Edward Little travels to Bangor on Friday, while Lewiston hosts Windham.
By Kalle Oakes
Sports Editor

Lewiston and Edward Little open their third football season in the Pine Tree Conference this evening with what appear to be dramatically different assignments.

For the Blue Devils, the season-opener is a relatively friendly matchup at Don Roux Field in Lewiston against PTC newcomer Windham, a first-year varsity program and graduate of the Campbell Conference developmental league.

On defending Eastern Class A champion Edward Little’s side of the equation, the first night under the lights means a trip to Bangor’s Cameron Stadium to face the perennially powerful Rams.

Other local weekend highlights include a Class B “cross-over” game, oddly enough, between longtime geographic and gridiron rivals Mountain Valley and Leavitt, as well as an intriguing Campbell Conference matchup between Winthrop and Livermore Falls that could reveal plenty about the landscape in Western Class C.

Five area games are on tonight’s slate for 7 p.m., with four more set for Saturday afternoon. Here’s a closer peek at the particulars:

Windham at Lewiston

Tonight, 7 p.m.

With most of its returning experience up front and not at the skill positions, Lewiston is likely to try to run the ball behind that battle-tested beef. Tackles Nick Lajoie and Steve Poussard and TE Steve Cobb look to open holes for big FB George Foisy as well as tailback hopefuls James Spaulding and Jeff Briggs.

Either senior Dustin Carrier or sophomore Chris Ford will be the new signal-caller.

The Eagles went 2-7 against a Class B and C schedule last season. They have a veteran QB, Peter Cekuttis, working behind a senior-dominated line that includes Josh Desalle and Nate Fowler. Robbie Larochelle is a threat at receiver.

Edward Little at Bangor

Tonight, 7 p.m.

The Red Eddies started 3-4 last year before their impressive charge to the regional crown, and head coach Jim Hersom recognizes that another young group may need September seasoning.

EL is sure to face a challenge from Bangor, which will try to run the ball out of the I-formation. The Rams have two options at tailback in converted receiver Mike Prentiss and diminutive scatback Tyler Heber, as well as FB Ben Payson. Also in his third year as a starter at linebacker, Payson headlines a defense that includes senior linemen P.J. Dowe, Kevin Flynn and Trevor Lagrange.

QB Matt Bennett, whose leadership skills blossomed last season, returns for the Red Eddies along with the team’s leading rusher, Chris LeClair. Leclair and fellow two-way standout Chris Lemieux bring an experienced edge to the secondary.

Winthrop at Livermore Falls

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Bad news for the Ramblers: Their top two quarterbacks are among a slew of players academically ineligible for the opener at Griffin Field. Better news: The sophomore experiencing most of the preseason repetitions under center, Tavis Hasenfus, is a superb athlete who has opened his coaching staff’s and teammates’ eyes with his command of the offense.

All Hasenfus has to do is look over his shoulder to find Winthrop’s primary weapon — senior TB Derek Gray, who is around the 3,000-yard mark for his career. Defensively, strong safety Gray, LB Rob Michaud and DT Chris Lavigne lead the charge.

Livermore Falls has a chance to make an early statement after missing the playoffs by one game last fall. QB Dane Hanson has a proven receiver in TE Matt Belmonte. Seven of the Andies’ defensive starters are beginning at least their second season of regular duty.

Mountain Valley at Leavitt

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Traditionally both teams’ season-ending game for more than a decade, this annual encounter is now one of the tastiest cross-over games in a reorganized Class B.

Leavitt, a member of the newly named Pine Tree Conference Class B division (Eastern Maine), has the makings of an explosive running game with Chad Schrepper, Tyler Poland and Broc Hardacker running behind linemen Marcus Reny and Ryane Staples. Defensively, LBs Reny, Poland and Kyle Davis are part of a group that is eight returning starters deep.

Traditional Western Class B power Mountain Valley moves Zach Fergola to QB to work with Eric LaPage, a running and receiving threat out of the backfield. LBs Travis Dragoon, Drew Parent and Aaron Robin are the strength of the defense.

Mt. Ararat at Oxford Hills

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Back in the PTC after a two-decade absence, Mt. Ararat doesn’t face a gentle hand in its opener. Several of the Vikings’ most prominent players on both sides of the ball took their lumps when they had to be rushed into action last autumn, but that early exposure should pay dividends now.

Tyler Slack and sophomore Jim Bower give Oxford Hills two explosive tailbacks behind 225-pound fullback Kass Eells. Jeff Tifft, Brad Flanders and Rob McVety each are capable targets for the new QB, senior Tim Cote.

QB Chris Doherty directs the triple option for Mt. Ararat, which went 6-3 against a Campbell Conference schedule last season. Doherty passed for just under 1,000 yards as a junior.

Mt. Blue at Waterville

Saturday, 1 p.m.

One of the favorites in Eastern A, Mt. Blue brings 20 seniors into a game against one of its traditional rivals. QB Garrett Lake, RB Lance Meader and WRs Andrew Beaulieu, Nate Bolduc and Peter Tinguely operate a diverse offense behind experienced linemen Cal Miller and Garrett Strout.

Beaulieu, Strout, Miller and Derek Taber headline a defense that will encounter a similarly talented Purple Panthers attack. RBs Matt Hilton and Anthony Jabar line up behind QB Brian Tormollan. Hilton rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season, capped by more than 200 in a playoff victory at Bangor.

Jay at Buckfield/Dirigo

Saturday, 3 p.m., Dirigo H.S.

Dirigo’s first varsity football endeavor since 1989 and Buckfield’s initial venture in more than 50 years encounters an experienced next-door neighbor that appears to be on the rise.

Junior QB Justin Wells emerged as one of the most promising passers in the state last season for Jay. He has two speedy, sure-handed threats out of the backfield, Austin Ouellette and Shawn Jacques, as well as wideouts Marc Kelvey and Ryan DiPompo. The line is also tested with Justin Merrill, Jimmy Shink, A.J. Nelson, Mark St. Pierre and Jared McCourt in the mix.

After three years as a junior varsity program, the Bucks’ and Cougars’ joint effort begins with a hearty group of runners that includes Craig Langervin, Brandon Berry and Scott Wetherell. Jamie Henderson, a freshman, will take the snaps.

OOB at Lisbon

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Backfield depth is the hallmark of a young Lisbon squad. TBs John Tefft and Derek Roy and FB Tony Walker will lug the ball. QB Chris Kates is a first-year starter. Walker, a 205-pound defensive end, is the heart of a youthful defense.

Like Winthrop, OOB will have some starters missing for its opener. In fact, eight players will sit out the first four games of the season. Craig Chase and Chris Girdis are stalwarts on the offensive line that will protect sophomore QB Mike Perrone.

Oak Hill at Fryeburg

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Oak Hill moves into Eastern B after back-to-back playoff appearances in Western C. In the other big move of the offseason, leading receiver Adam Labbe switched to quarterback. Kyle Harrington and Tony Poulin comprise the backfield, while G/DE Ryan Gallagher fortifies a restructured line on both sides of the ball.

Youth is the theme for Fryeburg, a team that will probably ask junior QB Andrew Stacy to air it out.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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