Mountain Valley wants to rekindle the rivalry, and this is the year the Falcons think they can do it.

Wells looks the part of a Class C South front-runner, sporting a 3-0 record and having consecutive trips to the regional final it its back pocket.

Mountain Valley, meanwhile, is tired of rebuilding and is ready to get back to the Warriors’ level. The Falcons are 2-1, and just a successful two-point conversion against Yarmouth from possibly being 3-0, as well.

So it’s no surprise when both of the teams’ head coaches call this week four clash a “tough test.”

“I do think they are our toughest test of the season so far,” Wells coach Tim Roche said. “They are playing very well.”

The Warriors have already beat two teams that were expected to make the playoffs — Spruce Mountain and Fryeburg Academy — and a Freeport team that already has two wins after going winless last season. But none of those three has played at the level that the Falcons have displayed through three games.

“They are starting to play that old physical style that Mountain Valley used to play, which is great to see,” Roche said.

That return of physicality can be attributed in part to first-year Falcons coach Pat Mooney, who played for Mountain Valley in the early 2000s — which was the start of the glory years.

“In order to win, we have to match them physically,” Mooney said. “Wells will come out swinging like they always do, but we need to match their intensity early and stay within our game plan.”

Both teams like to run the ball first, run the ball second, then pass if the down-and-distance calls for it. The Falcons are led in the backfield by senior Kyle Farrar, who Roche called “a very good back who runs with toughness and is quick.”

The Warriors have seniors Nick Hansen and Evan Whitten in the backfield, along with other good skill-position players, but Mooney highlighted Wells’ line as a key to the Warriors’ attack.

“They have a very athletic line,” Monney said. “They run a Wing-T and execute the base plays very well. Their guards get down the line quick on pulls and do a great job of blocking defenders in space.”

The defensive game plan for both teams is simple — hit.

This game should be fun for fans of “old school” football. The Falcons hope its a throwback to games against the Warriors that meant everything in the standings and for playoff positioning.

“At the end of the day, football always boils down to blocking and tackling. Whoever does the best job of it for 48 minutes will win the game,” Mooney said. “We look forward to the challenge.”

wkramlich@sunjournal.com

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