Through the 20-year history of the Campbell Conference and dating back even to the days of the precursor Mountain Valley Conference and Southern York League, the Western Class C football playoffs haven't changed their look much. That annual playoff bracket is almost as consistent as the dimensions of the field and the height of the goalposts.

Well, forget what you know and get a new measuring tape. Or at least an industrial-strength eraser.

The field has expanded from four to eight teams. One school has qualified for the first time. Two others are making their first appearance in years after lengthy stints in Class B. And the top seed is a newcomer to that perch on the heels of its first undefeated regular season in 46 years.

You might need a scorecard to identify the participants this weekend. So here's our closer look at the four quarterfinal matchups:

#8-Maranacook (4-4) at #1-Dirigo (8-0)

The Cougars went one win and one spot better than their breakthrough season of 2008. Dirigo's closest margin of victory was 20 points. 

Three-year starter Nic Crutchfield (920 passing yards, 13 touchdowns) leads the most prolific offense in the league into Saturday's contest at Harlow Park. Five of Alex Miele's 12 receptions have gone for scores. 

Weather and field conditions often dictate a different approach at this time of year, and the Cougars can deliver on the ground, as well. Tyler Chiasson, Spencer Ross, Bryan Blackman and Crutchfield provide the four-pronged attack. Ross has registered nine all-purpose touchdowns.

Dirigo was the only team to beat Maranacook by more than a touchdown, a 40-6 rout in Dixfield two weeks ago. The Black Bears regrouped and pulled out a wild 34-29 victory over Oak Hill to earn their first Western Class C playoff berth since the early 1980s, when the same cluster of teams actually played in Class D.

Sophomore running back Luke Emery (947 yards, 14 TDs) has been the workhorse. The Black Bears also have 6-foot-8 tight end Ben Johnson (18 catches) back in the mix after a midseason injury.

Defensively, Miele (five interceptions), Crutchfield and Kyle Hutchinson are standouts for the Cougars along with Mason Cote and Arik Fenstermacher. The Cougars have allowed under eight points per game.

#7-Yarmouth (6-2) at #2-Livermore Falls (7-1)

The Clippers enter tonight's first-ever playoff appearance at Griffin Field as the hottest team in the league other than Dirigo. After losses to Old Orchard Beach and Oak Hill dropped Yarmouth to 0-2 this year and 1-19 in its brief history, the Clippers ran off six straight wins in resounding fashion.

Both teams prove you don't need a phenomenal air attack to flaunt a prolific offense, either. Each embraces the Wing-T with punishing precision. Yarmouth averaged 48 points per game; Livermore Falls, nearly 38. 

Chandler White of Livermore Falls (1,386 yards, 20 TDs) leads the conference in rushing and also tops the Andies' defense with 92 tackles. QB Shawn Whiting and HBs Alex Rose and Jeff Ryder are capable of big plays out of the Andies' backfield.

Brodie Woodson is the multi-purpose threat for the Clippers. He has 12 total touchdowns as a rusher, receiver and returner. Yarmouth's Eric Estabrook has tossed nine touchdowns while torturing opposing QBs to the tune of five interceptions in the secondary.

The teams didn't meet this season. Livermore Falls rallied to a 20-12 regular-season win at Yarmouth last fall.

#6-Oak Hill (4-4) at #3-OOB (6-2)

Old Orchard rolled through most of the southern division and enters the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. Oak Hill's season followed more of a Dow Jones pattern: loss, three wins, loss, win, two losses. But the Raiders played a weighty schedule, including cross-over games against Lisbon (loss) and Yarmouth (win).

So it looks like a toss-up tonight at Joe Regina Field between two teams with striking similarities.

OOB can attack with 250-pound fullback Brandon Ouellette (696 yards, 7 TDs) or through the air with QB Dean Perrone (742 yards, 9 TDs) and favorite target Zach Gordon (16 receptions, 287 yards). Oak Hill counters with the inside-outside attack of FB Josh Prue (9 TDs) and HB Josh Allen (793 yards, 6 TDs). Allen returns after missing last week's loss at Maranacook with a mouth injury.

Brett Turcotte (897 yards, 7 TDs) has two deep receiving threats in Ben Foss and Dillon Turcotte for Oak Hill.

Prue, Kyle Emmons and Turcotte headline an Oak Hill defense that hopes to rebound from surrendering 74 points the last two weeks after giving up only 63 in the first six games. Ouellette and John Regis are the heavy hitters for the Seagulls.

#5-Winthrop (5-3) at #4-Lisbon (6-2)

Meet the two first-round foes who know each other best. Winthrop holds a four-game winning streak in the rivalry, including a 7-0 win at home last week. That wasn't enough to take the advantage of Thompson Field from the Greyhounds in the rematch.

The Ramblers haven't allowed a point in six quarters. Tyler Arsenault (three interceptions), Eric Duplessis, Corey Staples, Ryan Conant and Dane Gomberg have provided the resistance.

Offensively, Cory Harris (868 yards, 5 TDs) has been the every-down back, with Conant effective when taking direct snaps in the Wildcat offense. Winthrop also has shown greater reliance on the arm of QB Travis Luce in recent weeks.

Lisbon's offense has taken a hit from injuries to top runner, returner and placekicker Tobey Harrington and QB Luke Caron. Chris Whitney played quarterback against the Ramblers last week. Scott Eck is a double threat out of the backfield. Mike McNamara has shone defensively.

Winthrop downed Lisbon in the regional final last year. The Greyhounds got there, it should be noted, by avenging a regular-season loss to Dirigo.

koakes@sunjournal.com