Hearkening back to summertime predictions that had them finishing in the middle of the Western Class D pack, Oak Hill has worked through a frigid week of practice eager to once again play the role of underdog going into Saturday’s Class D championship game against unbeaten Bucksport (2:30 p.m., Fitzpatrick Stadium).

Awaiting the Raiders (9-2) in the first Class D championship game since 1986 is a Bucksport (10-0) team that was more highly-touted in August. With just six seniors, the Golden Bucks are just as young as the Raiders. But since they had graduated just four seniors from a 7-3 team, they were favorites to win their second Little Ten Conference championship in three years. They proceeded to prove why, winning by at least two touchdowns in all but three of  their victories.

Bucksport’s season took a tragic turn on Oct. 3, when 15-year-old Taylor Darveau, a freshman cheerleader, died in a car crash on her way home from a dinner at the high school for cheerleaders and the football team.

The town has rallied around the football and cheerleading squads, making home games a celebration of the community and the game and providing some comfort in a difficult time.

“There are some things a little more important than games. I think the kids have learned that,” Bucksport coach Joel Sankey said. “I think the game is an escape for them. I think it helps them. They’re a pretty close group and being together helps them a lot.”

Like Oak Hill, senior leadership and a very talented junior class propelled Bucksport through a rugged conference schedule. Junior quarterback Matthew Stewart, who was pressed into service as a freshman due to an injury to the starting quarterback when the Bucks lost to Yarmouth in the 2011 Class C championship game, returns to Fitzpatrick with an impressive resume as a two-year starter.

The 5-foot-9, 150-pound Stewart has stood tall in the pocket this year, particularly in the playoffs, where he’s completed 20 of 33 passes for 338 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. On the season, he’s completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,156 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Stewart has an enviable pass-catching ensemble, led by speedy senior Josh Gray, who has caught 24 passes for 420 yards and nine touchdowns. Juniors Gabe Stearns and Dylan Soper have also been reliable targets, especially in the playoffs, when opponents have been focused on limiting Gray’s big-play possibilities. And Asher Bowden, Lucas Ashmore and Nathan Gray are additional big-play threats at Stewart’s disposal.

Five different Bucks scored in their 42-8 victory over Mattanawcook Academy last week, but it’s not just the number of weapons that will challenge Oak Hill’s defense. It’s their versatility. Many of their skill-position players are capable of lining up at multiple positions.

As good as Stewart and the passing attack have been, the running game led by junior 1,000-yard halfback Jack Cyr and senior fullback Nic Bishop, has been just as multi-faceted. Cyr rushed for 111 yards and two scores on 12 carries against Mattanawcook. Stearns rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown (and also had a receiving touchdown and returned an interception for a score). Josh Gray rushed for 55 yards.

“We have a lot of different weapons,” said Sankey, who coached the Golden Bucks when Fitzpatrick Trophy-winning running back Nick Tymoczko led them to a Class C title in 2004. “We can throw the ball. We can run the ball. We can power it. We can finesse it. It makes us pretty diversified. It’s fun going into games and looking at what defenses may do or what they may play against you and what they may try to take away and try to utilize the people that we have.”

The Bucks spread the wealth of defense, too. Four different players had interceptions last week. Five different players were involved in their four quarterback sacks.

“Offensively, they’re explosive,” Doucette said. “Defensively, they’re very well coached. They’re very disciplined, they play their positions. Everybody does their part.”

Oak Hill’s defense, which is allowing 14.5 points per game, will counter Bucksport’s balance with its speed and strength, led by senior Luke Washburn.

Listed as a defensive end, Washburn will line up all over the field to take advantage of his superior size (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) and play-making ability (team-leading 12 sacks, 85 tackles, 18 for a loss, four fumble recoveries).

The defensive interior, led by senior tackle Bayley Beaulieu, frees up Washburn and juniors Samson Lacroix, Kyle Flaherty and Alex Mace to make tackles. The secondary, led by senior Ryan Stevens, junior Kyle Tervo and sophomore Dalton Therrien, allowed only 70 total passing yards in three Western Maine playoff games.

“They’re physical. They’re quick. They fly to the ball,” Sankey said. “(Washburn) is one of the best kids I’ve seen in uniform in years.”

Washburn doesn’t touch the ball much on offense as an H-back, but the Bucks will be paying close attention to wherever he is on the field because he paves the way for running backs Flaherty (1,564 yards, 13 TDs) and Mace (699 yards, 6 TDs). The offensive line, which has improved despite undergoing a number of changes over the course of the season due to injuries, has helped the Raiders average 210 yards rushing per game in the playoffs behind Beaulieu, Garrett Labbe, Garrett Gile, Brendon Tervo, Mike Pease and Austin Goucher.

Oak Hill senior quarterback Parker Asselin hasn’t been called upon to throw as often as Stewart, but he’s been dangerous and efficient when he has gone to the air.

Asselin, a three-year starter who also saw time as a freshman, has completed 56 percent of his passes for 986 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He led the Raiders on a two-minute drive to beat Lisbon in the semifinals and threw a late touchdown pass that ultimately clinched the regional final against Dirigo. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound signal-caller is also tough to bring down when he calls his own number in short-yardage situations.

Mace (22-510-5) is Asselin’s top target this year, but the Bucks will also have to account for Stevens and Washburn in passing situations.

Doucette and Sankey agree that the experience of playing at Fitzpatrick two years ago may help Bucksport. But Doucette would rather have the experience his team has accumulated playing in tight games. The Raiders beat Lisbon and Dirigo by a total of three points over the last two weeks.

“We’ve just played a gauntlet of games, and that’s experience, too,” Doucette said. “We feel that in our conference, every game is a tough game, week in and week out. We played five games this year that have come down to the last minute of the game. And we’ve been on both sides, so we know how important it is to do the little things right.”

One of the “little things” the Raiders have done extremely well in the playoffs is take care of the ball. They’ve had just one turnover, on a fumbled pitch against Boothbay. The defense has forced four turnovers.

“We talk about ball security every day in practice,” Doucette said. “We tell Parker every day it’s okay to punt.”

Both teams are strong in another overlooked part of high school football, the kicking game. Josh Gray has been virtually automatic kicking extra points and booted a 40-yard field goal that proved to be the game-winner in the Bucks’ 17-14 semifinal win over Orono. Adam Merrill kicked a 22-yard field goal that was the difference in the Raiders’ 16-14 win over Dirigo and made three of three extra points, including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter of their 21-20 victory over Lisbon.

This is Oak Hill’s first appearance in a title game since it lost the 1984 Class D championship game to Dexter. The Raiders won the title over Foxcroft Academy in 1982.