Oak Hill will play its first state championship game in 29 years on Saturday afternoon, while Leavitt will make its fourth state title appearance in five years on Saturday night.
The Maine Principals’ Association on Monday announced the starting times for the three state championship games to be played Saturday at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium.
“Super Saturday” kicks off with the Class A game between Cheverus (10-0) and Bonny Eagle (9-1) at 11:06 a.m. The Class D championship between Bucksport (10-0) and Oak Hill (9-2) will start at 2:36 p.m. The Class C final between Winslow (9-1) and Leavitt (10-0) begins at 6:06 p.m.
Cheverus, Oak Hill and Leavitt will be the “home” teams.
The Class B game between Cony (8-2) and Kennebunk (11-0) will be played at 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Maine.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens 65 and over. One ticket is good for admission to all three Saturday games, but anyone leaving Fitzpatrick Stadium will have to buy another ticket to return.
Fitzpatrick Stadium does not allow fans to enter the facility with backpacks, duffel bags or containers or drinks of any type.
Leavitt reached the Class B championship three consecutive years, 2009-11, defeating Cape Elizabeth in 2009 and losing to Mountain Valley in 2010 and Wells in 2011. It moved to Class C this year as part of the four-class realignment in high school football. Leavitt also won gold balls in 1995 and 1998.
The Hornets outscored their opponents during the regular season, 336-32, and emerged from Western C after defeating Cape Elizabeth, 21-9, in the semifinals and Spruce Mountain, 48-21, in the final.
Winslow, a former rival of Leavitt’s in Pine Tree Conference Class B, lost to Foxcroft Academy, 22-20, in last year’s Class C title game. It won Class B state titles in 1958, 1960, 1982, and 1986 and went back-to-back in 1992-93 and 2000-01.
The Black Raiders outscored their opponents, 312-108, during the regular season and emerged with from Eastern C with a 39-14 semifinal win over Belfast and a 49-18 victory over arch-rival Waterville in the final.
Oak Hill joins Cony in the distinction of being the only teams that weren’t the top seed in their region to reach the state championship game. The Raiders, who were a No. 2 seed in Western D, outscored their opponents, 240-103, during the regular season. With eight teams making the playoffs in their region, they had to survive three rounds to reach Portland, defeating Boothbay, 41-22, in the quarterfinals, edging Lisbon, 21-20, in the semifinals, and knocking off Dirigo, 16-14, in the final.
Oak Hill has played in two other Class D championships in its history, winning in 1982 and losing in 1984.
Bucksport outscored its opponents, 300-104, to go undefeated during the regular season. It slipped past Orono, 17-14, in the Eastern D semifinals and trumped Mattanawcook Academy, 42-8, in the final.
The Golden Bucks were declared co-champions of Class D in 1959 and 1963. They lost in the Class B final in 1988 and the Class C final in 2001 and 2011. They won the Class C championship in 2004 against Jay.
The Class A final pits teams that were SMAA rivals before realignment moved Cheverus to the East. Last year, the Stags and Scots met in Week 6, with Cheverus winning at home, 21-7.
Both schools have had dynastic runs this century. Bonny Eagle won four titles in five years 2004-08. Cheverus went back-t0-back in 2010-11 and has won 44 of its last 45 games, losing only last year’s Western A championship to Thornton Academy.
By contrast, the Class B contest features schools that have had to wait a long time to reach the ultimate game. Cony is appearing in the first state championship game in its history. Kennebunk is playing in its first state championship since 1999, and last won the title in 1991.
Friday’s game will be the first played in Orono since 1999, when South Portland beat Oxford Hills for the Class A crown.
Check back at sunjournal.com for more information on tickets and all week long for ongoing coverage of the Class C and Class D championship.
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