left in the second half to lift undefeated Southern Aroostook to its seventh victory, 1-0 over Katahdin in high school girls soccer action Friday. Erin Caswell turned away nine of 10… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Steve Robinson rushed for two touchdowns and completed a 24-yard pass to Dontai Keith for another to lead Dexter to a 33-6 high school football victory over the Stearns Minutemen Friday night. Josh Cousins rushed 16 times for 83 yards and returned an… Read More
Week 3 of the high school football season features another test for Bangor and a big game on Mount Desert Island. Brunswick Dragons (1-0) vs. Bangor Rams (2-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Cameron Stadium, Bangor: This game matches two strong front lines working in front of… Read More
BANGOR – The Bucksport High football team is a work in progress, according to its coach, and on Monday night the Golden Bucks made progress – eventually. Bucksport shook off four lost fumbles during the first half to pull away from John Bapst of Bangor… Read More
WINSLOW – They have been anointed as the team to beat in Eastern Maine Class B football, and through two weeks of the season the Winslow Black Raiders have done nothing in conflict with those predictions. Winslow turned a rivalry into a rout in its… Read More
WALES – Junior tailback Jon Hall rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries as Mount Desert Island defeated Oak Hill 42-18 in high school football action Saturday. The 2-0 Trojans amassed more than 400 total yards for the second straight week, as… Read More
LINCOLN – With a full moon shining down on Curry Field on a crisp, cool and clear Friday night, it seemed somehow appropriate that the cats would be the ones chasing the dogs. This battle of football unbeatens didn’t feature much in the way of… Read More
BREWER – The post-game fireworks over Doyle Field were designed as part of this weekend’s Brewer Days festivities. But it was Waterville that was celebrating after a 40-6 Pine Tree Conference Class B football victory over Brewer on Friday night. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
HAMPDEN – Eddie Becker racked up 146 yards on 23 carries and scored on runs of nine and three yards in the first quarter as Hampden Academy edged Morse of Bath 34-26 in high school football action Friday night. Sophomore quarterback Shawn Smith completed 7-of-9… Read More
The defending Class B state champion Brewer Witches face a tough test in their home opener to highlight the Week 2 high school football schedule. Waterville (1-0) vs. Brewer (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Doyle Field, Brewer: Waterville was one of just two teams to defeat… Read More
Bangor High School’s season-opening 42-35 football victory over Lewiston featured offense, plenty of offense. But while Lewiston’s offense featured the all-around play of senior tailback Jared Turcotte, who fought off cramps to finish with 159 rushing yards, a 54-yard touchdown pass and a 40-yard TD… Read More
DEXTER – It was perhaps the biggest preseason question mark facing the John Bapst of Bangor football team – how would its new starting quarterback handle that most important of roles? For Charlie Merritt, the answer was in the numbers. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Sean Parady hit Collin Walton for two touchdown passes and ran for another as the MDI football team opened with a 42-13 victory over Maranacook of Readfield Saturday. Parady had passes of 29 and 22 yards to Walton, and completed two 2-point… Read More
BANGOR – Shane Walton and Jared Turcotte were on a collision course throughout Friday’s season-opening Pine Tree Conference Class A football game between Bangor and Lewiston at Cameron Stadium. The night began with Walton stiff-arming the Lewiston star for extra yards en route to a… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – There are lots of ways to analyze statistics and there were plenty to analyze in Friday’s LTC season-opening football game between Foxcroft Academy and Rockland. The visiting Rockland Tigers had a 100-yards-plus rusher and passer, while the defending Eastern Maine Class C champions… Read More
BATH – James Butts carried 16 times for 123 yards and a touchdown Friday night to lead defending Class B state champion Brewer to season-opening 20-8 football victory over Morse. Delray Meeker racked up 89 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns for the… Read More
A new high school football season begins this weekend. With it comes clean slates and high hopes, as 67 teams from Kittery to Millinocket seek to reach the pinnacle of Maine gridiron quests, a berth in the state championships games for Classes A, B and… Read More
WEEK 1 Friday, Sept. 1 googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
BANGOR – Tyler Libbey enjoys nothing more than throwing his weight around on the football field. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, that can be a relatively easy chore for the Lincoln native, who is a fourth-year starter this season at Husson College. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
ORONO – Matt King was poised last fall to have a breakout season for the University of Maine football team. It literally slipped through his fingertips. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
The season ended a little more abruptly last year than players, coaches and fans are used to at Belfast High School. The fourth-seeded Lions hosted a Pine Tree Conference Class B quarterfinal against newly transplanted Class A power Waterville and the Purple Panthers shocked Belfast… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Soon Class C will feel the effects of the youth movement taking hold on the hill overlooking Broadway. When a high school football team starts a junior under center and a sophomore in the backfield, most think the team will suffer a down… Read More
DEXTER – In 1966, Tim Wilson took over as the head coach of the Dexter football team, the start of a six-year span that included two Class C co-state championships and two LTC titles. Now, after several years of teaching and serving others, the last… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – At first glance, the loss of two quarterbacks and a slew of running backs might mean a football team had some rebuilding to do. But this is Foxcroft Academy, where football teams have perennial success. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
HAMPDEN – After leading the Hampden Academy football team to a Pine Tree Conference Class B playoff berth last fall in his first year as the Broncos’ head coach, Harry McCluskey sought to build on that momentum with a little help from his friends. So… Read More
BANGOR – Looking back, the end of the 2005 season may serve as the unofficial start of the 2006 season for the John Bapst Crusaders. The Crusaders expected to be in the thick of the playoff chase last fall, but early struggles took them out… Read More
FAIRFIELD – Pound the rock, knock a piece off until it splits. The translation: keep working hard everyday until the ultimate is achieved. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
BREWER – The 2005 season ended with the Brewer Witches bringing home the Class B state championship trophy, the ultimate prize for a dominating late-season run that concluded with a 33-0 blitzing of York in the title game. But much has changed since Brewer captured… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor High School football team’s quest to make the 2006 Pine Tree Conference Class A playoffs actually began with the final game of the 2005 season. The Rams trekked to South Paris to face Oxford Hills in a season finale rendered meaningless… Read More
The 2006 preseason started out with a good news-bad news scenario for Madison High School head football coach Joe Hayden. The good news is the cupboard wasn’t completely bare, as has been the case more than once the last few seasons, with six starters back. Read More
LINCOLN – Like any good Broadway production, a high school football team has understudies ready to step in to take over when needed. The Mattanawcook Academy football team will be looking to several juniors and seniors who have waited in the wings over the past… Read More
PITTSFIELD – Maine Central Institute returns its leading rusher, quarterback-turned-running back, Victor Quint. He is also the team’s leading tackler and had the most interceptions. The Huskies also bring back its sack leader, C.J. Laselle, from a season ago. In contrast, the Huskies lost four… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Three senior members of the Mount Desert Island football team didn’t want to make any predictions about the upcoming season before a recent afternoon practice. They all agree, however, that the Trojans have a lot of potential for another successful season. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
ORONO – What do the 2006 Orono Red Riots and the 1988 Permian Panthers have in common? A lot. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length;… Read More
NEWPORT – The fledgling Nokomis football program enters its second year of club play well advanced of where it started a year ago, at ground zero. “We’re 200 percent ahead of where we were last year,” said Warriors’ coach David Evans, the former Dexter, Stearns… Read More
OLD TOWN – There is often one player on a football team who is not the biggest, strongest, or fastest, but has the biggest heart and most desire. Back in the 1970s, Notre Dame had a guy named Rudy Ruettiger who fit that description, and… Read More
ROCKLAND – After flirting with extinction less than 10 years ago, the Rockland High School football team has posted three consecutive 5-4 seasons – its first winning campaigns since the late 1980s. But what that success has yet to bring the Tigers is a trip… Read More
Mike Marston has only been Skowhegan’s varsity football coach for three years, but he has already been in this situation before. Two years ago, he took over a team that had enjoyed some success, but had no returning starters, was largely unproven, and not expected… Read More
OAKLAND – When you start a season reeling off four consecutive victories in an eight-game season, that’s usually a recipe for a playoff spot at the worst. However, sometimes, adversity creeps up when you least expect it. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
MILLINOCKET – For the Stearns Minutemen, there’s nowhere to go but up after suffering through a winless 2005 season. “I hope we’re better,” said coach Chris Preble. “I can’t imagine it getting a whole lot worse.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More