Huddle Up: Previewing the playoffs, A-D

The playoffs are underway throughout high school sports, except football. The tension, excitement, surprises and survival stories of sudden death tournaments don’t reach the gridiron until tomorrow, when the quarterfinals begin.

In six of the eight regions (all but Western B and D), the top two teams have the week off. We’ll argue about the fairness of bracket inequality another day. There’s no complaining in the playoffs. Everyone is battered and bruised. Those who find a way to overcome adversity and play their best football will be rewarded.

For the first time since 1986, Maine will have four state football champions when all is said and done. Read further to find out who yours truly thinks will be vying for the gold in three weeks.

Class A East

Playoff teams (highest seed to lowest seed): Cheverus, Portland, Windham, Bangor, Lewiston, Edward Little.

Cheverus rolled through the regular season, routing opponents by an average score of 53-10. The Stags’ only true challenge came in the season-opener against intra-city rival Portland, a 35-25 triumph. Their methods are familiar to anyone who has followed the legendary career of head coach John Wolfgram. They dominate up front and their running game, led by Joe Fitzpatrick, Cody O’Brien and Liam Lafountain, has been impossible to stop all season. Portland, led by two-way standout Justin Zukowski, hasn’t been quite as dominant but has solidified its case as potentially the only team capable of preventing Cheverus from winning its third state title in four years. For Lewiston and Edward Little, a trip to the semifinals would be a good start in the revamped region.

Regional final prediction: Cheverus over Portland

Class A West

Playoff teams: Bonny Eagle, Thornton Academy, South Portland, Scarborough, Biddeford, Sanford.

Favorites: Bonny Eagle, Thornton Academy

Darkhorse: Scarborough

Many preseason prognostications tabbed Thornton Academy as the Class A favorite, but a season-ending knee injury to Fitzpatrick Trophy favorite Andrew Libby in Week 1 and other injuries tempered those expectations. The defending state champions showed they remain a prominent player in the playoffs when they stunned Bonny Eagle in Week 7. Bonny Eagle earned the top seed despite that loss thanks to a dynamic offense led by junior QB Zach Dubiel. Both teams will be leery of Scarborough after the Red Storm battled them to narrow losses.

Regional final prediction: Thornton Academy over Scarborough.

Class B East

Playoff teams: Brunswick, Cony, Messalonskee, Mt. Blue, Skowhegan, Hampden Academy.

Brunswick looked unbeatable through the first month of the season, then stumbled down the stretch with two losses in the last three games. The Dragons are still well-equipped for a deep playoff run, and having the bye week to regroup could be big. Cony has the most explosive team in Class B, directed by QB Ben Lucas, who could have the biggest impact of any individual player in the playoffs. The Rams are glad they caught, and beat, Messalonskee in Week 1, because the Eagles have been the most dangerous team in the league the last six weeks, knocking off Mt. Blue and Brunswick. Defending champion Mt. Blue hopes to make one last run for retiring coach Gary Parlin, and the Cougars have the ability to score with anyone. The defense will need to step up after allowing 219 points during the regular season, the most of any Class B playoff team.

Regional final prediction: Brunswick over Messalonskee.

Class B West

Playoff teams: Kennebunk, York, Marshwood, Greely, Westbrook, Falmouth, Mt. Ararat, Morse.

Kennebunk earned its undefeated record, beating not only five of the other seven Western B qualifiers, but also knocking off Eastern B top seed Brunswick. Led by punishing senior RB Nicco DeLorenzo, the Rams have been a physical force in what has been largely a finesse region. If any team has the attitude to stand toe-to-to with them, it’s York, which hasn’t lost since falling to the Rams, 38-14, in Week 2. Marshwood represented the Rams’ toughest test, losing 21-14, and with 12 starters back from last year’s regional champion, the Hawks have the playoff pedigree.

Regional final prediction: Kennebunk over York.

Class C West

Playoff teams: Leavitt, Wells, Spruce Mountain, Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport.

Leavitt is in a new class but in a familiar position, No. 1 seed. But the normally offense-oriented Hornets have their defense to thank for their unblemished record as much as anything else after allowing just four points per game. And they faced all of their playoff dance partners but No. 6 seed Freeport en route to 8-0. After last year’s premature playoff exit, don’t expect them to take anything for granted. It’s fitting that there was a coin flip to determine the third and fourth seeds because the rest of the playoff field is a toss-up. Wells, Spruce Mountain and Yarmouth can all make a strong case for being the second-best team in the regular season, and Cape Elizabeth handed Wells one of its two losses.

Regional final prediction: Leavitt over Wells.

Class C East

Playoff teams: Winslow, Waterville, Mount Desert Island, Foxcroft Academy, Old Town, Belfast.

No region’s fans were served a better appetizer for the playoffs than Eastern C, where last week’s thriller between Winslow and Waterville reinforced the notion that they are co-favorites. Don’t overlook MDI, which handed Waterville its only loss the week before and has the kind of ball-control offense that can force any opponent out of its game plan. Foxcroft has been held back by injuries but is as dangerous of any No. 4 seed in the state.

Regional final prediction: Winslow over Waterville.

Class D West

Playoff teams: Winthrop/Monmouth, Oak Hill, Lisbon, Dirigo, Old Orchard Beach, Maranacook, Boothbay, Telstar.

Winthrop/Monmouth’s depth and balance were the keys to its unbeaten regular season, and they will be the Ramblers’ strengths in the playoffs. The emergence of Jake Weeks as a running complement to Zach Glazier makes them that much more formidable. Oak Hill can call by putting its own running tandem of Kyle Flaherty and Alex Mace on the table. The Raiders fell to the Ramblers, 18-13, on Sept. 28. Lisbon is a wild card in many ways, depending upon the availability of all-purpose star Quincy Thompson, who is now two weeks removed from a serious elbow injury. But the Greyhounds are usually at their best in the playoffs. Dirigo’s defense will keep it in any game, and OOB feels it can play with anyone since it handed Oak Hill one of its two losses.

Regional final prediction: Oak Hill over Winthrop/Monmouth.

Class D East

Playoff teams: Bucksport, Maine Central Institute, Mattanawcook Academy, Orono, Dexter, Washington Academy.

Bucksport bulked up for the playoffs in the last two weeks with a seven-point win over MCI and a 17-point triumph over Mattanawcook. MCI hasn’t scored less than 41 points in any game this year, and the Huskies get a bye week after winning the coin flip for the No. 2 seed with Mattanawcook. A semifinal matchup between the Huskies and the Lynx could break scoring records.