By Randy Whitehouse,Staff Writer

The first Eastern A final ever played at Caldwell Field may be a contest of two evenly-matched teams, but don’t expect a lot of equality.

Football is not an equal-opportunity sport, especially when a team like Skowhegan is involved.

“Every time you play them, you know they’re going to have the ball more than you. That’s just the way it is,” said Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin. “If you think you’re going to run 50 plays and they’re going to run 50 plays, then you’re fooling yourself.”

It’s hard to imagine there will be a lot of fooling going on starting at 7 p.m. tonight because top-seeded Mt. Blue (8-1) and No. 2 Skowhegan (7-2) know each other so well. This is the fourth time in the last five years the rivals have met in the playoffs, though this will be their first meeting in the final. Skowhegan has won two, including a 20-0 victory last year. Interestingly, each game has been a shutout.

This is also the second time in three weeks the teams have squared off. Skowhegan, which needed a win to secure a playoff spot in the regular-season finale, punched its ticket with a 24-21 triumph.

Some have suggested that the Indians caught the Cougars on an off night, or without their edge, because they had already clinched the top seed in the playoffs.

“That’s a bunch of bull,” Parlin said. “We had motivation. I get the same people that say They beat you last time, so you’re more motivated.’ We’re not more motivated than Skowhegan. This is the Eastern Maine championship.”

The Indians won the first tilt by controlling the ball and the clock, running Aaron Chambers (29 carries, 169 yards) and Lucas Cole (27-96) to build a 74-29 advantage in plays from scrimmage. They were seven-for-nine on fourth down conversions on their way to grinding out 332 yards rushing. QB Mike LaCasse only threw the ball six times all night but got into the act, too, converting a key 4th-and-7 with a pass to Cole on one scoring drive.

“It’s a sin to punt the football. They go by that,” Parlin said. “On 4th-and-five, they’re shocked if they don’t get a first down.”

Parlin and his coaching staff count two-point conversions as fourth-down conversion, which makes the Indians’ success rate in do-or-die situations that night, 9-for-11, even more impressive.

“If they’re 9-for-11 Friday night, this time next week, our gear will be all packed away. We need to do a much better job on fourth down.”

“We’ve got to limit their 10-play drives, stop them on fourth down, and when we get the ball, we’ve got to take care of it,” he added.

Of some consolation to the Cougars was that their offense was able to move the ball when it got on the field. Two turnovers proved costly, however.

QB Mason Barker directs the Cougar Gun attack, capable of moving the chains with his running ability and making big plays with his speedy wideouts, John Moloney and Art Trask. The Cougars are also capable of burning some clock with running backs Mike Toothaker and Justin Lowe.

“They have some talented receivers, a very good QB and a very good running game. They have a very big and very good line,” said Skowhegan coach Mike Marston. “Defensively, you can’t concentrate on stopping either the run or the pass. You’ve got to strike a balance, because if you try to shut down one or the other, they’ll try to pick you apart with the one thing you don’t take away.”

If special teams become a factor, Mt. Blue will have a decided edge. Moloney is one of the best kickers/punters in the state, and the Cougars have had three three different players return four kicks for touchdowns this season. Mike Cayer took one back 77 yards against the Indians two weeks ago.