Week two of the high school football season brings several more intriguing matchups, although the schedule isn’t quite as full of attention-grabbers that week one brought. Bangor (0-1) at Gardiner (0-1), Hoch Field, 7 p.m. Friday: It’s much too early for anyone to be panicking,… Read More
BREWER – Josh Caldwell didn’t think much of the 26-yard run he reeled off in the third quarter of Friday night’s high school football matchup between Brewer and Mattanawcook. “It was a play up the middle. That’s all I can remember,” he said. “It was… Read More
BANGOR – After starting the 2001 season 0-4, Skowhegan shocked everyone with six straight wins before losing to Bangor in the Pine Tree Conference title game. The Indians have made things a little easier – at least earlier on – this year by shocking everyone… Read More
Saturday’s schedule for the opening weekend of high school football is much lighter than Friday night’s, but the games are no less intriguing. Stearns at Winslow, 1:30 p.m., Poulin Field: This is one of the best cross-class games as it matches traditional pigskin powers. The… Read More
HAMPDEN – Foxcroft Academy used a well-balanced attack to score early and often in defeating Hampden 42-0 in Friday night’s high school football season opener at the Weatherbee School field. “Our line just did a tremendous job on both sides of the ball,” junior defensive… Read More
For the Bucksport Golden Bucks, a second-place finish in Class C for 2001 wasn’t enough. The team had failed to make the playoffs in the two seasons before that, posting 4-5 marks each year. This year, nearly 50 players flew around “Camp Gold Ball,” punishing… Read More
HAMPDEN – After muddling through a fairly forgettable 2-7 campaign last year, the returning veterans on Hampden Academy’s football team weren’t sure what to expect in 2002. So far, they’ve come to like what they’ve seen in the preseason. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
It’s raining for the first time in three weeks, and the Foxcroft Academy football team is reveling in its wet practice field. In fact, when Ponies coach Paul Withee calls out the air raid drill, which consists of a sprint alternated with squiggling on the ground, the muddy,… Read More
Last year, coach Daryle Weiss took the reins of the Rockland High School football team with the long-term goal of helping the Class C Tigers contend. This year, a wide-open conference race and the return of a top-notch running back has left Weiss optimistic. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
OLD TOWN – It’s a fact that offensive and defensive lines are often overlooked when it comes to giving out credit in football. That won’t be the case at Old Town High if the Indians have a successful season. Not only is the line probably… Read More
Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln will go after its fifth straight playoff appearance this season with a new head coach. Mike Carney, who has served as an assistant at MA, is the new head coach for the Lynx, replacing five-year head coach Tom Whitney, whose contract… Read More
After finishing 3-6 last season, the Orono Red Riots are looking to take the next step on their way back to football prominence, according to coach Wally Covell. “Orono’s been down awhile,” Covell said. “We’re gradually coming back. We hope to make the next step… Read More
The Messalonskee football team made a big move in 2001. John Hersom’s Eagles stepped up from LTC Class B to the Class A Pine Tree Conference and found some immediate success. The Eagles finished the campaign with a 4-5 record; however, the loss that dropped… Read More
Jeff Parenteau stands 5-foot-5 and weighs 150 pounds. “His track coaches say he’s the fastest human being in the state for the first 10 yards,” said Belfast High School co-head football coach Butch Arthers. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
The Dexter Tigers’ 2001 football season was one of missed chances and dropped footballs. The Tigers finished 5-4 and just out of the LTC playoffs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var… Read More
For 20 years, the ultimate goal for Bangor High School’s football season has been the same: Win another gold ball. Two decades of close calls, near-misses, and frustrating seasons made that goal appear more and more elusive, despite the fact the Rams have advanced to… Read More
Last season, the Brewer Witches reached the promised land for the first time in six years. “It was a good season, but not good enough,” said senior tri-captain and fullback-linebacker Eric Trask. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
Going into the 2002 football season, the John Bapst football team considers itself 0-0 – in more ways than one. The Crusaders of Bangor are seeking a fresh start after two straight winless seasons and a revolving door of head coaches. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
The Madison High School Bulldogs are ready to end the drought. After going 3-6 and being outscored 229-42 in 2000 as they made the adjustment to first-year head coach Chris LeBlanc, they were much more competitive a year ago and came within one win of… Read More
PITTSFIELD – Two years ago the Maine Central Institute Huskies won the Eastern Maine Class C Championship. But the players remaining from that squad learned the difference a year makes after finishing 2-7 in 2001. “It was a rough year,” senior fullback-defensive end Mike Broccio… Read More
So how do you know when you’re in for a long season? How about when one of your best players suffers a season-ending knee injury while high-fiving his teammates during pre-game introductions. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Although Stearns started the 2001 football season with consecutive losses to Winslow, Belfast, and Bucksport, senior Matt Leino said the team was better than the record showed. “We knew we were a better team than that,” he said. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
After starting the season 1-4 a year ago, the Skowhegan Indians made the kind of turnaround coaches always say is possible. They ran off five straight wins. They advanced to the Pine Tree Conference championship. And they took a two-touchdown lead into the third quarter… Read More
REGULAR SEASON Week 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 slot_sizes =… Read More
There are worse situations than to be the coach of a two-time defending state championship team returning one of the top running backs in the league and three-fifths of the starting offensive line. Mike Siviski’s Winslow Black Raiders are once again one of the top… Read More
WATERVILLE – When the Waterville football team opens up its season, it will return as usual to Drummond Field. But it’s not the same old Drummond Field. And the Panthers are hoping that they won’t be the same team from the past two years. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
There’s nothing wrong with Lawrence football that first-year coach Scott Walker doesn’t think can’t be fixed. Granted, the Fairfield school is coming off a forgettable 2001 season in which the Bulldogs won just twice against six losses. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
BIDDEFORD – All week long, the play was a running play. A naked bootleg designed to take advantage of West quarterback Trevor Powers’ speed. Midway through the third quarter of Friday night’s 13th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic, that’s not exactly the way things… Read More
Three Eastern Maine high school football players are among the nine semifinalists for the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, presented annually to the premier senior in Maine. Chris Cote, a tailback-linebacker from Brewer; Jeffrey Cutler, a two-way lineman from Messalonskee in Oakland; and Cole Parlin, a… Read More
PORTLAND – When it comes to state championships, Zak Ray has turned thievery into an art form. It was only eight months ago that he began his postseason crime spree, when he stole the ball away in the waning seconds of the Class A state… Read More
AUBURN – In real time, the changing of the tides takes hours. In football time, it can happen far, far quicker. Try 15 seconds. That’s how long it took Winslow’s Chris McInnis to gather in a fourth-quarter kickoff and sprint down the right sideline during… Read More
AUGUSTA – Unlike most of his football teammates at Boothbay High, Billy Hardwick had persevered through the tough times of big-game situations before. A key member of the school’s reigning state championship basketball team, he had seen that team fall behind with title aspirations on… Read More
After an indeterminate number of hours, 68 practices, eight regular season games, four playoff games, a scrimmage, and an exhibition game, it all comes down to this. Championship Saturday: Six teams, three games, three gold balls. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
WINSLOW – Momentum, football coaches will tell you, is a lot like their ideal running back. It’s essential to a team’s success. But it’s also slippery and elusive and unpredictable. Just like a good back. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
BUCKSPORT – An emotional postgame hug between Warren Chase, one of Saturday’s LTC Class C championship heroes, and Dave Milan, Chase’s Pop Warner football coach, perfectly illustrated what these games are all about. “This is what we talked about all those years ago! This is… Read More
Two of the three defending state champions were knocked off in Western Maine football championship action Saturday as Portland earned the regional Class A title and Boothbay took the Class C crown. The Bulldogs toppled Massabesic of Waterboro 13-7 for the Class A title. York… Read More
BANGOR – What do you get when you combine 16 turnovers with 580 yards of total offense and 70 points? A football championship game that defies description, although some still tried to. “It’s the weirdest game I’ve ever played in,” said Bangor two-way starter Ben… Read More
BANGOR – As he stood and listened to the awards ceremony after Friday night’s Pine Tree Conference championship game, Bangor senior Justin Schmersal grimaced, and a few stray tears streaked down his cheeks. Was Schmersal crying because of the leg trouble that has plagued him?… Read More
If the weather doesn’t make itself a factor in Saturday’s LTC championship football games, fans should be treated to an exciting exhibition of athletic prowess, no matter which of the two 1 p.m. games they attend. All four LTC finalists – Winslow and Belfast in… Read More
Ten weeks ago, Bangor and Skowhegan met to kick off the 2001 Pine Tree Conference season. Friday night, the Rams and the Indians will close out the PTC season as they battle to decide who represents Eastern Maine in the Class A state championship game. Read More
BELFAST – The way the Belfast Lions were executing their offensive game plan Saturday, Brewer’s biggest mistake may have been deferring and going on defense after winning the coin toss. The Lions got a colossal effort from diminutive tailback Jeff Parenteau, seized the game’s momentum… Read More
BANGOR – Before Friday night’s Pine Tree Conference semifinal game began, Bangor defensive end Justin Hinton delivered these motivational words to his teammates in the locker room: “From the first tick of the tock to the last tick of the clock.” The phrase was designed… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – It’s amazing what a stellar defensive effort will do. Penalties, turnovers and frequent struggles to move the ball were all forgotten in the minutes after Friday’s LTC Class C semifinal. Fumbles, personal fouls and offensive mistakes didn’t stop the Foxcroft Academy football team… Read More
BUCKSPORT – An explosive first-half offense and an overpowering second-half defense led the Bucksport Golden Bucks to a 25-0 victory over the Mattanawcook Academy Lynx in an LTC Class C semifinal Friday night. It was Bucksport’s ninth straight win and they will face Foxcroft Academy… Read More
It’s time for 100 percent, wall-to-wall, unadulterated playoff action across the state as all three classes enter the regional semifinal phase of the postseason. Several intriguing games dot the schedule for Friday and Saturday as rematches galore populate the weekend slate. Lewiston (6-3) at Bangor… Read More
DEXTER – Danny White and Josh Withee scored two touchdowns each Saturday as Foxcroft Academy romped to a 39-0 LTC Class C football victory over Dexter. White scored on a 25-yard pass from Withee and a 54-yard punt return. White also kicked three extra points… Read More
BANGOR – Bangor head coach Mark Hackett called it a “magical” night. Edward Little head coach Gene Keene, Jr., just wanted to disappear after the first quarter. Hackett’s top-seeded Rams made the most of early Edward Little miscues, piled up 29 points in the first… Read More
LINCOLN – The Stearns Minutemen rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to beat the Mattanawcook Academy Lynx 26-21 in high school football action Friday night. The Minutemen rallied to take the lead 26-21 with less than six minutes left in the game. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
The season is over. Well, the regular season, anyway, in the Class A ranks. Classes B and C still have one more week to go before the postseason participants are officially anointed. The math is fairly simple in the B and C ranks as Winslow,… Read More
BREWER – The Brewer Witches snapped a 10-year losing streak against the Belfast Lions with a 34-28 overtime victory in a Class B high school football showdown at Doyle Field Friday night. The battle of the two 6-1 teams lived up to expectations. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
OAKLAND – At this rate, the only thing standing between Bangor and a return to the Class A state championship game is severe tooth decay. Bangor’s defensive unit turned in another strong performance Friday night, blanking a solid Messalonskee team 29-0 for the Rams’ third… Read More
Buddy Nickerson is one of those kids that just brings a smile to your face. Buddy’s polite. He’s funny. Respectful. And honest. “He’s just special,” his football coach Mark Hackett says earnestly. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
It’s nitty-gritty time for teams in the playoff race as the season winds down for Maine’s high school football teams. This is the final week of the regular season in Class A as both the Pine Tree Conference and Southern Maine Activities Association begin their three-round playoffs next… Read More
BANGOR – Another lunch-pail effort by an offensive line which is far from unappreciated by Bangor’s backs and coaches, plus the third “doughnut” performance of the season by the defensive unit, added up to another victory for the unbeaten Rams. Running behind a line which… Read More
OLD TOWN – The Brewer football team knows it can look to its defense to win games. The Witches had some trouble defending Old Town’s passing game in Friday night’s game at Victory Field, but giving up a few midrange passes was about all the… Read More
PITTSFIELD – Danny White rushed for 66 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns as Foxcroft shut down Maine Central Institute 35-0 in high school football action Friday. Josh Sands contributed 87 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown for the Ponies. Derek Morong… Read More
BELFAST – Junior Jeff Parenteau churned out 157 yards on eight carries and surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season as Belfast topped Mount Desert Island 61-14 in high school football action Friday night. Parenteau now has 1,050 yards. He scored a pair of… Read More
Week seven of the high school football season is devoid of the many eye-catching headliner contests fans were treated to a week ago, but the games are no less relevant as teams jockey for postseason position and try to hold their breath a bit longer for last-gasp playoff… Read More
SOUTH PARIS – Looking for heroes from Saturday afternoon’s game between Bangor and Oxford Hills at Gouin Complex? There were almost too many to count. In fact, Bangor’s coaching staff, which routinely awards a game ball to the most outstanding or valuable player of the… Read More
BREWER – Stacie Bean scored two goals Saturday as Brewer knocked previously unbeaten John Bapst of Bangor. Sarah DeFilipp added a goal for 3-10 Brewer. Rachel Wing, Jade Freeman and Carolyn McAvoy each added an assist. Stephanie Dickey made 12 saves on 13 shots. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
DEXTER – Adam Russell turned in a four-touchdown, 160-yard performance on nine carries Saturday as Dexter rolled to a 26-8 LTC football victory over John Bapst of Bangor. Kevin Armstrong added 173 yards on 16 carries for the 3-3 Tigers. Defensively, Armstrong and Josh Bishop… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – No matter what happened in the first 11 minutes of the second half of Friday night’s LTC Class C showdown, it’s important you know one thing. Joel Sankey did not do anything magical to turn the fortunes of his Bucksport Golden Bucks, who… Read More
BELFAST – Going into Friday night’s LTC Class B showdown with fellow unbeaten Belfast, Winslow’s Black Raiders were the top-ranked passing team in the LTC and very young in their offensive line. By contrast, the Lions had done it on the ground with LTC leading rusher Jeff Parenteau… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Derek DiFrederico completed a pass to Kevin McLaughlin on a fake conversion kick in the third overtime, lifting the Stearns Minutemen to a thrilling 20-18 LTC victory Friday night over Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield. It was Stearns’ third straight win after an… Read More
MILLINOCKET – The Stearns Minutemen won a three-overtime thriller over Maine Central Institute Friday night to win their third straight game since coming out of the gate at 0-3. Ryan Sweeney scored the final touchdown of the game for the Minutemen on a 6-yard run… Read More
There is no shortage of headliner games on the week six schedule for high school football as Eastern Maine offers one in each class this weekend. In Class A, it’s the renewal of one of the Pine Tree Conference’s most intense recent rivalries between two teams with one… Read More
BREWER – As his adrenaline-fueled Brewer football team revved themselves up for Friday night’s homecoming football game on Doyle Field, coach Josh Emmett grinned and shared one small pre-game concern. “I just hope we have something left come kickoff,” Emmett said. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
BANGOR – In a decidedly rare development for Bangor football, the Rams used the pass to set up the run on a clear, cool Friday night at Cameron Stadium. In a decidedly common development for the Rams, they won. Senior quarterback Chris Bombardier passed for… Read More
OLD TOWN – Belfast scored quick and often with touchdowns from six different players to defeat Old Town 52-6 Friday night and maintain their undefeated football season. Jeff Parenteau led all rushers with 18 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown for the Lions. His… Read More
The fifth week of the high school football season hasn’t brought much relaxation to the frontrunners as even unbeaten teams find themselves, at most, only one game ahead of their closest pursuers. This could be the week some teams start padding those leads. Lawrence (0-4)… Read More
BREWER – Yes, Scarborough is a football program only three years old. Yes, the unbeaten Brewer Witches were missing two key starters. And yes, this is the first official season of Class B ball for the Red Storm. No, none of that would make any… Read More
LEWISTON – They were outrushed, outgained in terms of total yardage, and maybe even outhit, but the Bangor Rams refused to be outscored. Despite being held to its lowest rushing and overall yardage totals in at least three seasons, Bangor remained unbeaten with a 20-7… Read More
BUCKSPORT – The key factor in Friday night’s game for the visiting Dexter Tigers was Bucksport tailback Warren Chase. The Tigers figured if they could stop him, they’d have a good chance stopping Bucksport. Chase started the game with a flourish, accounting for 30 of… Read More
ORONO – After starting the season with three straight losses – and opening each of those games by giving up a big play in the first quarter – the Stearns football team was determined not to let it happen anymore. And in the process the Minutemen were hoping… Read More
OLD TOWN – Jeremy Stormann ran for three touchdowns and passed for another to power the Old Town Indians to a 40-6 high school football victory over the Windham Eagles Friday night. Stormann had a pair of 4-yard scores along with a 5-yard run. Adam… Read More
Week three of the high school gridiron season doesn’t offer a lot of eye-catching contests at first glance, but three in particular bear watching as they involve teams with lots of early momentum who are trying to increase the breathing room between themselves and their opposition. Read More
BANGOR – It has been quite a week for everyone, and Bangor’s football team was no exception. Despite all the horrific television images they saw, the frustration they felt, and the two practices they missed due to the week’s jumbled schedule, the Rams managed to… Read More
BELFAST – In a classic example of a player mirroring his entire team, Belfast tailback Jeff Parenteau slipped, twisted, spun, tromped, bulled and sidestepped his way by would-be tacklers all afternoon as he led his Lions to a come-from-behind, 23-7 victory over York. In what… Read More
FRYEBURG – Josh Caldwell and Seth Emerson each rushed for two touchdowns as the Brewer Witches rolled to a 41-0 high school football victory over the Fryeburg Academy Raiders Saturday. Emerson also returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown for Brewer, and he added… Read More
There’s no shortage of captivating contests in the third week of the high school football season. In the Pine Tree Conference, Mt. Blue of Farmington visits fellow unbeaten Bangor for a game that could determine the PTC’s Northeast Division champion. Want a potential gold ball… Read More
BREWER – All through preseason, Brewer head coach Josh Emmett emphasized the importance of getting off to a good start. He saw that as the key to a successful season for a young team. Good starts have been a rarity for the Witches going back… Read More
BANGOR – After a scoreless first half in which his team had rushed for a grand total of 37 yards, Bangor coach Mark Hackett admits that the Rams made some adjustments. He also admits that the most important change may not have been a switch… Read More
HAMPDEN – The Bucksport Golden Bucks had two players rush for more than 100 yards as the Golden Bucks raced past the Hampden Academy Broncos 48-14 in high school football action Friday night. Bucksport evened its record at 1-1 with a convincing win over the… Read More
The second week of the high school football season won’t make or break anyone’s season, but it may go a long way toward weeding out the opening week flashes from the long-term contenders. The LTC continues its two-week, inter-conference schedule between its Class B and… Read More
BANGOR – As John Bapst football coach Barry Terrill took the handshakes, pats-on-the-back and words of encouragement after Saturday night’s game against Mount Desert Island, he put the final result in perspective. “You can take some positive things from a loss,” he said. “Obviously you’re… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Sarah Belden scored two goals to lift 4-0-1 Presque Isle to a 2-1 schoolgirl soccer victory over Nokomis of Newport Saturday. Sarah Gahagan contributed an assist and Melissa Demerchant made eight saves on 10 shots. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – After all the preseason football talk about how balanced Bangor was going to be on offense and how defense would again lead the way for the Rams, it was time to show people Friday whether there was anything to it. If the Rams’… Read More
ORONO – As the Old Town Indians spent all but one play of the fourth quarter in his team’s territory, and as what had been a 12-0 lead slowly melted away on a humid night, Ben Briggs thought about the way Orono football has been. Read More
LINCOLN – Defense decided the game as the Brewer Witches converted three Mattanawcook Academy turnovers into touchdowns en route to a 27-7 high school football victory Friday night. The Witches’ defense provided the 21 points in the form of a Ryan Hahl fumble recovery in… Read More
The leaves haven’t even started to change color, the mercury hasn’t taken much of a dip on the thermometers, and the shorts and swimsuits haven’t been packed away for the winter yet, but there’s still an unmistakable feeling of fall. It’s football time in Maine. Read More
If they’re mulling over a team motto, the Orono Red Riots may want to consider using “What a difference a year makes” for the 2001 football season. Gone is the feeling of awkwardness and unfamiliarity that permeated Orono’s 2000 preseason camp as coach Wally Covell… Read More
Mike Corneil, first-year Hampden Academy football coach, has something of a dilemma. He knows football. He knows his team. But he doesn’t know the opposition. “It’s one of those things where, I think that I’m not that familiar with the league so I don’t know… Read More
Three games into the 2000 campaign, Waterville’s Frank Knight found himself in the kind of situation a coach dreads. “Looking back, it was a half-empty, half-full situation,” Knight admits now. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
Friday, Aug. 31 Bangor at Skowhegan, 7 p.m. 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… Read More
BUCKSPORT – For the past two years, Bucksport has been a near-miss team. The Golden Bucks have finished the last two seasons with 4-5 marks, good for sixth in the LTC Class C rankings. But they haven’t been able to secure that elusive playoff berth. Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – There’s a lot that’s different in Dover-Foxcroft this year. Foxcroft Academy will be playing its games on a new field. The Ponies will be changing in shiny new locker rooms. They will be taking their cues from a new quarterback. And they will… Read More
In a constantly changing world, the Belfast football team has been a model of consistency. Butch Arthers, Butch Richards, and Hal Halliday have walked the sidelines, conducted the practices, and wiped their players’ noses since 1992. They have also produced four Eastern Maine championships and… Read More
Over the years, low-key Winslow coach Mike Siviski has elevated good-natured preseason poor-mouthing to an art form. His team always has holes to fill. The Black Raiders – to him, at least – are never the favorites. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
MILLINOCKET – The minute star running back Justin Cummings picked up his final carry and ran for his last bit of yardage as a high school player, the Stearns football team knew its dependence on Cummings to carry the offensive load was over. Cummings led Stearns to the… Read More
LINCOLN – It’s every young football player’s dream come true: a chance to play quarterback for the high school team … only in Jon Carney’s reality, things are a little bit different. The junior will be Mattanawcook Academy’s third starting quarterback in as many years,… Read More