By Michael Hoffer
MaxPreps.com
After a very short summer, a new school year has arrived, bringing a new high school sports season with it.
The fall campaign figures to be chock full of drama in several sports, most notably football, soccer and field hockey.
Football: Bonny Eagle Looks to Continue Dynasty
If the pundits are correct, the 2008 Class A football season will end similarly to 2004, 2005 and 2007, with Bonny Eagle celebrating a state championship.
Led by returning standout quarterback Nate Doehler, the Scots are deep, big, talented and hungry and appear to be the team to beat.
Bonny Eagle's biggest threat will come from Deering, led by senior running back Jack Heary. The Rams lost to the Scots in last year's semifinal round. Thornton Academy appears to be the best team from York County. Other playoff threats include South Portland, Gorham, Massabesic, Marshwood, Windham and perhaps Portland or Scarborough as a dark horse.
Mountain Valley is the defending Western B champion and the Falcons are atop the early season polls again, with rivals Cape Elizabeth and York (who meet in the season opener Friday night in Cape Elizabeth) right behind. The fourth and final playoff spot in the region could feature a compelling chase including Falmouth, Fryeburg Academy, Greely and Wells.
Boys Soccer: Traditional Powers Favored Again
On the pitch, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Greely (Class A) and Falmouth (Class B) are defending boys championships and both like their chances to repeat.
In Western A, Greely lost its standout goalie and some other key contributors, but the Rangers return an abundance of talent. The past five seasons have seen either Greely or Scarborough win the region. That theme should continue in 2008 as the Red Storm (who haven't lost a regular season game since 2005) are just as potent as ever.
A very good Cape Elizabeth team, Cheverus, Gorham and Westbrook are also in the running.
In Western B, Falmouth has won six of the past eight championships, including the last two, and the Yachtsmen once again are fielding a veritable all-star squad. They are heavy favorites to make it three in a row, but rival Yarmouth will do its best to stand in the way, while Freeport, Maranacook and York could also be heard from.
Girls Soccer: One for the Thumb?
On the girls' side, Gorham has won four consecutive state championships (Class B in 2004 and Class A each of the past three seasons). The Rams have every reason to believe they'll make it five straight this autumn, but it won't come easily.
Several teams will do their best to dethrone the champs. That list includes Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus (which almost upset the Rams in last year's semifinals), Greely (a regional finalist in 2007), Marshwood, Scarborough and Windham.
In Western B, York upset Falmouth and Yarmouth en route to the state title a year ago. With much of its talent returning, the Wildcats have to be viewed as the favorite again.
Falmouth (which saw its remarkable 39-game unbeaten streak end last year in the semifinals) will be right there, as will a Yarmouth squad which will peak as the season progresses.
The Western C story once again figures to come down to two schools: Five-time champion North Yarmouth Academy and a Waynflete team still stinging from last year's regional final loss to the Panthers in a game that was supposed to represent a changing of the guard. Both rivals are extremely talented again in 2008 and could play into overtime in the regional final just like last year.
Field Hockey: Scarborough's Time?
A year ago, the Scarborough field hockey team enjoyed its finest season ever, winning 14 games and reaching the regional final for the first time in program history before falling to Sanford.
This autumn, the Red Storm are thinking championship and are seen as the team to beat.
Biddeford, Cheverus, Deering, Gorham, Sanford and Westbrook will also be heard from.
In Western B, after four straight semifinal round heartbreaks, perhaps this is the year Greely returns to the pinnacle. The Rangers won't have an easy time of it, however, as powers such as York and Lake Region, along with rivals Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth, will be formidable.
Michael Hoffer is the sports editor of The Forecaster, a family of weekly newspapers based in Falmouth. Michael can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net
