Weekend Blitz: Eight-man postseason starts and a big-time Class D matchup

Foxcroft (6-0) at Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale (5-0)
Friday, 6 p.m.
The Ramblers’ bus and the Ponies’ gallop have been headed toward this matchup all season. Don’t be surprised if these teams play each other for bigger stakes in a few weeks.

Fryeburg (5-2) at Leavitt (5-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The Hornets have all but wrapped up the top seed in Class C South, and are looking to finish off another unbeaten regular season. The Raiders won’t make it too easy, though.

John Bapst (0-5) at Poland (1-3)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Crusaders this season have been the perfect opponent for teams looking to notch another win, and the Knights are in need of another W after three straight losses to three of the top teams in Class D.

Lewiston (1-6) at Portland (7-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Being in Class B is working out nicely for the Bulldogs this season. Class A hasn’t been nearly as good to the Blue Devils — there are only eight teams, but the powerhouses remain.

Mt. Blue (1-4) at Skowhegan (3-4)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The Cougars scored 37 points in their one win, but only 10 points combined in their four losses. The River Hawks, meanwhile, are in a better spot in B North (fourth with a chance to move up) than their record might indicate.

Thornton (7-0) at Edward Little (0-7)
Friday, 7 p.m.
One more week of prep before the Red Eddies play what probably is their first true shot at a win: next week at rival Lewiston.

No. 6 Boothbay (3-4) at No. 3 Mountain Valley (2-3)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The Falcons are a surprising third seen in the eight-man Small School South division. One of their two wins was a 46-22 defeat of the Seahawks.

No. 7 Sacopee Valley (1-5) at No. 2 Dirigo (5-2)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The Cougars have won five straight as their offense has become increasingly effective, and difficult to stop, through the air and on the ground.

No. 6 Yarmouth (1-6) at No. 3 Spruce Mountain (5-2)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The main challenge for the Phoenix, winners of three straight and five of six, is probably not looking past the Clippers toward an eight-man Large School South semifinal matchup with Mt. Ararat.

Bucksport (2-3) at Lisbon (1-3)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
About 23 months ago, these two teams played for the Class D state championship (which the Greyhounds won). The reward for winning this game is getting further away from the Class D cellar.

No. 5 Gray-New Gloucester (2-5) at No. 4 Lake Region (2-4)
Saturday, 7 p.m.
The Patriots would be 4-3 if they had been victorious in close losses to Lake Region in Week 1 and Boothbay last week. They get a second shot at the Lakers in the first round of the postseason.

Oak Hill (4-1) at Freeport (4-2)
Monday, 6 p.m.
If Winthrop and Foxcroft are playing for the top spot in Class D, then maybe the Raiders and Falcons are playing for third. But don’t count out Oak Hill as a No. 1 or 2 because it still hasn’t taken its shot at the Ramblers.