After watching Lisbon High School storm into the Western Class C football playoffs as the overwhelming favorite in three of the last four seasons, this year’s Campbell Conference semifinalists have both equal cause for optimism and ample reason to be scared out of their wits.

No. 4 beat No. 1 and No. 3. No. 2 routed No. 4. No. 3 hasn’t allowed an opponent to reach the end zone on almost a month.

Simply put, nobody has a clue what will happen when Old Orchard Beach travels to Winthrop and Jay drops in on Boothbay in tonight’s regional playoff contests.

“I think Winthrop and Boothbay have established themselves as the dominant teams,” said Jay coach Mark Bonnevie, “but everybody’s had at least one bad night.”

“It’s the most competitive conference in the state,” said Winthrop coach Joel Stoneton. “We might be the top seed, but we’re trying to be humble about the whole thing.”

That isn’t difficult, considering that No. 4 OOB (5-4) handed No. 1 Winthrop (8-1) its only loss of the regular season back in Week 5.

One week after falling to previously winless Traip, the Seagulls outgained Winthrop by nearly a four-to-one margin on the ground and wrecked the Ramblers’ homecoming with an 18-6 victory.

Old Orchard Beach flaunts one of the league’s largest offensive lines in front of double-threat sophomore quarterback Dean Perrone and rugged runners Zach Chase and Todd Newton.

Winthrop will attempt to spread the field with junior QB Jordan Conant (1,089 yards, 14 TDs) throwing to Andrew Smithgall, Zach Farrington and Jason Raymond. Not to be outdone, the Ramblers’ three-headed backfield of Joe Morey, Riley Cobb and Skyler Whaley has collaborated for more than 1,600 yards.

Jay rallied from its 38-8 loss to Boothbay with a sterling defensive effort in an 8-6 loss at OOB, then shut out Madison and Livermore Falls to end the season.

“Since the Boothbay game, our defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown,” Bonnevie said. “We had that one loss in there against OOB that you really can’t explain.”

Old Orchard scored on a fumble return in that game. The Seagulls achieved only first down the entire night, and that came on a penalty.

There’s no mystery to the offensive approach on either side. The Tigers will look to Nick Bourassa, whose 25 all-purpose touchdowns lead Western C. Boothbay moves the ball and milks the clock with Dylan Brandt, Tim Stover and Shawn McDuff out of its double wing.