WALES — The regular season may have officially began for Oak Hill last weekend but unofficially, it kicks off Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The Raiders played their first string offense for just six full series in a 47-14 win over Telstar last week that by the fourth quarter had boiled down to a junior varsity game. This weekend, the jayvees are likely going to have to wait until Monday to get their shot to play as Oak Will hosts Dirigo on Saturday.
The game will be the first meeting between the two teams since the Raiders defeated the Cougars 16-14 in the Western Class D Campbell Conference championship and Dirigo looks strong once again this season.
Here’s a look at the Oak Hill-Dirigo matchup:
• Last season: Oak Hill defeated Dirigo twice, 8-6 on Sept. 13 during the regular season and 16-14 in the Western Class D Campbell Conference finals.
• Where to see the game: https://new.livestream.com/accounts/546422/events/3273015.
• Oak Hill players to watch: WR/TB Alex Mace, TB/LB Kyle Flaherty, QB Dalton Therrien, MLB Samson Lecroix, NG Garrett Gile, WR/KR Kyle Tervo.
• Dirigo players to watch: FB/LB Tyler Frost, QB/DB Riley Robinson, RB/LB Kane Hutchins, RB/DE Joe Casey, SE/DB Gavin Arsenault, RB/DB Mike Casey.
• Oak Hill coach Stacen Doucette on Dirigo: “They’re a very well coached team. It’s an old school team, they don’t panic, they play football and they play all game long.”
• Dirigo coach Jim Hersom on Oak Hill: “We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good day, we’ve had a good week of practice and I think the kids are really looking forward to it. Oak Hill’s a good team, a well coached team but we think we’re coming along nicely.”
Three keys for Oak Hill
1. Avoid ‘Frost’-bite. Frost is one of the top offensive and defensive players in the conference. He scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in a win over Maranacook last week, and the Raiders will have to minimize his impact on the game the best they can. 2. So fresh and so clean. Oak Hill’s offense is at its best when it can keep the opposing defense on its toes by mixing up its play calls. Mace was a nightmare against Telstar as both a receiver and a runner, and is one of a number of weapons available for the Raiders as Flaherty, Therrien and Tervo can all be dangerous as well.
3. Don’t back down. The Raiders’ defensive line and linebackers dominated Telstar up front last week, pretty much setting up a timeshare in the Rangers’ backfield. Dirigo is a far more physical team and Oak Hill needs to be ready for that. Winning the line of scrimmage will be a key to whichever team comes out on top.
Three keys for Dirigo
1. Good offense leads to good defense. Flaherty and Mace have a penchant for popping big plays. The best way to prevent them from doing that is by keeping themoff the field with long, sustained drives. Getting into a shootout with the Raiders would not be the ideal situation for the Cougars.
2. Contain, contain, contain. Mace was at his most dangerous against Telstar last week when he got outside the tackle box, particularly out of the jet sweep package. When he shifts into the backfield, Dirigo would be best served to take its chances with him running in between the tackles.
3. You do you. Dirigo is known for its aggressive, hard-hitting and defensive style. Staying true to that would certainly be to the Cougars’ benefit against a high-scoring team like Oak Hill. If it can turn it into a low-scoring game like it did last week against Maranacook, Dirigo should have a good shot at being the team that ends the Raiders’ eight-game win streak.
EXTRA POINT: Saturday will be military and armed forces appreciation day at the Oak Hill-Dirigo game. Veterans and active service members will receive free admission, and those who donate $5 worth of toiletry items or a $5 gas or phone card will also receive free admission. Those collected will be donated to the Maine VA Medical Center at Togus, and half of the 50-50 raffle will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Antique military vehicles will also be on display.
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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