19 Sep 2025 5 min read Newsletters

Newsletter #15...Welcome to rivalry weekend

If you're a fan of hotly-contested football games between teams that aren't all that fond of each other, this weekend is for you.

Friday night, for the first time since 2021 and just the second time in 11 years, Deering and Portland will square off in a regular season contest, with the Rams hosting at Memorial Field.

We did a deep dive on that matchup for our Game of the Week and rest assured the the 2-0, reigning Class A champion Bulldogs will get their hands full from 1-1 Deering, as they did in the teams' most recent encounter, in last year's Turkey Day showdown, won by Portland, 21-18.

Saturday evening brings the renewal of the Battle of Route 9, as Falmouth travels to Greely for the teams' first showdown since 2018.

*Greely coach Caleb King has his players' attention heading into the Rangers' showdown versus Falmouth.*

Both teams are reigning state champions, with the Navigators capturing the Class B crown and the Rangers finishing atop the eight-man, large school division a year ago.

Greely, in its return to 11-man play, is out to a fast 2-0 start after holding off visiting perennial power Leavitt in a 28-26 thriller last week. Falmouth lost to Kennebunk in a state game rematch to open, but bounced back last week with a hard-fought 25-7 win over a Westbrook squad that appears to be much stronger than many anticipated.

Look for in-depth articles at Hoffer's High School Sports from both showdowns this weekend, with bonus coverage from another pivotal game, Kennebunk versus Cheverus, played at Deering Saturday at 1:15 p.m.

That one isn't a rivalry game, at least not yet, but it will go a long way in determining who will have the inside track for the Class B South playoffs.

What fun we have in store!

In case you missed it...

If you missed any of our recent game stories, you can find them here:

Cheverus improves to 2-0 by racing past Messalonskee

Cheverus field hockey enjoys surprisingly decisive win over Gorham

NYA girls win at Waynflete

TA volleyball suffers first loss at hands of York

Cheverus stays unbeaten with win at TA

Deering boys get first win, at Cheverus

Cape volleyball rallies for five-set win at Yarmouth

Predictions

I'm already 0-2 on my popular, prescient Patriots pick. Here's hoping I'll be 0-3 around 4 p.m., Sunday

Steelers 27 Patriots 23

Drake Maye made great strides last week, but I just don't have enough faith in the defense to make a stop when it has to. It would be nice to see them win a big game at home, in the throwback uniforms no less.

Turning to high school football, here are my picks for this week's games. I went 10-1 last week (18-3 for the season):

Lake Region over Cape Elizabeth
Kennebunk over Cheverus
Falmouth over Greely
Winslow over Freeport
Marshwood over Gorham
Portland over Deering
Scarborough over Lewiston
South Portland over Sanford
Bedford (N.H.) over Thornton Academy
Bonny Eagle over Windham
Spruce Mountain over Yarmouth

Media

My recent radio appearances, for those interested:

Spot with Matt Gagnon of WGAN from Tuesday morning:

https://wgan.com/morning-news/hoffers-high-school-sports-2/

Weekly WJAB spot from last Friday:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MMM-9-12-25-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

Daily features

All season long at Hoffer's High School Sports, we'll have fresh, unique content every weekday, in addition to the myriad game stories.

This past Monday, HHSS, in conjunction with our partner, cPort Credit Union, named another "Player of the Week," Deering senior running back/linebacker Joey Foley: