By Michael Hoffer
MaxPreps.com
Rivalry weekend brought the curtain down on the 2008 regular season and now the fun really begins with the start of the playoffs.
The Deering Rams put a fitting punctuation mark on their campaign, crushing host Cheverus 40-6 Saturday afternoon. The Rams scored on three of their first four offensive plays (getting a pair of TD runs from senior standout Jack Heary and another from unheralded senior Matt Alves).
Deering was never seriously tested from there and wound up 8-0 for the first time since the 2003 squad had the same record and won the school's most recent championship.
The playoff picture was finalized after Friday and Saturday's games.
Deering will be the No. 1 seed and will host No. 8 Gorham (4-4 after a 54-14 home loss to Bonny Eagle Friday night). Deering won 49-32 at Gorham Sept. 19. The teams have split two previous playoff meetings, with Gorham winning 9-7 in the 2006 Western A Final and Deering returning the favor with a 27-14 triumph in last year's quarterfinals round.
The other undefeated squad in Western Class A is Thornton Academy, which capped its perfect campaign with a 23-6 home win Saturday over fierce rival Biddeford (which will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1982). The Golden Trojans (unbeaten for the first time in seven years) will go into the playoffs with the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 Marshwood (5-3) Saturday.
The 3-6 game features Windham (which won its final six games to go 6-2) hosting Massabesic (6-2). The Eagles will be taking part in their first-ever Class A playoff contest.
Bonny Eagle, due in large part to its forfeit from earlier in the season, wound up ranked fourth with a 6-2 mark. The Scots' only loss on the field came to Deering in an epic Oct. 10. They will host No. 5 Cheverus, which went 5-3, its first winning mark since 2003. The teams have no previous playoff history. Bonny Eagle won 46-6 at the Stags in the opener Sept. 6.
In Eastern A, two-time defending regional champion Lawrence went undefeated and will be the top seed. The Bulldogs will meet No. 8 Mt. Blue this weekend. Edward Little upset Lewiston Saturday to earn the No. 2 seed. The Red Eddies host No. 7 Messalonskee this weekend. Lewiston is ranked third and will host No. 6 Bangor, a potential dark horse. Brunswick's strong finish earned it the fifth seed. The Dragons are at No. 4 Skowhegan this weekend.
The semifinals are Nov. 8 and the regional final is Nov. 15 on the field of the highest remaining seed. The Class A state championship game is Saturday, Nov. 22 at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
The Class B playoff picture will be completed this weekend. Cape Elizabeth and two-time defending regional champion Mountain Valley both take an 8-0 record into Friday night's regular season-ending showdown in Rumford. The winner will be the No. 1 seed and will have home field advantage. The loser will be No. 2.
Falmouth, Fryeburg, Wells and York are battling for the final two playoff spots. Falmouth needs a win at rival Greely Friday night to earn a first-ever postseason trip.
