Schedule

PTC Class A: #2 Bangor (9-1) at #1 Lawrence (10-0)

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Bulldogs looking more unstoppable than they did heading into this game last year.

SMAA:#6 Marshwood (8-2) at #1 Bonny Eagle (10-0)

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Hawks’ defense has been sturdy in the playoffs, but stopping Scots’ QB Nate Doehler in the option is a challenge unlike any other they’ve faced this year.

PTC Class B: #3 Winslow (8-2) at #1 Gardiner (9-1)

Saturday, 11 a.m.

Plenty of bad blood left over from when Gardiner ran all over the Black Raiders a month ago.

Campbell Conference Class B: #2 Mountain Valley (9-1) at #1 Cape Elizabeth (10-0)

Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Bring your own sound guy and get in for half price.

Campbell Conference Class C: #2 Boothbay (9-1) at #1 Winthrop (9-1)

Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Seems hard to believe that these two teams haven’t been to a state championship for a combined 11 years.

LTC: #2 John Bapst (9-1) at #1 Foxcroft (10-0)

Saturday, 1p.m.

Ponies trying to make it five out of six. Only Stearns and Orono have been that dominant in Class C.

Huddle Up

Open Letter to the people of Bangor, Boothbay, Cape Elizabeth, Dover-Foxcroft, Fairfield, Gardiner, Rumford/Mexico, South Berwick, Standish, Winslow, Winthrop and surrounding affected communities:

Take full advantage this weekend to enjoy what you are so fortunate to have. Pull the old letter sweater out of moth balls. Load the grill and cooler into the Family Truckster and get to your local game site 90 minutes early for a little tailgating (with your local game site’s approval, of course). Take in the sights, sounds and smells of championship football. Lose your voice cheering for your team. Respect the other team. Applaud both sides when the final horn sounds. And remember that there are a lot of communities around the state that would like to be in your shoes today.

I hope that in places like Boothbay and Rumford and Winslow they aren’t starting to take days like this for granted. A championship Saturday in football isn’t to be treated like homecoming or even a Thanksgiving Day game. It is a singular experience, unmatched by any other sporting experience in this state.

I know this first hand. As a proud alumnus of Lake Region High School, I’ve really only gotten to experience one true championship Saturday, and that was 25 years ago. It was the 1982 Class C championship game at Walton Field in Auburn, and my Lakers, led by one of the best tight ends this state has ever produced, Dave Kilbron, were taking on Madison, which, unfortunately for those of us waving the blue-and-gold pom-poms, had one of the best quarterbacks this state has ever produced, Bobby Wilder. Art Kilborn’s mighty Lakers fought valiantly that day before falling, 28-15. We haven’t sniffed a gold ball in football since.

Ask folks in Bridgton, Naples, Casco and Sebago and a hundred other towns today about high school football and they’d probably mumble something about how they’d rather be hunting or chopping wood on Saturday anyway. Most of them don’t know what they’re missing. Some of them do.

I’ve been to a lot of conference and state championships since that day and seen a lot of great games, and maybe things were a bit warped by my then 12-year-old eyes, but nothing has ever matched the visceral experience of seeing your own hometown boys wearing the school colors and logo with seemingly everything on the line.

It’s 10 times more intense than anything you feel for the Patriots or Steelers or the ol’ State U and you relive the memories with your family, friends and neighbors for the rest of your life. The combination of anxiety and pride you feel today can not be matched. The butterflies in your stomach aren’t the kind that go away after the first play or the first quarter or even immediately after the game ends. Your stomach will still be doing somersaults long after the ride home, win or lose.

It’s different because it’s personal. It cuts your school, community and virtually every person within them to the core. Some towns (I’m looking at you Rumford and Cape Elizabeth) feel like they’re playing for a way of life this weekend. Others (Winslow, Boothbay, you’re up next) are playing to soothe some wounded pride from earlier in the season. Some (John Bapst) have a new identity they want to establish. Others (Dover-Foxcroft, Bangor, Lawrence) have an identity to uphold. Still others (Winthrop, Gardiner) are fighting to retain identities that have been gradually slipping away.

I don’t care what you’re playing for tonight and tomorrow. I just know that it has a very deep meeting to you, your friends and family and your neighbors. Yeah, it’s just football. But it’s still important in its own way.

Take a step back this weekend and remember how fortunate you are today. Remember there are some of us who would gladly trade places with you.