By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

It’s nothing new for a Class B football division to gain refugees from Class A. It’s something much different, entirely, when those two drop-ins are among the state’s most storied football programs.

The small-school segment of the Pine Tree Conference welcomes Gardiner and Waterville to the mix after numerous Class A state championship game appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. Eastern B already boasted Winslow and Belfast and their titanic tradition.

No offense to Western Maine, but there is absolutely zero debate about which side of the state flaunts the most depth in Class B.

“Gardiner was the top-seeded team in the Eastern Class A playoffs last year,” Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway recalled. “If Skowhegan hadn’t been on such a roll at the end of the year, Gardiner probably would have hosted the Eastern Maine championship.”

So, does anyone in the local delegation have a prayer of tripping the Tigers?

Numbers have never been higher just up Route 9 at Oak Hill, where hopes run high for a return to the postseason after a one-year absence thanks to a roster of 65 players that most Class A schools would envy.

“That includes 29 freshmen, and we haven’t lost one yet,” said Raiders coach Bruce Nicholas.

Collectively, this is probably Oak Hill’s most athletic team in Nicholas’ non-consecutive, 13-year tenure. Left-handed quarterback Josh Jillson returns after assuming the starting role midway through his sophomore season. Jillson is mobile, has a strong arm and plays larger than his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame.

Tailback Zac Eaton, fullback Eric Daniels and wingback Wally Rines give Jillson three explosive options in the backfield. Together with Jillson, the group rolled up nearly 300 yards in a scrimmage against Madison, mixing in a handful of lengthy touchdown runs.

Casey Behne and Joey Gilbert are the split ends, with Keith Daniels making a strong transition from backfield to tight end.

Oak Hill’s offensive questions are up front, where the line includes a converted soccer player and a former quarterback. But the Raiders have a terrific building block in 275-pound senior tackle Robie Leavitt. It also doesn’t hurt that Robie’s dad, Dick, the architect of Brunswick’s football revival, is lending his assistance at practice.

Many of those players also will have the luxury of concentrating solely on their offensive technique.

“We’re rotating six players in and six out when we go from offense to defense,” Nicholas said. “This is the most depth we’ve had in my time here. We’ve got some sophomores who are big boys, 260 and 270 pounds. Those are nice projects.”

Eric Daniels (middle linebacker), Gabe Fontaine (outside linebacker) and Leavitt (end) will lead the defense. Todd Nyberg and sophomore Dan Bryce may emerge as two-way starters on the line.

When a traditionally tough program welcomes back seven defensive starters, it’s usually a signal to start printing state championship tickets. The only problem for Leavitt is that the four departed defenders are Jon Pirruccello (Division I-AA University of Maine), Ryane Staples (Division I-AA Colgate) and Anthony Witham and Broc Hardacker (both bound for Husson).

“The guys replacing them all played in our nickel and goal line packages. It’s not the first time they’ve gone out for football or been on the field,” said Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway.

Leavitt’s defense will flaunt as much size and strength as ever in the person of tackles Brandon Pare (6-5, 290 pounds), Shane Pearl (6-1, 250) and Shawn Atkinson (6-0, 250) and ends Rich Labbe (6-2, 250) and Ben Boulay. Pearl, Boulay and Pare all are returning senior starters.

There’s no shortage of beef at linebacker, either, where senior Mike Austin (6-2, 235) leads a group that includes classmate Chris Brewer and junior Craig McCann. In the secondary, Tyler Angell and Corey Witham are the veterans.

Known for its long-standing commitment to the weight room, Leavitt has sculpted another senior class that should garner plenty of second glances from college scouts as well as opposing coaching staffs.

“Pare, in particular, looks really good. If he plays well, he’s going to get some pretty good looks (from prospective schools) just on his size,” said Hathaway. “He’s been lifting five times a week, every week, since the end of last season.”

Josh Levesque and Pare give the Hornets a pair of bookend offensive tackles, with Austin and Pearl at guard and junior Kyle Youland snapping the ball to first-year starting quarterback Angell.

That group will block for Brewer and promising freshman Tyler Green at tailback. Angell has proven hands with Witham at flanker and Boulay at tight end.

“I think we’re fairly deep (at the skill positions),” Hathaway said. “We’ve been rotating two groups at QB, slot, tailback, split end and tight end all summer.”

Gardiner sophomore Kyle Stilphen begins his second season as the Tigers’ starting QB. Junior Sean McNally (6-foot-6) and senior Kerry Ramsay provide big targets. The Tigers’ strength in recent seasons has been defense, and Ramsay and Nick Godfrey lead a bruising line.

Winslow reached the state title game a year ahead of schedule, in the estimation of many, after replacing 20 starters. Justin Lindie should be poised to assume leadership in the ground game behind veteran linemen Mike Rancourt, Kevin Harrison and Nate Pelletier.

QB Kevin Scott returns for Waterville, which should benefit from rivals its own size after battling low numbers in recent seasons.

Other contenders for the eight spots in the expanded Eastern B playoffs include Belfast, Morse and Hampden.

Maranacook may struggle with its move up from Class C after losing a dozen seniors. New coach Greg Lynch is a recent graduate of the Colby College program.