The halftime break is used for coaches and players to make midgame adjustments. Figure out what the opponent is doing offensively and defensively that was either successful or a surprise in the second half and find a way to counter it.

But crossing into the second half of the season, coaches are starting to make (or already have made) midseason adjustments.

Dirigo coach Jim Hersom said as much after his team’s 45-13 victory over Maranacook on Friday night. The Cougars were coming off a 30-0 home shutout at the hands of Lisbon, and Hersom said it was time to simplify things on offense. The adjustment worked, with Dirigo using a more streamlined attack, built on the power running of Cooper Chaisson, to rack up six offensive touchdowns — four by Chaisson.

The Cougars only threw the ball twice, with one of those going for another touchdown.

On the opposite end of the spectrum of midseason adjustments, Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway has had to get creative in using his offensive pieces. The Hornets entered this season without veteran quarterback Levi Craig and many of his favorite targets. Hathaway knew he had running back Hunter Sirois back, as well as multi-talented runner/receiver DJ James, but everybody else was a bit of a mystery.

Leavitt showed multiple looks on offense in Saturday night’s 38-27 loss to Falmouth. There were the more traditional offensive sets, with new starting quarterback Tim Albert under center, and a fullback and Sirois lined up behind him. But there were also the formations where James was set up as the quarterback in a Pistol formation, giving him the option to keep it or hand it off. The Hornets used a similar set where backup/change-of-pace quarterback Bryce Hudson was taking the snaps.

Leavitt used both power-running formations, with just one receiver split out wide, and spread formations with four receivers split out.

“We’re asking a lot of a lot of guys out there,” Hathaway said.

Falmouth coach John Fitzsimmons, whose team has its own plethora of playmakers, was left impressed by what the Hornets showed on offense.

“They have some real exciting weapons on their side that made this a really challenging game,” Fitzsimmons said.

Some adjustments are made out of necessity. Edward Little coach Dave Sterling had to make changes on the fly this past weekend, as well as over the past couple of weeks. The Red Eddies first had to deal with losing starting running back Caden Begos to injury a few weeks ago. This past Friday, EL used runner/receiver Maxx Bell as a running back, but then he also went down.

The Red Eddies have a good passing attack, but without a running game to balance the offense out defenses can key on the pass.

Control of Class D South

Winthrop/Monmouth’s win over Oak Hill was undoubtedly a big one Friday night. It ended the Raiders’ 24-game winning streak, while also providing some revenge for a Ramblers team that had two close losses during the streak.

But more importantly at this moment, the win gives Winthrop/Monmouth control of Class D South.

The Ramblers improved their record to 5-0, one game better than Oak Hill and Lisbon, which are tied at 4-1. Winthrop/Monmouth has beaten both those teams, and the only remaining games on the Ramblers’ schedule are against 1-3 Medomak Valley and 0-5 Maranacook.

The Ramblers are in prime position to finish the regular season 7-0 and with the No. 1 seed in the D South playoffs.

Meanwhile, Lisbon and Oak Hill have a showdown set for Saturday in Lisbon. The winner of that game will have the upper hand for D South’s No. 2 seed.

Class C South shakeup

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Mountain Valley was 2-1 and a couple plays away from being 3-0. At the same time, Spruce Mountain was 1-2, and the Phoenix were wondering who they were.

Things have changed in just two short weeks. The Falcons have dropped two straight — both blowout losses to Class C South favorites that they hoped they would contend with. The Phoenix have won two straight, taking care of business against two rebuilding teams, and with confidence ever-growing.

Mountain Valley is now 2-3, and has some work to do to earn a home playoff game. Spruce Mountain is among three teams at 3-2 and is in better control of hosting a playoff game.

But the remaining schedule is more favorable for the Falcons. Their next two games are against Freeport and Poland, who have a combined three wins. The Phoenix have to play 3-2 Yarmouth and Class B Leavitt.

That makes week eight’s clash between the two teams so intriguing. The stakes will likely be high in terms of playoff seeding — as well as momentum heading into the postseason.