Meet 10 southern Maine football teams to watch in 2026
Maine High School Football Preseason Rankings 2026: The Top 10 Teams to Watch
As another fall approaches in Maine, the state's high school football landscape is filled with familiar powers, rising programs, and plenty of storylines to follow. From established dynasties chasing more championships to underdogs looking to crash the postseason party, here are ten programs that figure to define the 2026 season.
Bonny Eagles — The Team to Beat in Class A South
The Scots have been a perennial threat in Class A South, and 2026 looks like the year they finally get past Thornton Academy. The foundation is a massive, experienced offensive line featuring senior tackles Corbin Richard (6-3, 325 pounds) and Logan Varney (6-4, 295), senior center Landon Reynolds (6-2, 260), and junior left guard Maddox Butler (205 pounds). With four returning starters up front, the trenches belong to Bonny Eagle.
The biggest question mark under center has an answer ready. Lucas Klehn, a three-year starter on defense, takes over for Colin Moran at quarterback. Head coach Kevin Cooper, who has built a résumé of seven state titles and 187 career wins, isn't worried about the transition. "Some people might think we're hurting at quarterback. We're not," Cooper said.
Klehn's top target is Drew Gervais, a New England 100-meter champion who caught 32 passes for 625 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. The backfield duo of Ben Noe and Ben Havu provides balance, while seniors Wes Pinkham and Finn Leavitt offer additional options in the passing game. With several two-way starters, depth will be the team's biggest challenge. The Scots open the season against South Portland and Noble — two early tests against quality opposition.
Thornton Academy — The Standard of Excellence
The Golden Trojans have reached seven straight Class A championship games, winning four state titles during that run. Their 28-0 victory against Portland last November was particularly meaningful for head coach Kevin Kezal — it was his 200th career win and seventh state championship, tying him with Bonny Eagle's Kevin Cooper for the most titles among active Maine coaches.
Replacing Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Connor Ayoob, who also left as the school's all-time single-season rushing leader, is no small task. Brennan Tabor is the leading candidate to take over as the feature back, though he's also the top linebacker — a combination Kezal usually avoids. The Trojans hope to field a more balanced offense, led by returning senior quarterback Noah Fullerton. Fullerton will distribute the ball to Quinn Cook, Logan LeBlanc, and Aiden Morin, who is also expected to start at cornerback. Up front, Quinn Purvis (left tackle), Jaden Stevens (center), and Sam Damborindegui (right tackle) all return. Defensively, Tabor joins OLB/DE Chase Paquette and linebacker Josiah Blain as the unit's leaders.
Greely — Hungry for Another Title
After going 11-0 and winning the Class C championship in 2025 — its first season back at the 11-man level after winning the eight-man Large School title in 2024 — Greely has every reason to believe it can repeat. The Rangers return seven starters on each side of the ball.
The offensive engine is senior quarterback Luke Piper, a Varsity Maine All-State safety who totaled 2,008 yards of offense and scored 30 touchdowns (22 passing, eight rushing) last fall. Senior running back Noah Allen averaged 8.31 yards per carry on his way to 1,097 rushing yards and 14 scores. Senior Jackson Justice was a tackling machine at linebacker and a threat at receiver, recording 98 tackles with 11 for loss. Greely graduated three offensive linemen who had 20-plus starts, so the Rangers will lean on returning two-way starter Jarrett Bush and left tackle Ethan Clausen to fill that gap. Tight end James Tyll and cornerback Sawyer Budel are also experienced. Coach Caleb King likes his depth and believes he can have up to 30 players regularly contributing at the varsity level. A Week 2 matchup with Leavitt will offer an early measuring stick.
Cheverus — Ready to Surprise
A 4-4 regular season followed by a 20-point playoff loss to undermanned Marshwood might not scream contender, but the Stags have reasons for optimism. Three of their four regular-season losses came by six points or fewer — two of them by a single point. The roster has grown to 48 players, the talent is a year older, and the team is transitioning to a modern spread offense.
Senior Colton Jewett takes the reins at quarterback, with AJ Lauture (WR/LB) and Jackson Holmes (RB/slot/KR) providing playmaking ability. The backfield includes Igor Bitencourt, Nick Deschambault, and Kevin True. Coach Skip Capone has tall targets in Sam Minervino and Joe Iaccarino, while Wyatt Downs and Isaiah Hounchell bring strength up front. Versatile Will Baker can line up just about anywhere. A new turf field at Boulos Stadium adds another reason for excitement.
Portland — The A North Favorite
Eighteen Maine teams have new head coaches this season, ten of them first-timers. Among that group, Portland's Dylan Rottkov has the best chance of reaching a title game. The Bulldogs have won three straight Class A North crowns and four consecutive regional titles overall, even after graduating the program's all-time leading scorer, Cordell Jones.
The defense is anchored by returning Varsity Maine All-State linebacker Alex Martin, who recorded 91 tackles (12 for loss) and 1,142 all-purpose yards on offense while starting for three years. Senior four-year starter Dom Huntington leads an offensive line that also returns Dan Gallagher and Law Nguyen, who doubles as a tough linebacker. Reece Wildes gained valuable experience at quarterback last season, and his growth will determine whether Portland can expand beyond its traditional power running game. Maddox Meas is a two-way playmaker, while Justin Bouchard is one of the state's top kickers and an additional receiving threat. Until someone knocks them off, the Bulldogs remain the team to beat in the North.
Kennebunk — Reloading Once Again
Under Keith Noel, the Rams have made winning a habit. They captured the 2023 Class B title, repeated as B South champions in 2024, and went 8-2 last fall before losing the B South final to eventual state champion Westbrook.
Austin West, now at UMaine, leaves as the program's all-time leading rusher, but Noel is confident Ethan White can handle the fullback load in the Wing-T. Junior halfback Bradley Farrell should also see plenty of carries. Senior Giovanni D'Elia takes over at quarterback with a strong arm. The defense may have to carry the team early, led by returning linebackers Max Nass, sophomore Ty Samson, and junior Peter Landenberger. Seniors Charlie Pentland and Grisam Shields anchor the secondary, while August Brenden-Dodson and James Montgomery are mainstays on both lines. A home opener against Falmouth will be a stern early test.
Yarmouth — The Clippers' Time in Eight-Man
Eight-man Large School South promises to be competitive, with defending champion Spruce Mountain returning key pieces and perennial power Mt. Ararat rolling under new coach Keith Libby. But Yarmouth appears poised to take control with a 37-player roster, six returning starters on each side, and six all-conference players back.
Senior quarterback Iggy McGrath is the headliner after passing for 38 touchdowns and more than 2,700 yards in an 8-2 campaign. His top targets are Jackson Jabar (58 receptions, 1,034 yards, 10 TDs) and Nick Mantle (26 catches, 600 yards, 6 TDs). Stephen Connolly, a junior at North Yarmouth Academy, didn't play football last year but brings elite speed and the hands of an All-State lacrosse midfielder. Junior tight end Jack Flanagan had a strong summer and could add yet another dimension to an already dangerous offense.
Westbrook — Defending Champions Without Their Stars
Class B South is arguably the deepest 11-man division in the state, and Westbrook faces a daunting schedule that includes Cheverus, Kennebunk, Falmouth, Marshwood, Gorham, and Thornton Academy, which visits Olmstead Field on September 25. The Blue Blazes also lost three of the program's all-time greats from their championship squad: quarterback Gio Staples, WR/DB Dimitri Lubin (now at Colby), and Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist and linebacker Tony Bongomin (UMaine).
A repeat title seems unlikely, but the Blazes remain must-see television. Defensive lineman Camillo Jones (6-3, 240) is among the best in the state, and if he becomes a receiving threat at tight end for senior dual-threat quarterback Hunter Hall, the results could be electric. Cole Tanner and Andre Hicks bring experience to the backfield. The offensive line remains a strength with returning starters Wyatt Poitras, Adrian Anderson, and Peter Adams, plus an emerging 6-5, 300-pound sophomore right tackle in Emergildo Ekunda and athletic senior Jelson Ngimbi, who returns after a year away. Lucas Roberson recorded two interceptions in last year's state championship game.
Noble — Built to Challenge the Big Two
Under coach Keenon Blindow, the Knights have established themselves as a top-three team in Class A South and appear to be the best bet to slot in behind Bonny Eagle and Thornton Academy again this fall. Unheralded but experienced South Portland also factors into that conversation.
Noble's hopes of knocking off one of the top programs likely rest on senior quarterback Mark LaPointe, a 6-5, 220-pound returning starter who led the team to a 7-3 record in 2025. Carter Ouellette, a returning All-State linebacker, anchors a strong defense alongside Wyatt Chandler and defensive back Luca DiCarlo. Up front, junior Pele Petelo and senior Jase Pata, both 260-plus pounds, return to anchor the lines. The running back corps is mostly untested, but Tristan Miniutti (6-1, 205) and Ouellette (6-2, 215) have the size to wear down opposing defenses.
Windham — Ready to Climb the Standings
If any Class A team is poised for a major leap in 2026, it might be the Eagles. After a 3-6 finish that left them fifth and out of the playoffs in the North, veteran coach Matt Perkins and his staff pushed players through a harsh self-examination. The takeaway was simple: become tougher and more cohesive.
The roster is smaller than usual at 46 players, but Perkins praised the buy-in from those who embraced the work this summer. A large senior class leads the way, highlighted by all-conference guard Gage Chicoine, two-way lineman Haiden Briere, defensive ends Luke Drottar (also a tight end on offense) and Tegan Perkins (H-back/slot), reliable receiver/DB Landon Wyman, and RB/DB Colin McKenna. Having a returning starting quarterback in junior Patrick Davenport is another significant advantage.
From the championship-or-bust expectations in Class A South to the wide-open races in B South and the eight-man ranks, Maine's 2026 football season promises drama from the opening kickoff. Whether a familiar power reasserts itself or a new contender breaks through, fans across the state have plenty to look forward to this fall.
