Five Campbell Conference Class C teams put themselves in good shape for a playoff berth with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Defending Class C state champ Yarmouth (6-0), Lisbon (5-1), Maranacook (5-1), Winslow (5-1) and Traip (4-2) lead a crowded field of playoff hopefuls.
And from there?
“The top five looks set,” Winthrop coach Joel Stoneton said. “A lot of things have to happen to a lot of teams. For us bottom-dwellers, we’ll have to figure it out.”
The race for one of the eight playoff berths likely won’t be decided until the final day of the regular season.
Winthrop (3-3) is ninth in Crabtree points and will need at least one win in its final two games to reach the postseason. Dirigo (3-3), Freeport (4-2) and Oak Hill (3-3) are also smack dab in the hunt.
“It looks like Oak Hill, Dirigo and Winthrop are fighting for two spots,” said Maranacook coach Joe Emery. “I think we are playing for a home playoff game now. We definitely have a chance at that, which is sweet. We’ve tried to get one the last couple of years, but this year it’s attainable. But we may need to win both our games to get there.”
That won’t be easy.
The Black Bears close the season against Dirigo and Oak Hill, two tough teams trying to play their way into the postseason.
“I don’t imagine we’ll be playing our (junior varsity) teams those games,” Emery said.
Winthrop hosts Poland (2-4) on Friday before closing out the regular season against longtime rival Lisbon.
Stoneton knows what’s at stake.
“I think at 4-4 we’ll probably get in,” he said. “But a lot of things still have to happen.”
Oak Hill, which plays one of the toughest schedules in the conference (its seven opponents are a combined 29-19), hosts Winslow and plays at Maranacook.
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Gardiner (5-1) received a big lift with the return of Alonzo Connor, who missed a game and a half with an elbow injury, in a 51-8 win over Oceanside last weekend. Connor rushed for 160 yards and five touchdowns.
“It was nice to have him back in the offense,” Gardiner coach Matt Burgess said.
It was also nice, Burgess said, to see the defense turn in yet another strong performance.
For the third time this season, the Tigers held an opponent to under nine points. They are allowing just 16 points a game.
“A lot of guys are stepping up,” Burgess said.
Indeed.
Linebacker Seth Wing has 33 tackles in his last two games. Defensive tackle Eddie Donnell, who has recovered from leg and ankle injuries, had a big game against Oceanside. He finished with eight tackles, including two for a loss, and one and a half sacks. Defensive end/linebacker Justin Pottle also had eight tackles.
“The defense is doing some good things,” Burgess said.
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There will be no playoffs this season for Cony (1-5), which is mired in a three-game losing streak.
“Mathematically, I don’t think we can get in,” Cony coach Robby Vachon acknowledged. “Right now, we just want to get better each week. We have two tough games coming up (against Lawrence and Lewiston) and we just want to get better.”
Senior captain Chase Shostak said it’s been a difficult season for the Rams.
“We’re definitely not making the playoffs,” he said. “No chance. It’s embarrassing to keep losing. It’s been very frustrating for me. This is the last time I’ll play football. These are the last few games of my life. We just want to go out there and have fun. I want to win as many games as we can.”
The young Rams have struggled on both sides of the ball at times this season. They are allowing 35.3 points a game and are averaging just 17.8.
“We’re staying with what we have,” Vachon said. “But we need to get stronger. You have to work hard in the offseason. You have to have an offseason lifting program. We’re getting better and we’ll continue to get better.”
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Newcomers Bret Kidik and Derek Trinh are off to strong starts for Kents Hill (1-2).
Kidik, a quarterback from Wilmington, Mass., has thrown five touchdowns and about 600 yards in three games. Trinh, of Toronto, has three touchdown receptions.
“Kidik has been great,” Kents Hill coach Steve Gritti said. “I’ve been real impressed with our passing game. We’ve thrown for a lot of yards.”
Kents Hill is 1-0 in the East Division of the Evergreen League. Its next three games, beginning with Dexter School on Saturday, are against division opponents.
“Our next three games will really tell our season,” Gritti said.
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Winthrop picked itself up off the proverbial mat with a much-needed 27-24 victory over Oak Hill on Saturday.
It marked the first time this season Winthrop beat an opponent that had at least one victory.
The Ramblers’ other victories came against Sacopee and Telstar, whose combined record is 0-12.
“That definitely gave us more confidence,” Stoneton said. “We felt like we’ve played with teams with winning records or playoff team, like Winslow and Dirigo. But for us to come out and not only hang with (Oak Hill) but come out and win was huge. To beat a winning team was really, really big. We’re hoping to take that momentum and roll with it.”
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Honor roll: Winthrop sophomore wide receiver Drew Stratton caught three passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 win over Oak Hill. Winthrop running back Zach Glazier rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns. … Oak Hill running back Cody DePuy rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 loss to Winthrop. … Cony quarterback Ben Lucas completed 11 of 24 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-30 loss to Skowhegan. … Gardiner running back Alonzo Connor rushed for 160 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-9 win over Oceanside. Gardiner linebacker Seth Wing had 15 tackles against Oceanside. … Maranacook quarterback Caleb Castonguay threw three touchdown passes in a 42-6 win over Telstar.
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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