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09/05/2008

Pine Tree Conference Class A

Cony at Mt. Ararat
When: 7 tonight
Where: Mt. Ararat High School, Topsham
Last season: Mt. Ararat 20, Cony 19
Key players: Mt. Ararat — RB/DB Nick Dempsey, RB/LB Joe Haggerty, FB/LB Will Brown, OG/LB Frank True, QB Drew Marshall, WR/DE Jordan Swerid. Cony — RB Greg O’Neill, WR/DB Ray Cotnoir, WR/DB Rick Orio, C Mark McDonald, G/DT Ben Rhoten, QB Nick Lucas
Outlook: The two teams opened last season against each other, and the Eagles won with a touchdown with 33.3 seconds remaining. While the Rams graduated 18 players from that team, payback is certainly on their minds. Cony struggled to run the ball in a preseason game against Gardiner, and will have to get O’Neill involved. Mt. Ararat likes to run the spread offense, which should test Cony’s secondary.

Skowhegan at Brewer
When: 7 tonight
Where: Coffin Field, Brewer
Last season: Skowhegan 54, Brewer 0
Key players: Skowhegan — RB Billy Clark, WR/LB Peter Boardman, G/LB Jonathan Fuller, FB/LB Cody Vigue, FB/LB Dylan Lancaster. Brewer — QB/DB Coby Hutchins, T/LB Jon Thoms, FB/LB Nik Risser, RB/DB Bill Bissell.
Outlook: Skowhegan returns a number of key players from last season’s team that reached the conference semifinals. Clark is the top returning rusher to the Indians. Brewer is in Class A for the second year. The Witches struggled last season and finished 0-8, but hope a year of experience leads to an improved record.

Bangor at Messalonskee
When: 7 tonight
Where: Veterans Field, Oakland
Last season: Bangor 54, Messalonskee 18
Key players: Bangor — G/DT Jory Tracy, TB/DE Adam Billings, LB Steve Seccareccia, QB Joe Seccareccia. Messalonskee — C/DT Kyle Grover, QB Dylan Foster, WB Matthew Stewart, WB/LB Andy Breton, TE/CB Chris Pelletier.
Outlook: Bangor is coming off of back-to-back losses in the PTC final against Lawrence. Although the Rams graduated a lot of players, they should have the depth to rebuild quickly and contend. Messalonskee has a number of players back, including three-year starters Grover and Pelletier.


Mt. Blue at Lawrence
When: 7 tonight
Where: Keyes Field, Fairfield
Last season: Lawrence 42, Mt. Blue 7 in regular season; Lawrence 42-0 in playoffs
Key players: Mt. Blue — T/DT Mike Letarte, QB Ryan Backus, WR/CB Justin Brooks, RB/SS Derek Rowe, WR/LB Chad Simoneau. Lawrence — RB/CB Brock Lawrence, T/DT Daven Giroux, T/DT Kevin Pressey, TE/S Matt Perkins, QB Ben Violette.
Outlook: Lawrence hasn’t lost a regular season game since 2006. The Bulldogs lost a lot of talent to graduation, but return many players with varsity experience and are particularly deep on the line. Mt. Blue needs to improve its rushing defense this season if it hopes to contend in the PTC.


Pine Tree Conference Class B

Gardiner at Oak Hill
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Oak Hill High School, Wales
Last season: Gardiner 46, Oak Hill 14
Key players: Gardiner — QB Mike Denham, TB/CB Forrest Chadwick, OL/DL Isac Cone, OL/DL Andy Kelley, LB/FB Peter Caradonna, G Steve Williams, LB Dylan Hensbee, WB Tyler Hall. Oak Hill — HB Clyde Tibbetts, QB Josh Sirois, QB Brett Turcotte, WB Matt Averill, G/DE Caleb Fournier, SE/DB Ben Rines, TE/S Ben Foss, WB Adam Hathorne.
Outlook: The Tigers open defense of their Class B state championship against a banged-up Raiders squad that is coping with the loss of outside linebacker/halfback Josh Allen. The Tigers will look for their ground game, led by Chadwick and Caradonna, to set the tone. For Oak Hill, the return of 21 seniors gives it plenty of experience heading into the season.

Leavitt at Maranacook
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Maranacook Community High School, Readfield
Last season: Leavitt 19, Maranacook 14
Key players: Leavitt — TB Tyler Green, WR Josh Strickland, WR Cam Griffin, WR Kolin Gauthier, OL/DL Zach Renaud, OL/DL Doug Nash, LB Phillip Russell, LB Kolby Youland, TE Buck Bochtler, QB Eric Theiss, OL/DT Luke Wiley, DT Mat Porter. Maranacook — QB James Mrazick, TB/OLB Pat Norwood, WR/CB Corey Palmer, TE/DE Ben Johnson, OT/DT Warren Barter, T Chris McCormick, ILB Dylan Brandon.
Outlook: The Black Bears are coming off a 3-5 season and will feature a new quarterback after the graduation of Mike Brennan. Leavitt will run the spread offense and features receivers who are 6-foot-3 or taller. The Hornets also feature four linemen who weigh at least 240 pounds.

Morse at Waterville
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Drummond Field, Waterville
Last season: Morse 32, Waterville 22
Key players: Morse — SE/SS Ryan Chaney, FL/CB Alex Kee, T/DT Ben Malcolm, QB/S Michael Walton, TB/LB Pat Wolfe. Waterville — QB/DB Josh Gaudette, TE/DE J.D. Gurski, WR/DB Cam Bishop, G/NG Lance Cote, FB/LB Kris Huggins.
Outlook: Morse was the surprise team of the PTC B last year, going 7-1 in the regular season and advancing to the regional semifinals. The Shipbuilders won’t catch anybody by surprise this season, and Walton returns at quarterback. Waterville returns a number of talented players at the skill positions.

Winslow at Mt. Desert Island
When: 7 tonight
Where: Mt. Desert Island High School
Last season: Winslow 34, MDI 6 in regular season; Winslow 24-0 in playoffs
Key players: Winslow — C/DT Dan Wendell, FB/LB Eric Bezanson, QB/SE/DB Scott Siviski, TE/DE Ryan Pelletier, TB Lucas Jones. MDI — QB Tyler Crawford, WR Terrance Jones, RB Odayne Gaynor, G Dan Hales.
Outlook: This is a rematch of a conference quarterfinal game from last season. Winslow hasn’t lost to MDI since joining Class B in 1991, but the Trojans have steadily improved in recent years and could be a contender in the PTC B this season.

Campbell Conference Class C

Traip at Winthrop
When: 7, tonight
Where: Winthrop High School
Last season: Winthrop 26, Traip 6
Key players: Traip — HB/MLB Gary Donaldson, TE/OLB Danny Farren, HB/CB Mike Collin, OG/DT Mike McCloskey, QB/FS Eric Spear. Winthrop — QB/LB Jordan Conant, WR Zach Farrington, WR Jason Raymond, RB/LB Jake Steele, FB Skyler Whaley, RB Riley Cobb, WR/DB Andrew Smithgall, TB/LB Joe Morey
Outlook: Conant returns as one of the top quarterbacks in the Campbell Conference and is poised for a big senior season. The Ramblers return several playmakers in an offense that averaged almost 30 points a game last fall. With a healthy Steele in the the backfield, Winthrop should be dangerous in the air and on the ground.

Old Orchard Beach at Madison
When: 7 tonight
Where: Madison Area Memorial High School
Last season: Old Orchard Beach 32, Madison 6
Key players: OOB — QB/CB Dean Perrone, G/DT Mitchell Blow, HB/LB Zack Chase, C/DT Tyler Smith, WR/CB Zack Gordon. Madison — QB/RB/S Sam Perkins, C/DT Jake Linkletter, T/DE Nico Barney, HB/S Lucas Libby, HB/LB Ivan Cobb.
Outlook: Perrone was one of the top quarterbacks in Class C last season, passing and rushing for more than 1,500 yards. Chase is an experienced halfback for OOB. Perkins and Linkletter lead a small but determined Madison team.

Little Ten Conference

Mt. View at Old Town
When: 7 tonight
Where: Old Town High School
Last season: Did not meet
Key players: Mt. View — C/LB John Shaw, TB Tyler Redenour, FB/LB Nate Sigouin, TE/DE Alec Albright, QB Aaron Santana. Old Town — QB/FS Josh Boucher, FB/DT Thomas Gogan, TB/SS Mario Goagn.
Outlook: Old Town dropped to Class C after a winless season in the Class B Pine Tree Conference. The Gogan brothers, exchange students from Germany, should contribute immediately. Mt. View is looking for its first varsity win after an 0-9 debut season in 2007. Mt. View is young, offensive lineman Rob Barnes is the only senior.

Calais at MCI
When: 7 tonight
Where: Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield
Last season: Did not meet
Key players: Calais — RB/LB Blake Ford, G/LB Eddie Flaherty, RB/LB Cal Shorey. MCI — RB/LB Nick Miller, FB/LB Shawn Bennett, OL/DL Andy Shorey, RB/LB Craig Reazor, WR/DB Caleb Lasselle.
Outlook: The newest member of the LTC, the Calais/Woodland Silverados are playing their first varsity game tonight. The Blue Devils have played as a club team the past few years. MCI returns one of the top running backs in the league in Miller and has strong overall team speed.

Capsules compiled by staff writers Bill Stewart and Travis Lazarczyk

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