With October upon us, it won’t be long before local athletes and teams will be taking part in the postseasons of their respective sports. Golf team championships are just days away and field hockey’s regular season will be done by this time next week. Here’s a look at where your favorite teams stand as the days grow shorter and the games become more meaningful:

Football

Scarborough’s football team enjoyed an easy win in the rain Friday night, as did Cape Elizabeth and South Portland.

The Capers improved to 5-0 with a 48-14 home romp over Gray-New Gloucester. Cape Elizabeth scored 41 points in the first half. Senior Jack McDonald converted a 2-yard run to get the party started. A 23-yard run from senior Vin Dell’Aquilla made it 14-0. TD runs from McDonald (8-yards) and Dell’Aquilla (37) gave the hosts a 28-0 advantage. After the Patriots got on the board, senior Robbie Martin scored on a 16-yard run and junior quarterback Derek Roberts snuck in from the 1 for a 41-6 lead. Sophomore Sam Sherman’s 21-yard TD run gave Cape Elizabeth its final points.

“You don’t really think about (the conditions),” said Roberts. “Your hands hurt, the ball’s slippery, but you just try your best not to fumble and get the ball where it needs to go, in the end zone. Throwing the ball was really slippery and it gets pretty heavy, so we just lined it up, pounded the rock and drove downfield. We started off slow this season, but we’ve found our groove and now we come out and do what we need to do, when we need to do it.”

The Capers have a huge test at 4-1 Wells Friday night. The winner will have the inside track for a home playoff game. Last year, at home, Cape Elizabeth downed the Warriors, 40-0.

South Portland ended a two-game skid with a 32-6 home victory over Noble. Senior Tommy Ellis had two long TD runs in the first period to make it 14-0. Ellis’ next score came when he recovered a fumble in the end zone for a 20-0 lead at halftime. A pair of TD runs from junior Joey DiBiase put it away and the Red Riots improved to 3-2.

South Portland is in the playoff hunt, but still has some big tests to pass. Friday, it visits 4-1 Deering, which is riding high after a 35-6 romp at previously undefeated Thornton Academy Saturday. Last year, the Red Riots edged the visiting Rams, 36-34, in a back-and-forth affair.

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough’s boys’ soccer team suffered a stunning 1-0 loss at Deering Tuesday night. The Red Storm were coming off easy road wins over Noble (9-0, senior Brett Leighton led the way with three goals) and Kennebunk (3-0, behind a pair of tallies from junior Andrew Jones), but fell to 8-2 on the season (still first in the Western Class A Heal Points standings) after failing to convert at Deering. Scarborough was home against Windham Thursday and hosts Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

South Portland also has an 8-2 mark after extending its win streak to four by virtue of a 2-1 triumph at Windham (second half goals from senior Brian Campbell and junior Nem Kaurin keyed a rally) and a 4-2 home victory over Kennebunk (Campbell, Kaurin, junior Akiba Davis and senior Dillon Leary all tickled the twine). Kaurin now has eight goals and eight assists on the season, including four goals and two assists in his last three games. The Red Riots (seventh in Western A) were home against Thornton Academy Thursday and go to Gorham Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth is 7-1-2 and fifth in Western A after falling, 2-1, at Gray-New Gloucester and playing visiting Greely to a 0-0 draw in recent action. Senior Timmy Takach scored the goal against the Patriots. Sophomore goalkeeper Brett Parker stopped three shots versus the Rangers. The Capers played at Falmouth Thursday, visit undefeated Yarmouth Saturday and go to Freeport Tuesday of next week.

In Western D, Greater Portland Christian School is now third in the Heals with a 6-3 mark after recent wins over A.R. Gould (9-2) and Chop Point (7-0) extended its streak to four in a row. Against Gould, Anthony Simpson scored five times and Ben Hammond added two goals and four assists. Matt Hammond and Jacob Rudloph also scored. In the shutout, Sam Carlson made four saves. He was helped by three goals and an assist from Ben Hammond. GPCS hosts Calvary Christian Saturday (where players and coaches from both teams, as well as the officials, will wear pink armbands in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month). It goes to Richmond Tuesday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Scarborough is still unbeaten and ranked first. Last Wednesday, the Red Storm blanked visiting Kennebunk, 2-0. They rolled, 8-0, at McAuley Friday, then edged visiting Windham, 1-0, in OT, Monday night to improve to 10-0. Against the Rams, senior Sarah Little and junior Emily Tolman scored. In the win over the Lions, Scarborough scored twice in the first four minutes and never looked back. Senior Margaret Palmer an sophomore Jess Meader led the way with two goals apiece. Junior Meghan Tyson (from senior Cortney Hughes) had the winner against the Eagles. Senior goalkeeper Jill Deering made five saves for her sixth shutout of the season.

“It was an exciting game,” said Red Storm coach Mike Farley. “Windham always plays us tough. It was impressive the way we kept battling to get the win because their keeper made three saves that were highlight saves in the last 15 minutes. Instead of getting discouraged, we just kept pressuring.”

Scarborough was at Deering Wednesday, then is idle until next Wednesday when it plays at Bonny Eagle.

South Portland is in danger of missing the playoffs. The Red Riots were 4-4-1 and 12th in Western A at press time (only 10 teams make the postseason). Last week, South Portland was a 1-0 home winner over Bonny Eagle (on sophomore Jenacee Bradbury’s goal), then fell, 1-0, at home against Windham. The Red Riots were supposed to host McAuley Wednesday, but that game was postponed to Thursday due to rain. Friday, South Portland visits Thornton Academy. Wednesday of next week, it hosts Gorham.

Cape Elizabeth played visiting Gray-New Gloucester to a 2-2 draw last Thursday, then lost, 4-0, at Greely Tuesday. In the tie, senior standout Karyn Barrett had one goal and the Capers benefited from an own goal to force overtime. At Greely, Cape Elizabeth fell behind 3-0 in the first half and despite ample chances (12 shots on goal), dropped to 5-4-1 on the year.

“I’m pleased with the result, as much as you can be with a 4-0 loss,” said Capers coach Gary Newell. “We moved the ball well and put them under pressure. We just didn’t cash one in. I’m walking way proud of how we played.”

Cape Elizabeth (ninth in Western A) was at Falmouth Thursday, visits undefeated Yarmouth Saturday and plays host to vastly improved Freeport Tuesday.

“If we do things we did well (against Greely) against Falmouth and Yarmouth, we’ll get results,” Newell said. “We have four games left and we’re sitting well. We got our points from Greely already.”

In Western D, GPCS is clinging to the fourth and final playoff spot with a 2-4-1 mark. Last Thursday, the Lions fell, 2-1, to visiting Rangeley. Elaine Beech scored her 12th goal of the year in defeat. Tuesday, GPCS lost, 5-1, at Rangeley. The Lions were at Valley Wednesday and visit Vinalhaven Friday. After hosting Calvary Christian Saturday (Breast Cancer Awareness recognition day), GPCS goes to Richmond next Tuesday.

Cross country

Scarborough’s boys’ cross country team, the top-ranked squad in the coaches’ poll, defeated 54 other teams to win Saturday’s Festival of Champions in Belfast. Junior Nick Morris finished fifth among 730 runners (completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 36.44 seconds). Cape Elizabeth placed sixth. The Capers (fourth in the coaches’ poll) were paced by junior Thomas Bottomley (24th, 17:13.37).

In the girls’ competition, won by top-ranked Cheverus, Scarborough was ninth among 46 teams. Senior Sarah Dugas was 18th (20:31.94) among 553 individual finishers.

South Portland joined Westbrook at Noble last Wednesday and both teams were second. Sophomore Nyajock Pan was the individual winner for the girls (20:59). Senior Matt Clement (third, 18:44) was the fastest male.

Cape Elizabeth ran in the Western Maine Conference championship meet Thursday at Falmouth. The Capers girls (second in the coaches’ poll) were favored. Friday, South Portland joins Windham at Sanford, while Scarborough plays host to Cheverus and Marshwood.

Golf

Scarborough (8-1-1 in the regular season) is heading to the team state match Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. Monday, the Red Storm shot a 337 to become the third and final Southern Maine Activities Association non-division winner qualifier. Cheverus and Gorham also made the cut, joining Deering, Bonny Eagle and Kennebunk. South Portland (5-5 this year) was fourth at the qualifier with a 340 and fell short. Cape Elizabeth (2-8) took part in the Western Maine Conference qualifier Wednesday, hoping to make it to states.

The individual state matches for boys and girls is Saturday, Oct. 16, also at Natanis. Scarborough’s Dan Slavin (80) and South Portland’s Brian Cleary (81) qualified for the Class A boys’ individual match. South Portland’s Elizabeth Canarie (who shot a 109 at the qualifier) will play for the girls’ title.

Volleyball

Scarborough’s volleyball team has won two matches in a row to improve to 5-6 and fifth in the Class A Heals. The Red Storm blanked visiting Kennebunk Friday, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-23), then won, 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 27-29, 25-18), at Gorham Monday. Against Kennebunk, Bridget Hicks had eight kills and four digs, Emily Robbins finished with 21 assists, three digs and a kill and Brittany Bona added 11 kills, three blocks and two digs. In the win over Gorham, Bona finished with 22 kills, six aces, eight digs and a block, Robbins had 30 assists and Mackenzie Bowker added 16 service receptions, eight digs and six kills. Scarborough hosts Cape Elizabeth Friday, goes to Yarmouth Tuesday and finishes the regular season Oct. 15 at Biddeford.

Cape Elizabeth is 0-11 and 11th in Class A after recent 3-0 losses to Kennebunk (16-25, 13-25, 25-27) and Gorham (10-25, 21-25, 20-25). The Capers visit Scarborough Friday, host Cony Wednesday and close at NYA Oct. 15.

Sun Journal staff writer Randy Whitehouse contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

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Cape Elizabeth senior Ben Berman launches a drive during last week’s match versus Yarmouth.