Welcome to our 2025 Maine High School Football season preview.

It will be exactly 280 days since the last game of the 2024 season was played – a Portland Bulldogs 21-18 victory over their cross-town rival Deering Rams in the 112th edition of the Maine Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl that was held at a cold and damp Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. That brought to a close a season that had a lot of moving, a whole lot of shaking, and a surprise here and there to keep us all on our toes. After a long winter and spring, followed by the 35th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl at Lewiston, a game the West won by the score of 41-6, we knew that the 2025 season was just around the corner. The pre-season has come and gone and we are left to hold our breath waiting for the season’s first kickoffs Thursday at 6 pm.



*****A BRIEF RECAP OF 2024*****
Only five schools finished the regular season with undefeated record. Falmouth would turn all sorts of heads as they recorded their first ever undefeated regular season. They accomplished this with a defense that allowed the fewest points in the state. Foxcroft Academy went undefeated for the third time in four years. Their combined record of 31-1 since 2021 is a state-best record. In the North, we welcomed Washington Academy back into the MPA football fold after a two-year absence. Speaking about the North, Maine’s northernmost football team, the co-operative of Fort Kent, Madawaska, and Wisdom that is known as the Valley Mustangs, recorded their first ever varsity victory since moving to the MPA by defeating Mount View 56-6 in their season finale.

Following a 2023 where three teams withdrew from the playoffs, a revamped 2024 playoff structure and a ruling requiring schools to give a one-week notice led to nobody withdrawing. The first two championships of 2024 were awarded in Kennebunk as Veterans Memorial Field hosted the 8 Man title games. In the 11 am game, Greely avenged their 2023 state championship defeat by beating Mt. Ararat 58-20 to lift their first ever football Gold Ball title. This was yet another surprising accomplishment for a Rangers team that had just re-formed itself as a varsity squad three years ago. Meanwhile, the Eagles fell short in their first state title trip since winning the first ever 8 man championship in 2019. In the 2:30 pm game, Old Orchard Beach picked up their second championship in three years as they defeated Stearns 60-14. For Stearns, it was the Minutemen’s first state title game appearance in 14 years and after losing in the regional finals the previous three years. As for the Seagulls, it avenged their 2024 loss in the title game to Orono.

The next week saw the Class A and B game at Fitzpatrick Stadium. In a title rematch from 2024, Portland faced off against Thornton Academy in the 11 am game. That was where the similarities ended as the Bulldogs emerged victorious over the Golden Trojans by the score of 35-14. For Portland it was a “third time is a charm”, or maybe a “fourth time is a charm” accomplishment after they lost in the two previous championships and their last three title meetings against TA. For Thornton Academy, it was their sixth consecutive title game where they have alternated winning and losing each year. The afternoon game pitted the state’s top defensive team in Falmouth, a Navigators group that was a year-removed from a tumultuous 2023 campaign, against the defending Class B champion Kennebunk Rams. While the start was even, it was Falmouth that pulled away in the end with a 26-13 victory. The football title was the first for Falmouth.

In Lewiston, Don Roux Field hosted the Class C and D games. The 11 am match-up was between Fryeburg Academy and Hermon. The Raiders were in their first title game since 2018, while the Hawks were in their first ever football title game. Fryeburg Academy would go on to play shutout football on a 28-0 victory. The football Gold Ball was the Raiders’ first since co-holding the 1965 Class B championship with John Bapst, a run of 59 years between titles and Maine’s longest such gap since Cony’s 2013 Class B title ended an 81-year drought. The Hawks meanwhile were the fifth different North team to fall in the Class C title game. In the 2:30 pm game, our second rematch contest of the day took place as Wells and Foxcroft Academy met. Unlike the 2023 contest where a Warriors 22-point second half run with a final moments two-point conversion pass secured gold, in this game the Warriors quickly established themselves and finished it just the same with a 34-0 victory. For Wells, it was their third ever back-to-back football championship title run, which includes their 1992-1993 and 2016-2018 championships. Meanwhile, the Ponies lost their fourth title game to Wells. That tied them with Brunswick for the most title losses to the same opponent going back to 2004.

The big four end-of-season individual state awards began with Portland’s Cordell Jones being selected as the 40th Gatorade Maine Football Player of the Year. Cordell joined other Bulldogs such as Joe Esposito (2014), Carl Frye (2002), and Quinton Porter (2000). Next was the awarding of the 53rd James J. Fitzpatrick “Fitzy” Trophy as Maine’s top senior football athlete. The award went to Noble’s Jamier Rose, the first ever Knight to be selected for the Fitzy. Two months later he would be named the Maine Mr. Basketball recipient, becoming the first every student-athlete in Maine’s history to win the top high school football and basketball player awards in the same school year. The final two individual awards were the Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards. The Offensive Lineman award went to Thornton Academy’s Henry Mahoney. He became the fifth Golden Trojan Gaziano recipient as he joined Thomas Palmer (2018), Nick Bartholomew (2016), Bobby Begin (2012), and Luke Libby (2011). The Defensive Lineman award went to Lewiston’s Joseph Dube, the first such Blue Devil to be selected for the award.



***** TEAMS THAT REBOUNDED IN BIG WAYS*****
Falmouth went from a 2-6 team in 2023 that was not looking that good and hit with a one-year playoff suspension, to an 11-0 team that ran the Class B table. That amazing improvement got us wondering if that was the biggest rebound by a Maine football team. Well, actually, it was Lucas McNelly of Maine Basketball Rankings that asked us that very question. Think about it, a nine-win difference and a title to boot is remarkable. So we dug into our archives. Some trends appeared. Maybe it isn’t as uncommon as we initially thought. Since 2004 there have been six teams that have won nine titles with a five-win or better rebound. However, the majority of those times happened much more recently. For example, only one team had such a significant turnaround from 2004 to 2012 AKA the three-class era. Only one team had that type of a turnaround during the four-class era. The other seven times have been done in the last five seasons under the expanded era (4 – 11 man classes and 1/2 – 8 man classes).

The 2012 Foxcroft Academy Ponies, the 2021 Cape Elizabeth Capers, the 2022 Skowhegan River Hawks, and the 2022 Old Orchard Beach Seagulls all had five-win improvements over the previous year. The 2019 Bonny Eagle Scots had a six-win improvement. In 2021 Foxcroft Academy had a seven-win improvement. In 2013 Bonny Eagle had an eight-win improvement. Then there was Falmouth and their nine-win improvement. However, there was someone else that Falmouth matched. Who could it be though? Before reading on, take a moment and think about the possibilities.

The answer is close to home for the Navigators. We mean that quite literally. In 2022 the Yarmouth Clippers went from a 1-7 team that finished last in the 8 Man Large School South to a 10-1 team in 2023 that defeated Waterville in the state championship game.

”And now you now… the rest of the story…”



*****THE LOSS OF TWO LEGENDS*****
This off-season has been an especially tough one emotionally for many people. Several community-shattering losses hit multiple communities. While it is not the basis for this section, we read the outpouring of sadness from the Sanford, Oak Hill, and Oxford Hills regions and the young losses that shook these communities. Our hearts went out then and continue to go out now to the families and friends that knew and were a part of these young men’s lives.

We also wanted to address the losses of Joel Sankey and John Wolfgram. While both had recently stepped down from their coaching roles, they were both widely respected not just in their communities but also across the state. When it comes to Joel’s impact in Bucksport, in 27 years of coaching his teams won 178 games and went to five state championships, returning back to Bucksport with the 2004 Class C title. This is just one of a small aspect of his benefits to the community. After retiring from his teaching job, Joel still returned to substitute teach when he could. In fact, he had been a substitute a week prior to his passing. And then there is John Wolgram. A man whose legacy was felt upon so many communities. His 402 games and 309 wins is the most by a Maine football coach. His 10 Maine football titles across 4 teams are second only to the 16 titles by Rod Wotton. Amongst New England coaches, he is tenth in career wins in the six-state area. Beyond those wins are an immeasurable number of players, coaches, officials, and administrators who held him in the highest regard.

Both Joel and John’s legacies will continue to live on.



*****ON THE MOVE*****
16 teams will be changing their scenery in 2025. That is the same amount as the last round of moves in 2023. First and foremost is Deering and Massabesic, who are returning back to Class A. The moves give both the North and South regions an equal seven teams each.  In Class B there are four moves. The North is losing Falmouth and Gardiner while gaining Brunswick and Fryeburg Academy. The South lost Deering and Massabesic while gaining Falmouth. Like Class A, the moves also give the North and South regions an equal seven teams each. Class C saw a big shift of teams. Gone are Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, and Fryeburg Academy while they are welcoming Foxcroft Academy, Gardiner, Greely, Old Town, and Wells. Unlike the rest of the state, Class C will function as a single table/single region. Class D said goodbye to Foxcroft Academy, Old Town, and Wells while welcoming Morse from the 8 Man Large School Class. Maranacook is moving from the South to the North, which gives the North seven teams and the South eight teams. In the 8 Man Large School Class, they bid farewell to Morse while gaining Cape Elizabeth. Ellsworth, Houlton, and Spruce Mountain moved up from the small school class to the large school class. In a return back to two regions, Ellsworth and Houlton went to the North while Cape Elizabeth and Spruce Mountain went to the South. And finally, the 8 Man Small School Class lost Ellsworth, Houlton, and Spruce Mountain with nobody new moving into their class.



*****GOING FARTHER*****
Since the concept of creative scheduling came into it use in 2019 by want and necessity, it has created a number of compelling match-ups. We use the term creative scheduling to describe the scheduling process that allows teams to meet up with opponents outside of their region and their class. Most of you may remember the highly anticipated 2019 meeting of defending champions Marshwood and Thornton Academy. It allowed an annual meeting between Bangor and Lawrence. In 2022 it inspired out-of-state games such as The Battle of the Witches that pitted Brewer and Salem, Massachusetts. We got to see the 2023 powerhouse Leavitt Hornets play Oxford Hills, Lawrence, Lewiston, and Thornton Academy. We have been able to see Maine’s top teams in Thornton Academy and Portland take on New Hampshire’s top teams in Bedford and Exeter. We bring up these games because a decade ago, two decades ago, such games were never in the cards. They have allowed dream match-ups. Rivalries that could not be maintained can now continue.

While this has happened, the travel requirements have increased. Our April 21 Maine Cool Department Travel Track took an in-depth look at the metrics. 46 of the 79 teams are traveling farther than last year. Almost 2,800 more miles approximately.  Seven teams will rack up 1,000 or more round trip miles, which is more than last year’s four teams. This year two games will exceed last year’s longest trip of 608 miles. The ten longest roundtrips are on average 44.6 miles longer than last year. 8 Man teams will bear the brunt as seven of the ten longest travel schedules this year belong in those two classes.



*****NEW FACES IN TOP PLACES*****
In the last four years, the dawn of the new decade that will be known as the “twenty-twenties”, 19 different teams have lifted a Gold Ball football trophy. Five teams have won two Gold Balls. Of the six classes, Class D is the only one to have just two different champions – Foxcroft Academy (2021 & 2022) and Wells (2023 & 2024). Two classes have seen a different state champion each year. In Class B we have seen titles going to Marshwood (2021), Skowhegan (2022), Kennebunk (2023), and Falmouth (2024). In the 8 Man Large School Class Cheverus (2021), Yarmouth (2022), Mount Desert Island (2023), and (Greely) have won titles.



*****BORDER BATTLES, PART FOUR*****
In year four of the match-up between Maine vs New Hampshire schools, the number of out-of-state games decreased by two. For a fourth consecutive year Thornton Academy will take on the Bedford Bulldogs. They are 0-3 in these games. For a third consecutive year Bangor will take on the Winnacunnet Warriors. They are 2-0 in these games. For a second consecutive year Portland will play the Exeter Blue Hawks. They lost the first game last year. For a second consecutive year York will play another New Hampshire team. Last year they defeated the Division IV Hillsboro-Deering Hillcats 54-14. This year they will play the Division III Monadnock Huskies. Two Maine teams will play their first ever regular season out-of-state football games when Noble takes on the Division I Keene Blackbirds and Fryeburg Academy takes on the Division III Laconia Sachems.

Here is a quick breakdown of how those six New Hampshire schools did last year:

Bedford Bulldogs – 8-0, 1st in Division I West, ranked first overall in playoffs, lost to Pinkerton Academy 27-13 in the semi final round.
Exeter Blue Hawks – 8-0, 1st in Division I East, ranked second overall in playoffs, lost to Londonderry 31-28 in the semi final round.
Keene Blackbirds – 3-5, 6th in Division I West, did not make the playoffs
Laconia Sachems – 4-4, 4th in Division III East, ranked seventh overall in playoffs, lost to Monadnock 28-27 in the quarter final round.
Monadnock Huskies – 7-1, 1st in Division III West, ranked second overall in playoffs, lost to Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough 14-8 in the semi final round.
Winnacunnet Warriors – 5-3, 3rd in Division I East, ranked tenth overall in playoffs, lost to Manchester Memorial 22-13 in the first round.

In three years Maine teams have won 6 of 18 games with two being declared no contests due to bad weather and were not be made up.



*****2025 TEAMS WITH NEW HEAD COACHES*****
Eric Sulzberger, Brunswick
Joshua Newhall, Dirigo
Brian Jahna, Edward Little (previously coached Gray-New Gloucester and Lake Region)
Walter Polky, Lisbon (previously coached Maranacook, Messalonskee, and Spruce Mountain)
Josiah Kearns, Maranacook
Craig Collins, Mt. Blue (previously coached Dirigo)
David Gross, Old Town
Nick Cliche, Portland
Todd Hildebrand, Sanford
Mike Vance, Scarborough (previously coached Cheverus)
Will Granieri, Washington Academy



*****2025 TENURE MILESTONES*****
5 years – Art Fairbrother, Belfast
5 years – Chris Christie, Camden Hills
5 years – Dave Svec, Ellsworth
5 years – Pat Munzing, Gardiner
5 years – Sam Morrison, Gorham
5 years – Lucas Labbe, Massabesic
5 years – Craig Collins, Mt. Blue
5 years – Chad Stowell, Oak Hill
5 years – Nate Danforth, Oxford Hills
5 years – Isaac LeBlanc, Waterville
15 years – Tim O’Connor, Telstar
15 years – Wes Littlefield, Winslow
25 years – Dean Plante, Old Orchard Beach



*****POTENTIAL COACHING MILESTONES*****
Kevin Kezal, Thornton Academy – 5 games away from 250 games coached
John Hersom, Lawrence – 5 games away from 200 games coached
Matt Perkins, Windham – 3 games away from 200 games coached
Timothy O’Connor, Telstar – 5 games away from 100 games coached
Kevin Kezal, Thornton Academy – 10 wins away from 200 career victories
John Hersom, Lawrence – 9 wins away from 150 career victories
Tom Bertrand, Maine Central Institute – 10 wins away from 150 career victories
Mark Shields, Mount Desert Island – 7 wins away from 100 career victories
Kyle Gallant, Hermon – 5 wins away from 50 career victories
Jason Darling, Morse – 1 win away from 50 career victories
Frank True, Mt. Ararat – 4 wins away from 50 career victories 



*****WINNING STREAKS ENTERING 2025*****
14 – Wells (last loss was 10/20/2023)
12 – Falmouth (last loss was 10/13/2023)
11 – Old Orchard Beach (last loss was 11/11/2023)
9 – Greely (last loss was 9/7/2024)
4 – Fryeburg Academy (last loss was 10/18/2024)
4 – Portland (last loss was 10/25/2024)
2 – Westbrook (last loss was 10/11/2024)
1 – Dexter (last loss was 10/18/2024)
1 – Maranacook (last loss was 10/18/2024)
1 – Valley (last loss was 10/19/2024)



*****2025 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS*****
The 8 Man state championships for both the large and small school classes will be held on Saturday, November 15th at the Edward Little High School Sports Complex in Auburn. The Class A and B state championships will be held on Saturday, November 22nd at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. The Class C and D state championships will also be held on Saturday, November 22nd and the location will be at Don Roux Field in Lewiston. The MPA will announce game times the week of the championships.



***** WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US IN 2025*****
We at Maine High School Football will continue our efforts to help bring Maine High School Football to you and to help bring Maine High School Football to the world. In addition to the sharing of news and stories from the state and national media outlets, you can expect the following features from us:
- Every game day we post our very popular Game Day Thread, a running post to share updates and scores from across the state. On Thursday and Friday our post will go up at noontime. On Saturday our post will go up at 10 am.
- Every Sunday morning at 8 am we will post the Maine Rankings Review, our 30-minute video going over the scores and standings from that week.
- Every Sunday at noontime we will post the scores and standings of each class.
- Every Monday morning at 8 am we will post highlights, factoids, thoughts, and opinions on the week as part of the “Thoughts on the Weekend” segment.
- Every Monday at noontime we will allow you to submit your guesses for the State of Maine Football Pick’Ems, our competition to determine who can predict our selected games for that week.
- Every Monday night around 7 pm we will post our favorite quotes from around the state as part of the “He said it” segment.
- Every Tuesday night at 7 pm we will post the results and top standings of the previous week’s State of Maine Football Pick’Ems.
- Every Wednesday night at 7 pm we will announce our selections for the Maine Super 6 Players of the Week, selected from accredited media reports as well as feedback from coaches and administrators, to honor the top performers each week.