Video: Alex Sprague highlights
Watch one of Maine's leading rushers run through a defense en route to a 1,000-yard, 19-TD season.
MaxPreps 2017 Maine Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Bonny Eagle (Standish)2016 record: 11-0
Head coach: Kevin Cooper
The Scots return one of the state's top rushers in 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior
Alex Sprague, who rushed 168 times for 1,231 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Sprague, who also plays middle linebacker, added 25 tackles on defense and three return touchdowns.
Another top returner is receiver
Kordell Menard (17 catches, 305 yards, eight TDs).
Bonny Eagle outscored opponents 451-140 last season, including 34-14 over Portland in the state Class A finals. The Scots have gone 109-30 since 2004 under Cooper and won six state titles in that span.
See the MaxPreps Maine Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Thornton Academy (Saco)
2016 record: 8-2
Head coach: Kevin Kezal
The Trojans started fast last season with eight straight lopsided wins, before losing their final two games, including 36-29 to Scarborough in the Class A quarterfinals.
In the first eight games, Thornton outscored opponents 396-92. Kezal lost just 14 seniors off a 60-man roster so the future looks bright. The Trojans have gone 87-18 since 2007 and won state titles in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
See the MaxPreps Maine football stat leaders
3. Marshwood (South Berwick)2016 record: 6-4
Head coach: Alex Roostsko
The Hawks boast a robust 76-man roster into 2017 after an up-and-down 2016, which ended with a tough 13-7 loss to Kennebunk in the second round of the Class B playoffs.
Marshwood has gone a combined 46-10 over the last four seasons, including state titles in 2014 and 2015.
Top players this season should include running back/free safety
Kyle Glidden, wide receiver and strong safety
Sam Cartmill, and running back and cornerback
Matt Goodwin.
See the MaxPreps Maine football playoff brackets4. Brunswick2016 record: 11-0
Head coach: Dan Cooper
The Dragons outscored opponents 509-140 last season en route to a Class B championship. Brunswick defeated Kennebunk 28-6 in the state finals to improve to 84-37 under Cooper since 2005.
Brunswick returns a fairly inexperienced 42-man roster that features just 10 seniors long with 14 juniors and a whopping 18 sophomores. The line is anchored by
Elijah Gagnon (6-2, 260),
Shayne Garrett (6-0, 280) and
Bailey Pelletier (5-10, 210).
Senior middle linebacker
Sam Dorval (6-2, 195) is a mainstay on defense.
See the MaxPreps Maine football photo galleries5. Kennebunk2016 record: 11-1
Head coach: Joe Rafferty
The Rams won 11 straight games last season before dropping a 28-6 contest to Brunswick in the state Class B title game.
Kennebunk won five games by less than a touchdown in 2016 and hope to win more close ones in 2017. It was a breakthrough season for Rafferty, whose team had just one winning season from 2004 to 2011. Since then, the Rams have gone 35-16.
The Kennebunk Rams took the field of last year's State Class B title game.
File photo by Dave Arnold
