State championships at a glance

Thornton Academy players practice Wednesday evening. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

CLASS A

WHO: Portland (9-2) vs. Thornton Academy (9-2)

When: 11am Saturday

Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

Outlook: This is a repeat of last year’s state final, won by Thornton, 24-14, and marks the fourth time in the past nine seasons that the teams have met in the Class A final. Thornton has won six Class A titles since 2012 and also defeated Portland in 2015 and 2018. The Trojans are playing in their sixth straight championship game. Bangor (1979-81) is the only other Class A school to play in three consecutive games since the playoff system began in 1967. … Portland’s last state title came in 2002. The Bulldogs are 0-5 in championship games since then. … Thornton advanced by defeating Noble 57-29 in the South final. Portland defeated Bangor 54-14 in the North final.

Portland is averaging 403 yards per game. Quarterback Louis Thurston (88 of 140 passing, 1,309 yards passing, 908 yards rushing), multi-positional Cordell Jones (934 yards rushing, 528 yards receiving, 24 total touchdowns) and Aidan McGowan (795 yards rushing, 208 yards receiving, 12 total TDs) are top threats behind a line anchored by tackles Anthony Tavares and Colin Kelly. Linebackers Carter Lucca (80 tackles) and Lisandro Rodrigues (six sacks, 13 tackles for loss), lineman Kelly (11 TFLs) and sophomore safety Alex Martin (56 tackles) lead a defense that has allowed 183 yards per game. … Thornton’s Mauricio Sunderland (1,067 yards rushing, 19 TDs) and senior QB Wyatt Benoit (929 yards) have combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards. Benoit ran for two touchdowns and threw for one in last year’s title game, and completed 74% of his passes (1,187 yards) this season. Jackson Paradis (34 catches, 470 yards) is his top target. Paradis and Ryan Camire have touchdowns in Thornton’s dangerous return game. Sophomore linebacker Brennan Tabor (113 tackles), Dom Hussey (88 tackles) and Henry Kenniston (74 tackles) lead a defense that bends but doesn’t break.

Thornton has held Jones and McGowan to a combined 103 rushing yards (2.5 per carry) over the past two meetings. Portland’s defense caused three Benoit turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) in a win over Thornton in the regular season and allowed one first down and seven yards in the second half.

Falmouth coach Spencer Emerson talks to players during practice on Wednesday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

CLASS B

WHO: Falmouth (10-0) vs. Kennebunk (10-0)

When: 2:30 PM Saturday

Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

Outlook: This is a matchup between undefeated teams who started the year in different situations. Kennebunk earned its first state title since 1991. Falmouth had a new head coach after longtime coach John Fitzsimmons was forced out following a 2-6 season.

Kennebunk, with 18 seniors, showed its four quality running backs and strong line can wear down an opponent in its 35-14 victory over Deering in the South Regional Final. Kennebunk scored on three consecutive possessions in the third quarter and held Deering to 71 yards in the second half. Falmouth is making its first appearance in a state final. The Navigators showed off their season-long strengths – swarming, ferocious defense and an explosive offense – by defeating Messalskee 51-7 and Lawrence 35-7 in the North playoffs.

Kennebunk is a run-first team under second-year head coach Keith Noel (21-1). Fullback Brady Stone leads the team in carries (162), yards (1,261) and touchdowns (18). Austin West (105 carries, 901 yards, 12 TDs) has good size and speed. In the playoffs, Moose Keys (35 carries, 405 yards, 6 TD) and Ethan Burr (32 carries, 287 yards, 6 TD) have become more involved. Quarterback Sam Haley (68 of 98 passing, 1,010 yards, 8 TDs) and receivers Max Andrews (29 catches, 420 yards, 6 TDs) and Jaiden Homa (21 catches, 245 yards, 2 TDs) keep the defense honest. … Falmouth thrived under its new head coach, Spencer Emerson, starting with junior quarterback Tres Walker (105-of-152 passing, 1,732 yards, 26 TDs, 3 INTs). Indi Backman is the best running back and an excellent linebacker. Giovanni Guerrette (22 catches, 474 yards, 9 TDs in the regular season) can convert screens into TDs, and Logan McVeigh and Abram Wintersteen are both averaging over 16 yards per catch. Falmouth’s defense has allowed 68 points. Opponents have completed just 39.5% of their passes while gaining 2.5 yards per carry.

Fryeburg Academy’s Ty Boone intercepts a pass as time expires late in the first half of the C South final against Leavitt. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

CLASS C

WHO: Hermon (8-2) vs. Fryeburg Academy (8-2)

When: 11am Saturday

Where: Don Rouxveld, Lewiston

Outlook: Hermon is playing its first state championship game, and Fryeburg’s only state championship came in 1963. In the playoff era, Fryeburg has lost four state title games, including a 13-12 loss to Nokomis in 2018. Over the past two seasons, Fryeburg has been one of the top teams in the state, regardless of class. The Raiders were the only team to come close to beating Leavitt in 2023, losing 36-32 in the Class C South final. This year, their setbacks were one-point losses to state finalists Falmouth (15-14) and Wells (21-20). Fryeburg has not allowed a point in its two playoff games, defeating York 48-0 and Leavitt 38-0.

Fryeburg coach David Turner describes Hermon as a fast, physical team with playmakers. Hermon passes fewer than 10 times per game, but QB Ethan Curtis has been efficient in the playoffs, including a 7-for-8 effort in the North Final against Medomak Valley – a 24-14 victory. Backs Max Hopkins (168 carries, 923 yards) and Bruce Coulter (90 carries, 874 yards) are the spearheads. Coulter had 12 tackles and an interception against Medomak. … Fryeburg is 5-1 and averaging 39 points per game since Iceland’s Benny Arnason took over at quarterback. The attack centers around the offensive line, with tough backs from Mexico’s Daniel Ruiz and Germany’s Malik Sow. A stingy defense features a strong front seven, including top college prospect, 6-5, 295-pound lineman Anton Kravchuk of Ukraine.

Foxcroft Academy footballers celebrate with coach Danny White after beating Winslow in the Class D North final. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

CLASS D

WHO: Foxcroft Academy (11-0) vs. Wells (10-0)

When: 2:30 PM Saturday

Where: Don Rouxveld, Lewiston

Outlook: Wells is 35-0 against Class D opponents as a Class D team. That includes state championship victories against Foxcroft Academy in 2017 (48-0), 2018 (55-20) and 2023 (22-21). Foxcroft led last year’s title game 21-0 at halftime, but the Warriors rallied to win their sixth state championship, and fifth under Coach Tim Roche (184-76 in 25 seasons), including Class B titles in 2011 and Class C in 2016. Foxcroft is in the state finals for the fourth year in a row, winning back-to-back titles in 2021-2022. … Both teams were 2-0 vs. this year. Class C teams, with wins against regional champions. Wells defeated Fryeburg 21-20, and Foxcroft shutout Hermon 17-0.

Foxcroft throws more often with QB Griffin Caruso, who completed 70.1% of his passes in the regular seasons, but Wells junior Cal Moody (37 of 65, 774 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INT) can make big plays. Both teams have two talented running backs. Eli Potter (1,213 yards) and Dom Buxton (1,049 yards) have combined for 37 touchdowns and average about 9 yards per carry. Foxcroft’s Finn Holmes (73 carries, 577 yards, 6 TDs in the regular season) and Landon Smith (84 carries, 616 yards, 9 TDs) were also effective. Both teams also showed good defense against a twin-back approach in the regional finals. Foxcroft took out Winslow’s Hassan Hobbi and Liem Fortin, who had combined for 538 yards the week before. Wells held Winthrop’s quality tandem of Carter Rivers and Colby Cobb to 51 yards.

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