AUBURN – It has been said that weather is the great equalizer in football.

Fortunately, no one ever claimed that weather is the great homogenizer, because it would take a climate catastrophe the likes of which even Al Gore couldn’t fathom to make Skowhegan and Edward Little’s offensive philosophies conform.

The contrast in styles will be on display at Walton Field at 3 p.m. Saturday when fourth-seeded Skowhegan meets No. 2 Edward Little for the Pine Tree Conference title. The winner moves on to the Class A state championship next week in Portland. Skowhegan has not played for a gold ball since 1989, Edward Little since 2002.

The two teams play in separate divisions of the PTC and did not face each other during the regular season (Skowhegan won a preseason meeting), but there are few mysteries about what both teams like to do when they have the football.

Skowhegan (9-1) runs the vaunted double-wing offense and runs it better than perhaps anyone in the state. Propelled by an all-senior offensive line, the Indians have been grinding down the clock and grinding up opponents, such as two-time defending Eastern A champ Lawrence last week,

And when the Indians pound the ball, it’s usually in the hands of running back Billy Clark, who leads the PTC with 1,926 yards (including 275 last week) and 26 touchdowns rushing. While they won’t turn their noses up at moving the ball with three yards and a cloud of dust (or mud, as the case may be), the Indians will try to get the explosive senior outside the tackles and out on the perimeter for big plays.

“He’s extremely quick, very durable and wonderfully patient,” Edward Little coach Darren Hartley said of Clark. “He’s a very typical double-wing runner, with great patience and great explosion.”

EL’s goal for containing Clark is similar to the one it followed against Lewiston’s Wesley Myers – keep him between the hashmarks and limit his runs of 10 yards or more. The Red Eddies (9-1) had some success doing that against Myers, but they aren’t having any illusions of shutting Clark down.

“It’s not like we’ve been the best run-defending team in the state,” said Hartley, “but, we’ve gotten better.”

Middle linebacker Bruce Gerry has been a terror on the Eddies’ defense recently and gives them a solid core with nose tackle Grady Burns. The key against the double-wing, however, may be defensive ends and outside linebackers such as Sean Daigle and Devin Flynn setting the edge.

Another key for the Eddies will be their depth, which has served them well this year and will have to again Saturday to counter the time-of-possession advantage Skowhegan is almost certain to enjoy. Again, Hartley has no illusions of trying to get into a ball-hogging battle with the Indians.

“Our goal against the double-wing has always been to keep them off the field,” Hartley said. “I don’t feel that way this time.”

Hartley would be content to see the same short drives his offense produced last week against Lewiston provided they end with six points the way they often did then. Cody Goddard threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns, both to speedster Dominique Bailey, who averaged 41 yards per catch on his four receptions

Slowing Goddard down with pressure has been virtually impossible all year. Opponents have sacked the senior signal-caller three times. Even the prospect of a rainy, sloppy Saturday won’t persuade the Eddies to go away from what got them this far, Hartley said.

“I promise you there’s not going to be any holding back,” he said. “We will be putting the pedal to the metal.”

The Eddies certainly have the short game to move the chains when they need it. Goddard has a number of fine possession receivers, including tight end Daigle, receiver Shane Ciriello (31 catches and nine touchdowns during the regular season) and Dylon Therrien out of the backfield. The running game is potent, too, led by Therrien, Buddy Foss (who scored two TDs last week) and Brandon Vye.

“Edward Little’s got an explosive offense,” Skowhegan coach Mike Marston said. “I think they can run the ball very well and pass the ball very well, also.”

Skowhegan can throw the ball, too. Jordan McGowan completed six of seven pass attempts for 150 yards against Lawrence, including an 82-yard scoring strike to Peter Boardman.

“Throwing the ball is definitely a part of our plan,” Marston said. “We have great confidence in our quarterback and our receivers, and I think we’ve demonstrated that we can do it when we have to.”

“They like to play-action and they get their tight ends (Jordan Taylor and Paul Verville) vertical,” Hartley said. “You’ve got to engage them.”