The fall sports season begins next week and there will be no shortage of exciting matchups from start to finish.

Cape Elizabeth’s biggest football tests come at the end of the season, when the Capers go to Yarmouth Oct. 16 and close at home against Wells Oct. 23.

Scarborough opens play with a tough home test against Portland Sept. 4. The Red Storm are at Bonny Eagle Sept. 11, visit defending Class A state champion Thornton Academy Oct. 3, host South Portland Oct. 9, play at Cheverus Oct. 17 and close at home against Deering Oct. 23.

South Portland opens at Bonny Eagle Sept. 4. The Red Riots are home against Deering Sept. 25, host Bangor Oct. 2, welcome Thornton Academy Oct. 16 and close with the “Battle of the Bridge” at Portland Oct. 23.

On the pitch, Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ team, the two-time defending regional champions, open at Freeport Sept. 4. The Capers will be tested by the likes of visiting York Sept. 9, Falmouth Sept. 18, Yarmouth Sept. 29 and Greely Oct. 9 and by games at Yarmouth Sept. 12, Greely Sept. 21, Falmouth Oct. 6 and York Oct. 17.

Scarborough, a regional finalist in 2014, opens at home against Deering Sept. 5. The Red Storm play host to Gorham Sept. 15 and two-time defending state champion Windham Oct. 20. Their biggest road test comes Oct. 9 at Thornton Academy.

South Portland will open at home against Sanford Sept. 4. The Red Riots also host Deering Sept. 9, Portland Sept. 30 and Cheverus Oct. 10. South Portland plays at Gorham Sept. 12, Scarborough Sept. 19, Thornton Academy Oct. 7 and Windham Oct. 17.

On the boys’ side, Cape Elizabeth is at defending Class B champion Yarmouth Sept. 12 and hosts the Clippers Sept. 29. The Capers also have two games against playoff nemesis Greely (Sept. 21 at home and Oct. 10 in Cumberland) and Falmouth (Sept. 17 on the road and Oct. 6 at home). 

Scarborough opens at Deering Sept. 7. The Red Storm also have to go to Gorham Sept. 15. South Portland pays a visit Sept. 17 and Cheverus comes to town for a rematch of last year’s memorable regional final Sept. 29.

South Portland plays a Sanford in the opener Sanford, then goes to Deering Sept. 9. Other road tests include games against Portland Sept. 29 and Cheverus in a playoff rematch Oct. 8. The Red Riots host Gorham Sept. 12. 

Scarborough’s field hockey team begins its defense of its Class A championship with a game at Marshwood Sept. 2. The Red Storm figure to be tested by games at home versus Cheverus Sept. 16, at Thornton Academy Sept. 24, at home against South Portland Oct. 2 and at Sanford Oct. 8.

South Portland looks to build on last year’s playoff appearance. The Red Riots are at Gorham in their opener Sept. 2, then host Marshwood two days later. South Portland is at Cheverus Sept. 8, hosts Deering Sept. 10, welcomes Thornton Academy Sept. 28 and goes to Portland Oct. 9.

Cape Elizabeth welcomes Falmouth in its opener Sept. 3. The Capers also play host to Greely Sept. 12, Yarmouth Sept. 22 and York Sept. 24. Cape Elizabeth is at Yarmouth Sept. 28, Falmouth Sept. 30 and North Yarmouth Academy Oct. 7.

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class A state champion volleyball team begins its defense Sept. 4 with a playoff rematch at Scarborough. The Capers also have to travel to Falmouth Sept. 17, Greely Sept. 29 and Yarmouth Oct. 17. Cape Elizabeth is home versus Greely Sept. 10, Gorham Sept. 24 and Falmouth in a state match rematch Oct. 13.

Scarborough has to play at Greely Sept. 8, Yarmouth Sept. 12, Falmouth Oct. 15 and Gorham Oct. 17. Home tilts include battles versus Gorham Sept. 17, Falmouth Sept. 22, Yarmouth, Sept. 29 and Greely Oct. 6.

South Portland’s season begins Sept. 4 at Thornton Academy. The Red Riots will host new varsity programs Portland Sept. 12 and Deering Sept. 17.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.