Back in August, Kalle Oakes and Randy Whitehouse bickered in this space over who would emerge from eastern and western Maine to make the trip to Fitzpatrick Stadium for Super Saturday. They were both mostly wrong. So we’ve brought them back to debate the three state championship games under the premise that with two teams in each game, they’ve got a 50/50 chance of being right this time.

RW: So, Oakes, we’re finally here at the end of another high school football season. I sit behind this keyboard thoroughly humbled by another schooling from the pigskin professor in our weekly picks and yet delighted that this embarrassing photo of me nursing a football won’t be making our readers push away their bowl of cereal every other Thursday morning.

Speaking of losing one’s appetite, this may be the last year we have to spend an entire day digesting the Fitzpatrick Stadium fare. If the MPA smartens up and passes the four-class format, this could be the last football tripleheader we’ll see. The Super Saturday concept has been generally well-received by fans and media, and I’ve enjoyed being able to see all three games in one place in one day. We’ve probably seen more blowouts than great games, but it’s been worth it to watch some of the greatest teams this state has ever seen at their best, not to mention the occasional upset.

So the question this year is, can Super Saturday go out with something it has never had, three great games? History has shown Class A is the most likely candidate for a mismatch. But some folks are holding out hope for a good game now that Cheverus isn’t involved.

One can definitely make the case that this is a better Lawrence team than the one that got crushed by Cheverus last year. And if there’s anything to be said for experience, Lawrence has that edge, too. Thornton Academy is just so much bigger and stronger than anything the Bulldogs have seen this year, though. Short of having played an SMAA schedule, there is nothing they can do to prepare themselves for what will physically line up across from them. I say they keep it close for a half, but the Trojans will be golden again when it’s over, 37-14.

KO: I’m still in favor of a 9:30/1:00/4:30/8:00 quadrupleheader at Fitzy, if cooler and more collegial heads prevail with this four-class whatchamacallit. And yes, amen and hallelujah, this could be the last year we’ll have to endure the sham of a Class A championship under the present, southcentric format.

Two Eastern schools have won this game since 1987: Bangor, which should have been playing Portland-area schools in a ‘AA’ division in the first place; and Lawrence, which by luck of the draw and a down year in the West got to pick on someone (Gorham) its own enrollment size. Much as I’d like to use my victory in the office pool as proof of my awesomeness and play Skip Bayless to your Stephen A. Smith and concoct a Lawrence-shocks-the-world argument for argument’s sake, I can’t. I even think your score is just about right on the money.

And so I’ll skip ahead to the game you and I both find most intriguing, the Class B clash of styles between Mt. Blue and Marshwood. Remember what happened last year when we had the explosive offense from the PTC (Leavitt) going up against the Campbell’s ground-and-pound (Wells)? The 20th century beat the 21st, if only by the hair of its chinny-chin-chin.

That said, my inclination is that Mt. Blue’s undersold ability to play that power game will rule the day, giving Marshwood far too many headaches to cure. Cougars, 26-15. Tell me I’m wrong. You probably will.

RW: You are correct about Mt. Blue’s offensive balance being a nightmare for Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko and his staff to game plan. How-Ev-Ah, the Hawks have spent the last two weeks scratching and clawing to get through two teams, Wells and York, that will have them well-prepared for the Cougars’ ground-and-pound. And I worry just how many chances Jordan Whitney will get to do his thing, because Cameron Roll (the most aptly-named quarterback this side of Andrew Luck) and Brett Gerry are perfect for the Wing-T.

Unfortunately, the Hawks have had more than their share of tragedy to overcome this year, too, with the deaths of former head coach Guy Lajeunesse and Troy Pappas, and they clearly want to return the program to its former glory in their memory. Class B usually steals the stage on Saturday night, and it will be a fitting finale. Hawks 26-20 in OT.

Class C is another intriguing contrast in styles. Winslow ground out another win against Dirigo thanks to its defense and mistake-free offense. The Black Raiders survived a grinding Campbell Conference schedule while Foxcroft Academy rolled through the Little Ten Conference, outscoring their opponents by 900 points (actually, it was only 143-13 in the playoffs).

The Ponies have a big play-maker in Don Boyer that will have some Super Saturday veterans hearkening back to Fitzy finalist Bobby Gilbert and a defense every bit as stifling as Winslow’s. It’s a good thing Dylan Hapworth is as good a kicker as I’ve seen in Class C, because Winslow will have a hard time getting on the scoreboard otherwise. I’ve got it 27-9 Ponies. But then, three months ago I also had Yarmouth playing on Saturday, too.

KO: Didn’t you switch to Maranacook at the last minute? Well, either way … I’m afraid that despite the brief lip service, you’re overlooking the relative toughness of the West (any of the top four teams would have been a worthy representative in this game) and the Campbell Conference’s recent domination of the Little Ten at this showcase (five of the past seven state titles). Average margin of victory since 2009: 24 points. You looked at the LTC schedule? Not exactly oozing with experience and football tradition, in spots.

And yes, Boyer is a beast. But when the aformentioned Hapworth is the third option in your team’s backfield, not many people are going to stop you. I envision a whole lotta Joe Hopkins and Zach Guptill controlling the clock behind Brock Deschaine and that big, bad Winslow offensive line. This game will be played on turf, but I expect it to more closely resemble a 1970s head-slapper on the divot-laden tundra of Keyes or Walton Fields. Winslow, 17-15. And I’ll stop now so you have time to pose for a new picture.