DIXFIELD — It’s too early to talk about the high school playoffs, but Class D South contenders already are waist-deep in games that will set their place and their bus-ride itinerary in that bracket.

Two weeks ago, Winthrop/Monmouth gave away four fumbles and watched Lisbon rally to a 14-7 victory.

This past Saturday, Dirigo couldn’t overcome an early deficit, four quarterback sacks and a late fumble, dropping a 20-14 verdict to two-time defending state champion.

Now both teams are 1-1 and in danger: Not of missing the playoffs, but of inheriting a much tougher road to navigate once they arrive. One team will have a leg up after Friday night’s showdown at Harlow Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Dirigo trounced Telstar, 56-0, in its opener, getting touchdowns from five different players. The Cougars were relatively one-dimensional against Oak Hill, pinning their hopes on the shoulders (and legs) of quarterback Riley Robinson, who rushed 25 times for 109 yards and was responsible for both touchdowns.

Without a bye week on its agenda and with a road trip to Lisbon looming in a week, Dirigo can ill afford to let the Ramblers keep rolling.

“I’ve seen them all, and there’s not going to be a weak team. I’ve seen them all, and there really isn’t,” Dirigo coach Jim Hersom said. “Winthrop, Traip. Maranacook is a load. I think Old Orchard Beach is tough.”

The Cougars would like to take their cue from the Ramblers, who rebounded from their loss with a 45-14 win over Traip.

Winthrop/Monmouth rushed for 311 yards, with Alec Brown, Dustin Tripp and Nate Scott sharing the load.

Juniors Matt Ingram and Bennett Brooks are one of the top quarterback-receiver tandems in the conference. It was in a 25-6 loss to Dirigo in Week 3 last season that Ingram showed a glimpse of the future.

“We didn’t have him run the ball at all the first two games,” Winthrop/Monmouth coach Dave St. Hilaire said. “In that game, he ran for a couple of first downs, got some confidence, and then he started making some throws and running our offense.”

Robinson has a similar supply of options in the Dirigo backfield, with Gavin Arsenault, Mike Casey, Vincent Hebert and Cooper Chiasson leading the way. Barry Campbell joined Arsenault and Robinson as defensive stalwarts in the Oak Hill contest.

Dirigo has a two-game winning streak in the series. The Cougars spoiled Winthrop/Monmouth’s undefeated regular season in 2013 with a come-from-behind upset in the regional semifinals.

Most of the faces on both teams have changed, although Robinson was a two-way starter that year.

The Cougars’ 36-30 win in 2011 is the only other game in the series settled by a margin of fewer than 14 points in the past six seasons.