GOOD GODDARD

We’re two months away from even a list of semifinalists for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, symbolic of the top senior football player, student and citizen in the state.

Of course, it’s never too early to start the discussion. And after many years of not having a dog in the fight, Edward Little is doing its part to put quarterback Cody Goddard into the conversation.

Two games into the Pine Tree Conference campaign, Goddard has completed 19 of his 30 pass attempts for 431 yards. His combined seven touchdowns against Oxford Hills and Mt. Blue lead all passers in the state, regardless of class.

Goddard topped the state in pass attempts a year ago, and his total yardage ranked second only to Joe Gilbert of Mt. Blue in Eastern Class A.

YOU’LL CATCH A COLD OUT THERE

Proponents of playing high school football in any weather conditions defend their position by pointing out one of our basic instincts as young children.

None of us, the theory goes, ever wanted to answer mom’s call to come in from the rain.

Longtime Eastern Class C rivals Stearns and Mattanawcook took their enjoyment of the elements to the extreme last Friday night.

Stearns of Millinocket pulled off an 18-12 victory over Mattanawcook of Lincoln in six overtimes.

Yes, six. Regulation was scoreless. Each team racked up a touchdown in the first and third extra sessions, only to fail with its point-after attempts.

Mired in the bottom of the Little Ten Conference for most of this decade after a run of regional and state championships in the 1990s, Stearns is off to a 2-0 start.

The game is believed to be the longest in the state since Bucksport beat Stearns, 6-0, in a six-overtime contest 25 years ago.

South Portland and Gardiner played a five-OT Class A game in 1995.

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION

In order to hang with Western Class C preseason favorite Winthrop on Friday night, Jay knows it will need to keep the Ramblers’ offense on the sideline.

By some manner other than watching them score in quick, one-or-two-play bites, of course.

Provided with an early opportunity to establish itself as at least the No. 2 team in the Campbell Conference, the Tigers came up empty last week in a 27-6 loss to upstart Dirigo.

The Cougars cashed in nine third-down conversions in the road victory, owning the ball more than six minutes longer than Jay.

“We played defense all night,” said Jay coach Mark Bonnevie, “even when we got them in bad down situations. We had them second-and-long, third-and-long, and they still made the plays.”