By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

Call it the Battle of Wounded Knees. And Ankles and Shoulders, for that matter.

Lawrence travels to Lewiston tonight for a clash between two banged-up Pine Tree Conference teams who know that the team on the short end of the scoreboard could be on the outside, looking in, when the regional playoffs begin in a little more than a month.

Life looks a little healthier on the other side of the bridge, where Skowhegan drops in on Edward Little needing a win to meet high summer expectations. The Red Eddies, who’ve shown some stinginess defensively, recognize that a win could pay huge, long-term dividends in the almighty Crabtree point standings.

The line between the haves and have-nots appears more distinct in the Class C division of the Campbell Conference, but let’s not rush to judgment. Livermore Falls (tonight) and Madison (Saturday) have a chance to recalibrate the scales by toppling the league’s two most impressive teams.

Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s top high school matchups in the region:

Skowhegan (1-2) at Ed. Little (2-1), tonight, 7 p.m.

Traditionally slow starters with a furious finishing kick, the Indians don’t have that freedom this season with only four of 11 teams advancing to the Pine Tree Conference post-season. Early-season losses to Lawrence and Lewiston have made tonight’s trip to Walton Field essentially a must-win situation for Skowhegan.

QB Mike Lacasse (10-for-23, 100 yards in last week’s 22-20 verdict against the Blue Devils) and RB Aaron Chambers (averaging more than 100 yards per game) are up to the task. Edward Little’s defense needs to tighten up the effort that allowed Messalonskee’s Dan May to scamper for 200 yards in last week’s 20-0 loss.

Also paramount to the Eddies’ upset hopes are limiting penalties and establishing RBs Jon Demers and Garner LaValley to take the pressure off QB Troy Barnies, who had to air it out 23 times against the Eagles. Demers had a TD run called back due to the dreaded yellow hanky early in that game.

Lawrence (1-2) at Lewiston (2-1), tonight, 7 p.m.

While three skill-position starters watched the game on crutches or in slings, undermanned Lawrence put up an admirable fight in its 14-9 loss to Oxford Hills last weekend. The Bulldogs still flaunt RB/KR Dylan Costigan, who topped the century mark and ran back a punt 65 yards for a score. Mike Hersom is a solid replacement for Aaron Champagne at QB.

Chris Ford and Jared Turcotte have scored every touchdown for Lewiston this season, but their injuries may force the Devils to shuffle the deck.

Lewiston may elect to throw the ball more frequently if junior Frank Sawyer is calling the signals, and WRs Kyle Caito and Kurt Thibeault could see an increased role. DE Tobey Poirier and LBs Pat McLellan and Luc Collette will be asked to lift the defense.

Winthrop (3-0) at Liv. Falls (0-3), tonight, 7 p.m.

Don’t let the records fool you. The Andies led at halftime against powerful Foxcroft and Boothbay the last two weeks and took the Seahawks to overtime in a 34-32 thriller. Few Class C teams enjoy the Andies’ backfield depth. Ryan Webster, Karlton Jones and Mark O’Shea each ran one in for a score last week, with Webster amassing 164 yards and three TDs.

The Ramblers might have that kind of depth, but they rarely need to show it thanks to RB/LB Tavis Hasenfus (626 yards rushing, six TDs), who may be the early favorite for the Campbell Conference’s John Taglienti Award. He also has an 80-yard interception return for a TD.

Madison (1-2) at Lisbon (2-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Here’s another Western Class C team more dangerous than its record reveals. QB Dan Kalagher, RB Woody Noyes and two-way lineman Alex Grover bolster the Bulldogs, who thrashed Dirigo on opening night and lost by four to Boothbay. Lisbon aims to get back on track after a 21-14 loss at Mattanawcook, when QB Chris Brunick, versatile Levi Ervin and big Elijah Trefts simply ran out of time to finish a furious, fourth-quarter rally.

Around the region

Even with eight teams making the Eastern Class B playoffs this season, Oak Hill (1-2) probably needs a home win Saturday over Morse to get there, when all is said and done. The Raiders shine defensively on the shoulders of Robie Leavitt and Keith Daniels, but they need their offense to rebound from back-to-back shutouts … Leavitt, Mt. Blue and Mountain Valley shouldn’t have much difficulty Saturday with still-developing Maranacook, Mt. Ararat and Falmouth, respectively … Three area Western B programs face uphill battles in trying to notch their first wins of the fall. Fryeburg is at York and Poland visits Wells, while Gray-New Gloucester hosts Lake Region … Jay makes the long road trip to Traip, which still seeks its initial victory in almost five years. In another Western C matchup, Dirigo hosts Old Orchard Beach in pursuit of its first win as a stand-alone program in 15 years.