Artificial turf won’t be the only new wrinkle for at least half the teams involved in Super Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium. For three principals, the environment of a football state championship game would be new even if the game were played in a senior co-captain’s backyard.

Gorham, a fifth-year varsity program, will play in its first-ever state final when it meets Belfast in the 6 p.m. nightcap. It’s been 25 years for Deering and 20 for Brunswick since the two Class A finalists (kickoff time, 11 a.m.) were four quarters away from a Gold Ball.

Will nerves be a factor, then? Not likely. Brunswick and Gorham beat top-seeded rivals on the road to win their regional crowns, and Deering, veteran of three straight playoff appearances and its annual Thanksgiving Day showcase against Portland, isn’t likely to be intimidated by anything that comes its way.

Here’s a glance at four talented football squads and two intriguing matchups:

Deering (11-0) vs. Brunswick (10-1)

It would be the biggest surprise of the day at Fitzy if either one of these teams completely stopped the other. The skill-position players on each side are that talented, explosive and unflappable.

Deering attacks from all angles. On the ground, it’s tailback Joey Marsh (1,808 yards, 21 touchdowns) and equally athletic fullback Ryan Reid. Through the air, Ryan Flaherty (1,200 passing yards) looks to wideouts Mike Joyce and Adam Bishop and tight end Rob Sampson.

The Rams have averaged more than 40 points per game. Defensively, they might be even better. Last week’s token touchdown by Biddeford in the final minute of a 32-7 Western championship verdict was the first surrendered by Deering in five weeks.

Marsh leads the team with 10 interceptions, a number that might make Brunswick’s lightning-quick, all-purpose QB Ralph Mims think twice before throwing on the run.

Mims (17 total TDs) is as much a game-breaker on the ground, where he provides the perfect complement to 240-pound fullback Phillip Warren (1,778 yards, 22 TDs). Halfback Devin Shepard has accumulated almost 800 yards.

When on defense, the Dragons will challenge Deering with tackles Warren, John Hamilton (four blocked punts) and Arron Chaffin (315 pounds), cornerback Kevin Scully (five INTs) and linebacker Shepard (team-high 86 tackles).

Deering won its lone Class A championship in 1959. Brunswick won Class B championships in 1961 and 1963 and lost in 1983.

Gorham (8-2) vs. Belfast (8-2)

It’s 2003, but the Class B finalists prefer to party like it’s 1953 when it comes to their offensive schemes.

Gorham utilizes a double-wing offense similar to the one Boothbay rode to Class C titles in 2001-02. Underclassmen keep the chains moving for the Rams, with freshman Andrew Hutton, sophomore Andy Oldenburg and junior Tyson Nason sharing the workload in last week’s 22-14 victory over Wells.

When the Rams need to throw, two-year starter Rob Tole is capable.

So is counterpart Nick Arthers of Belfast, but the Lions flaunt their typical arsenal of explosive scat-backs and burly linemen. Josh Aldus led Eastern Class B in rushing this season. Aldus and Paul Herman combined for all five TDs in a 35-14 victory over Winslow in the Eastern final.

Belfast avenged its only two losses of the season in the playoffs. The Lions also went on the road to rip Brewer 32-0 in the semifinals.

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