One of Maine’s most storied high school football rivalries gets a shot of adrenaline tonight.

After struggling through four unspectacular seasons together, Jay and Livermore Falls have returned to the forefront of the Campbell Conference in unison.

In a change from recent tradition, then, tonight’s confrontation at Taglienti Field is rife with playoff implications. Both proud programs know they’ll be in the Western Class C semifinals next weekend. Jay would clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round home game with a win, while Livermore Falls looks to create a logjam and a possible three-way coin flip with Jay and Boothbay for that second spot.

There will be a similar tone played out in Saturday night’s game at Gorham, where the host Rams and the Mountain Valley Falcons both know they will be playing somewhere next week but would earn the right to stay in their own backyard with a win in the regular-season finale.

Elsewhere on this final weekend of the Class B and C campaign, there is plenty at stake even in games that appear to be mismatches on paper. Lisbon could wrap up an unbeaten regular season at Winthrop, while neighboring Oak Hill would advance to the postseason in its first Eastern Class B go-round with a triumph Saturday in Old Town.

Here’s a closer look at the final regular-season match-ups:

Friday’s games
Liv. Falls (6-2) at

Jay (7-1), 7 p.m.

The series between these Androscoggin River rivals, one that began with two games in 1939, is virtually dead even. Always the last name on each other’s schedule, Livermore Falls and Jay met for the regional championship in 1980, 1990 and 1991. With less riding on the game, the Andies have prevailed four times in the last five seasons, including 47-7 last year.

Jay has exhibited the league’s most diverse offense, with junior QB Justin Wells passing for more than 1,000 yards and a touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio of better than five to one. Marc Kelvey is the team’s most dangerous receiver and return specialist, while Kyle Richards and Austin Ouellette spark the running game. The Tigers present problems for the opposition with a crop of big, veteran offensive linemen that includes Jimmy Shink, Jared McCourt, Mark St. Pierre, A.J. Nelson, Justin Merrill, Chris Jewett and Ben Irish.

Junior fullback Brad Bryant has amassed 1,310 yards for the Andies. Livermore Falls also can counter with a dangerous all-purpose alternative in Chuck Drake, as well as QB Dane Hanson and TE Matt Belmonte.

The defenses don’t garner as much attention but are solid. Bryant, Drake, Belmonte, Garrett Young and Matt Brochu lead the Andies. The Tigers kept Cape Elizabeth off the scoreboard in the second half last weekend, securing command of a game that was 7-7 at the half.

Lisbon (8-0) at

Winthrop (1-7), 7 p.m.

Nobody on Lisbon’s exceptional coaching staff honestly expected the Greyhounds to contend for an unbeaten season, but they’re four solid quarters away from that result. Lisbon already owns home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since its Class C championship season of 1997, earning that distinction with road wins over Jay and Boothbay and by allowing only one TD in its last three games.

A small but intense contingent of juniors and seniors leads the Greyhounds. Upperclassmen Tony Walker, John Tefft and Derek Roy have combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the ground. Junior QB Chris Kates and sophomore Levi Ervin propel the passing game.

It has been the dreaded “building year” for the Ramblers after a five-year run as one of the state’s top teams. QB Travis Frautten, RB Tavis Hasenfus and WR Jake Clark lead a retooled program.

Leavitt (2-5) at

Morse (2-5), 7 p.m.

Both teams are usually factors in the Class B playoff race but were knocked out of contention in the Pine Tree Conference in September. Leavitt was undone by early one-point losses to Mountain Valley and Oak Hill, while the Shipbuilders encountered a brutal opening schedule that fed them championship contenders Belfast and Winslow.

RB Sean Paulhus helped steer Morse to back-to-back wins before a 17-0 loss to Oak Hill last Saturday. All-purpose back Chad Schrepper strengthens the Hornets.

Saturday’s games
Mtn. Valley (6-1) at

Gorham (5-2), 7 p.m.

This one features one of Western B’s most prolific offenses (the Rams average 35.5 points per game) against one of its stingiest defenses (the Falcons permit nine points per contest).

Mountain Valley has hard hitters on the defensive line in Kyle Dow and Phil Smith as well as LB Travis Fergola. Korey Staires and Jeremy Sterling each have enjoyed multiple-interception games in the secondary.

Offensively, the Falcons’ early-season struggles seem a distant memory. Eric LePage is finding his stride, as evidenced by three TDs in a 41-0 win over Greely. Dickie Cote and Aaron Arsenault are also threats to score on the ground. In a close game, Ben Madigan’s abilities as a receiver and kicker could prove crucial.

Gorham hasn’t forgotten a six-touchdown loss in Rumford last October. The Rams’ lone losses are to Class B division leaders Winslow and Wells. HB Andy Oldenburg spearheads the double-wing offense, with Rob Tole at QB.

Oak Hill (5-2) at

Old Town (0-7), 1:30 p.m.

The Raiders’ first season in the PTC has been a success, and it should be extended by a week after this tune-up against the Indians. Old Town has won only four games since 2000 and has two seniors and two juniors that see significant playing time. Tyler Eastman is a 305-pound, two-way lineman for the Indians, who, after losses of 63-8, 66-0, 64-8 and 56-0 early in the year, seemed to play their best game last week in a 14-6 loss to Mount Desert Island.

RB Kyle Harrington and QB Adam Labbe lead an Oak Hill offense that isn’t shy about trying new formations and gadget plays. Both sides of the ball are impacted by the loss of Ryan Gallagher, who has missed most of October and is out for the season with neck and shoulder injuries.

Cape Elizabeth (3-5) at

Buck/Dir (2-6), 1:30 p.m.

The two Western Class C newcomers conclude a debut season in which each has represented itself well. The Capers have beaten Traip, Winthrop and Madison and were tied with both Lisbon and Jay at halftime. TB Elliot Cohen, QB Matt McClellan, WR Zach Nedwell, LB Nick Welch and DE Mike Irace are players to watch.

Likewise, the Cougars could be .500 if a play or two against Madison and Old Orchard Beach had unfolded differently. Freshman QB Jamie Henderson and senior RBs Scott Wetherell and Craig Langervin have been mainstays for the co-operative team, with LBs Harry Hayes and Jacob McAllister bolstering the defense.

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