All three local teams have been involved in exciting playoff action of late and every sport save football is in its postseason. Here’s a glimpse:

Cross country

The Mt. Ararat girls’ cross country team (ranked fifth in the latest coaches’ poll) won the Eastern A title at last weekend’s regional championship meet in Belfast. The Eagles had 36 points, which was 16 better than runner-up Brunswick.

Mt. Ararat’s top finisher was sophomore Kelly Lynch (fourth on the 5,000 meter course in 20 minutes, 38.28 seconds). Senior Emma Wood (fifth, 20:38.82), junior Lauren McNett (seventh, 21:04.17), freshman Olivia Swan (ninth, 21:10.55) and senior Emelia McGrath (11th, 21:31.70) also scored.

Brunswick (ranked seventh by the coaches) was led by sophomore Teresa Murphy, who was runner-up in 20:34.81.

In the boys’ meet, won by Bangor with 91 points, the seventh-ranked Eagles came in second with 103 and the Dragons were sixth and became the last team to qualify for states with 141.

Individually, Brunswick senior Benson Worthington came in second (16:45.57) and Mt. Ararat senior Andy Reifman-Packett placed third (16:53.77).

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In the Western B regional meet at Twin Brook in Cumberland, the Morse girls finished 11th (Greely came in first) and the boys placed 13th (Falmouth was the champion). Both squads fell short of qualifying for states.

Individually, junior Charlotte Recknagel came in 42nd in the girls’ competition (23:09.84). Junior Ben Wright was 55th on the boys’ side (19:47.74).

The state meet is Saturday, also at Twin Brook. Brunswick and Mt. Ararat take part in the Class A girls’ race beginning at 12:30 p.m. The boys run at 1:15 p.m.

Boys’ soccer

All three local boys’ soccer teams qualified for the postseason.

In Western B, Morse finished 8-5-1 after a 2-0 loss at Maranacook last week. The Shipbuilders wound up fifth and had to go right back to Maranacook (seeded fourth) Wednesday in the quarterfinals. If Morse won, it would likely to go No. 1 York (11-1-2) for the semifinals Saturday.

In Eastern A, Mt. Ararat wound up third at 8-1-5 after a 5-1 home victory over Edward Little in its finale. The Eagles hosted No. 6 Messalonskee (10-2-2) in the quarterfinals. The teams tied, 2-2, Sept. 30 in Topsham. The winner either goes to defending Class A state champion, No. 2 Bangor (11-1-2) or hosts No. 7 Lawrence (8-6) in Saturday’s semifinals.

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Brunswick earned the fifth seed at 7-3-4 after a 1-0 home win over Lewiston in its final regular season game. The Dragons went to No. 4 Hampden Academy (10-3-1) in the quarterfinals. The teams didn’t play this week. If victorious, Brunswick will either go to top-ranked Lewiston (11-2-1) or host No. 8 Mt. Blue (9-5-1) in the semifinals Saturday.

The regional finals are Wednesday of next week on the field of the higher remaining seeds. The Class A state game is Saturday, Nov. 5, at Falmouth High School. The Class B state final is the same day at Hampden Academy.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Morse ended up a spectacular regular season at 14-0 after a 4-0 home win over Maranacook. The Shipbuilders are the top seed in Western B and hosted No. 9 Lake Region (7-7-1) in the quarterfinals. The teams didn’t play this year. If Morse moves on, it’ll host either No. 4 Leavitt (8-3-3) or No. 5 Maranacook (8-3-3) in the semifinals Saturday.

In Eastern A, Brunswick earned the No. 2 seed behind defending regional champion Bangor with a 13-1 mark after a 4-0 triumph at Lewiston in its finale. The Dragons were home against No. 7 Hampden Academy (8-6-1) in the quarterfinals. Brunswick beat the host Broncos, 6-1, on Oct. 6. A win in that game sends the Dragons to Saturday’s semifinals, where they’ll either host No. 3 Oxford Hills (7-3-4) or No. 6 Mt. Blue (8-5-1).

Mt. Ararat wound up 9-4-1 and fifth after a 4-0 win at Edward Little in its final game. The Eagles went to No. 4 Waterville (10-3-1) in the quarterfinals. The teams didn’t play this year. If Mt. Ararat survived, it will likely go to No. 1 Bangor (14-0) for the semifinals Saturday.

Field hockey

The lone field hockey team to make the playoffs this fall, Brunswick, was eighth, but was quickly eliminated by 10-time defending regional champion Skowhegan, 6-0, in the quarterfinals to finish 4-10-1.

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Football

Morse’s football team wrapped up the regular season with a 42-14 home win over Oceanside last weekend to end up 4-4 and earn the eighth and final playoff spot in Eastern B. As a “reward,” the Shipbuilders go to top-ranked Leavitt, the two-time defending regional champion, for the quarterfinals. On Sept. 16, the Hornets won, 50-24, at Morse.

The Eastern A regular season will end Saturday when 0-8 Mt. Ararat hosts 6-2 Brunswick.

The Dragons are coming off a tough 10-7 loss at Lawrence and are still jockeying for playoff positioning.

The Eagles lost, 52-8, to visiting Skowhegan last weekend.

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Morse’s Wade Hunt goes way up for a catch during the Shipbuilders’ 42-12 home win over Oceanside last weekend.

Morse senior Keegan Drouin blows through the Oceanside special teams as he returns a kickoff for a touchdown during last weekend’s victory.


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