Oakes: Well, would you look at this? If I don’t have that big, cantankerous redhead to kick around anymore, I suppose it might as well be you, Hockey Guy. Let’s cut right to the chase and see how much you’ve learned from 18-hour days of editing football stories and capsules these past two weeks. First I’ll throw you an easy one: Class A, where with Zach Dubiel leading Bonny Eagle and Joe Fitzpatrick carrying the load at Cheverus, there’s no reason to think we won’t see a title-game rematch at the stadium not named after Joe. The burning question around here is which of our three local teams will make the best run at playing spoiler? I say it’s Lewiston, with (cue up Dark Helmet from “Spaceballs”) ludicrous speed at the skill positions and in the secondary.

Pelletier: Sure, pick on the new guy. Wait, new guy? I’ve been busy watching you “debate” in this space for 14 years. I suppose it’s about time the competition lessens so you have a shot at winning. But probably not. Bonny Eagle and Cheverus are the easy picks because, well, have you seen their rosters lately? I love Lewiston’s speed from the backfield, but the question is still on defense — can they stop the other guys? The Devils should be a position 3-4-5 team, if they can hang in the trenches.

Speaking of trenches, that’s where I hear Mt. Blue is right now. Coach Aylward’s going to teach those high-flyin’ Cougars a thing or two about playing in the mud to start eating up some clock. They’ll have to, as well, to try and keep the ball away from Brunswick’s and Messalonskee’s skill players. I’m thinking it won’t be a pesky clock dulling Mt. Blue’s ‘Hook,’ but an alligat … er … Dragon. Marshwood and York remind me a lot of what Mountain Valley used to be to Western B. You remember those days, right, old man?

Oakes: Dude, a kindergartener can almost remember those days. It only seems like the state title of 2010 was a long time ago, because the Falcons have lost enrollment more quickly than you and I have lost hair. That said, you have B scouted out pretty well, rookie. Those backfields from Brunswick and Marshwood will be too tough for the rest of the state to tackle. I can’t see anyone throwing for 300 yards in the second half of this year’s title game.

And since you already indirectly mentioned Class C West, let me just add that it’s going to be a dogfight. Not to mention that I think the people who are expecting a four-team battle royal between Spruce Mountain, Cape Elizabeth, Leavitt and Wells are underestimating Yarmouth and Poland, too. You win with seniors, though, and that’s why I … kinda … sorta … give the nod to the Phoenix. I’m not going to channel Denny Green and say go ahead and crown ’em already, but that blend of experience and speed is just a tad too much for the competition. I’m also just enough of a homer to say they’ll be the team to break Winslow’s heart in the state final for a third consecutive year. What say you?

Pelletier: I say, “Not so fast.” Not that the Phoenix aren’t fast. They are. And if that squad stays healthy, it certainly wears the mantle of co-favorite. But only “co.” Even I’ve been at this long enough to know not to pick against tradition. The Warriors, Capers and Knights can climb aboard the Clippers’ ship and rise with the Phoenix into Turner, but until someone takes away the stingers, the Hornets will be waiting. (I don’t even know if that made sense, just roll with it). When whomever emerges from that quagmire (giggity) makes it to the state final, expect one of a couple usual suspects to be a’waitin.’ My money’s on the Ponies. Of Foxcroft Academy, that is.

Now, this Class D business … Methinks Oak Hill will have a very tough time repeating. And that’s no slight to the Raiders. They’ll be really good. But the rest of Western D is also good. I am going to creep out to the ledge here and say that no team in Western D will go unbeaten this year. That’s going to make for some very fun — and very busy — Fridays and Saturdays this fall. Dirigo may have a slight edge as the Cougars build momentum from that big playoff win a year ago. If only you’d been there to see it…

Oakes: Ouch. Thanks for the reminder. Not even a slick “Family Guy” reference can redeem that punch to the gut. Well, you’re wrong again, bucko (we old guys still channel Richie Cunningham from time to time), because just as I don’t intend to share the football beat this season, the Raiders have no plans to share Class D supremacy. The Cougars’ chore of rebuilding an entire offensive line and blending with a new coach, albeit one of Maine’s best, is just a little bit steeper challenge than the Raiders having to replace a man-child battering ram named Luke Washburn. I say it’s another Oak Hill-Bucksport state final, only maybe this time the first team to 50 (not 40) wins.

Nice disagreeing with you, by the way. It’s almost as if we’ve done this before, or something.