By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

Big plays? Probable.

Close game? Likely.

Surprises? Few.

For the third time in nine seasons, Lisbon High School (10-1) and Foxcroft Academy (10-1) collide with the Class C football championship at stake. Neither of the first two contests was decided until the final two minutes of regulation, and with the familiar foes riding the two longest winning streaks in the state regardless of class, there’s no reason to expect anything less than a classic in the 6 p.m. finale to Super Saturday at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium.

“I’m sure when (Foxcroft coach Paul Withee) looks at my film, he’s going to see I haven’t changed very much,” said Lisbon coach Dick Mynahan, concluding his 18th season on the Greyhounds’ sideline. “The things we did well a few years ago, we’re still doing.”

Lisbon will challenge for its ninth state championship (and first since beating Foxcroft in 1997) with a defense that has permitted a paltry 45 points all year while denying opponents even a whiff of the end zone for 17 consecutive quarters since Oct. 14.

The Greyhounds also unleash their most prolific offense in recent memory, a run-oriented attack centered around 6-foot-4, 215-pound all-purpose back Levi Ervin. But other teams key on Ervin at their peril, because fullback Dan Willis, flanker Joe Stevens and quarterback Chris Brunick are capable of scorching the secondary for big gains.

In last week’s 36-0 regional final bashing of Boothbay, Ervin embarked on a 59-yard TD run, caught a 26-yard scoring toss from Brunick and set up another 6-yard plunge to paydirt with a 38-yard ramble. Willis also ran one in from 37 yards, while Stevens took a reverse 30 yards to the house.

“We can throw the ball if we have to,” said senior tight end Matt Harmon, “but we’d much rather run.”

That will be a chore against Foxcroft. The Ponies punished their last five Little Ten Conference foes by a combined count of 230-35, capped by a 28-14 win last week over Mattanawcook in which the starting defense didn’t allow a score after the opening series.

Bruising seniors Josh Pelletier (6-3, 235) and James McPhee (5-11, 215) lead the way at inside linebacker. Spurred on by the two state champion wrestlers, Foxcroft contained the top-seeded Lynx to 49 yards on 27 carries in the regional final.

Junior Brad Bellemare headlines the Foxcroft secondary.

When the Ponies have the ball, they march with a senior-dominated group that improved as the season progressed.

“I think they’re more of a wide-open team than we see as a rule except for maybe Jay,” Mynahan said. “You can tell they practice the deep pass every day. They like to throw that when you least expect it. I have a feeling he’s watching pretty closely for a time when we’re cheating up, and he’d like to throw deep against us.”

Senior QB Logan Forrest passed for 1,000 yards, with classmates Jon Catell and Scott McCusick providing able targets. But the Ponies pack their usual gallop on the ground, too.

Tailback Joey Caparrelli (949 yards) and fullback McPhee (838) combined for three touchdowns in Foxcroft’s second win of the season over Mattanawcook. Bellemare, a wingback, puts the group over 2,400 yards for the campaign. Pelletier anchors the offensive line at tackle.

Lisbon’s defensive difference-maker is 280-pound run stuffer Elijah Trefts. And there’s Ervin, who roams the middle and creates havoc at safety.

“We have a lot of talent with Elijah and Levi,” said two-way lineman Shawn Fitzgerald. “They’re big stars, as everyone knows. It’s a team, but they helped carry us here.”

Lisbon has rolled up eight straight victories since a 21-14 inter-conference loss to Mattanawcook in Lincoln. Foxcroft, which is playing its third state final in four years, hasn’t lost since opening night at Rockland and is 42-4 since 2002.

With so many threats on both sides of the line of scrimmage, it’s tough to project a high or low-scoring game. The best bet is probably a finish similar to 1997, when Lisbon drove the length of the field in the last four minutes to a 19-14 win, or 2003, when Foxcroft evened the score with a 26-20 triumph.

Either way, a proud tradition will gain another crown jewel. The Ponies seek their sixth state championship and have lost in four other finals. Despite its perennial success, Lisbon’s current eight-year drought between crowns is the second longest in school history.