24 Oct 2025 7 min read

Newsletter #20...Playoff thoughts

The postseason is upon us.

And it promises to be memorable.

Action began Thursday afternoon and evening with the volleyball state preliminary round. The state quarterfinals are Friday and Saturday.

The preliminary rounds for field hockey and boys' and girls' soccer commence Friday and continue Saturday.

Football, meanwhile, wraps up its regular season this weekend, with the exception of Class A squads, who still have a week to go.

It all adds up to a good time for players, coaches and fans.

What to expect?

Here's my two cents:

Class A volleyball is deeper than ever and all four top seeds, Scarborough, Cheverus, Gorham and Thornton Academy have legitimate title hopes, but no one should overlook the likes of Bonny Eagle, Kennebunk, Marshwood or Falmouth, as all are capable of springing an upset. When the dust settles, however, don't be surprised if the Red Storm beat the Rams for the third time this season. Anything other than a York-Washington Academy state match showdown in Class B would come as a shock, but if you're seeking a darkhorse, look no further than the state's most storied program, Greely. I like North Yarmouth Academy's chances of making a run in the newly created Class D. There might be multiple Gold Balls coming home to HHSS country before all is said and done.

Any field hockey championship discussion has to begin with the powerhouse Cheverus Stags. The Stags won the past two Class A titles and has captured four consecutive regional crowns, along going unbeaten in their past 50 games overall and their past 74 in league play. Biddeford appears to be the one team in the region that could dethrone Cheverus, but the Tigers haven't been able to do so yet and there's no guarantee they'll get through to the regional final. Ultimately, the Stags keep the good times rolling. In Class B South, Yarmouth, the reigning regional champion, and Freeport, the 2023 state champion, have been on a collision course since they did battle in last year's memorable regional final. The Clippers won both regular season meetings, by a single goal on both occasions, but the old adage suggests is hard to beat a good team (especially a fierce rival) three times. The senior-laden Falcons have lost three straight in this series. They'll do everything in their power to avoid making it four. The odds are in their favor.

The Class A South boys' soccer playoffs could produce some upsets (keep an eye on Kennebunk and Deering), but ultimately, top seeds Scarborough (the undefeated, reigning regional champion) and Falmouth are just too strong. Two storied programs with veteran, accomplished coaches are going to be tough to knock off. The Red Storm have the pieces to get back to states, but I have a hunch the Navigators might just prevent that from happening. In Class B South, reigning state champion Greely has beaten every team this season except Yarmouth. The Clippers are the top seed for the tournament, but the Rangers, presuming they can avoid an upset at the hands of Freeport in the quarterfinals, might have an easier road to the regional final, as Yarmouth will have to get past Cape Elizabeth or a York squad which handed the Clippers their only loss, in the semifinals. It's been more than a decade since Yarmouth went consecutive seasons without winning a championship. The Clippers are poised to rise back to the top.

On the girls' side, Scarborough and Falmouth also appear destined to do battle with a trip to states hanging in the balance, but don't overlook Windham and Gorham. While this hasn't been a vintage season for those longtime contenders, they're both peaking late. The Navigators handed the Red Storm their only loss this season and if they do it again, it would send them to states for the first time since they moved up to Class A a decade ago. This senior-laden squad is ready to make history. Class B South appears more clear-cut, as Cape Elizabeth ran the table and could make the argument that it's the state's best team regardless of class. Freeport, defending state champion Greely and Yarmouth all stand in the Capers' path, but I just can't see this squad faltering, especially after some painful playoff losses in previous seasons. NYA is the defending Class C champion and even though the Panthers are short-handed, they still have enough firepower for another title run. Until someone knocks NYA off, that's my pick.

Once the football playoffs get closer, I'll sprinkle in some thoughts on what should also be a compelling postseason.

To the champion goes the spoils

Back on June 21, Thornton Academy's boys' lacrosse team pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in any sport in state history when the Golden Trojans shocked previously undefeated and seemingly unbeatable Falmouth in the Class A state final, 8-6.

Thornton Academy players and coaches have received their championship rings and the Golden Trojans showed them off during a recent football game.

On a heater

Several local squads have produced long win streaks. Here's a list of teams who have won at least five games/matches in a row at press time:

Cape Elizabeth girls' soccer (14 in a row)
Cheverus field hockey (13)
Greely football (16, including 2024)
Scarborough boys' soccer (14)
Scarborough girls' soccer (11)
Scarborough volleyball (10)
Westbrook football (5)
Yarmouth football (6)
Yarmouth boys' soccer (7)
Yarmouth field hockey (14)

In case you missed it...

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

Windham falls at home to Sanford in regular season finale

South Portland blanks Scarborough in Reny's return

One goal's enough for Scarborough's boys to edge Falmouth

Westbrook holds off Cheverus to make another powerful statement

Yarmouth frustrates Freeport once more

Yarmouth's boys ride PK to win at Greely

Greely's girls close with key win at Yarmouth

Yarmouth volleyball wins prelim at Cony

Falmouth volleyball beat Edward Little in three sets

Media

Last week's Middays with Mannix & Mannix spot:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MMM-10-17-25-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

Tuesday's WGAN spot with Matt Gagnon:

https://wgan.com/morning-news/hoffers-high-school-sports-6/

A bonus Thursday visit with Middays with Mannix & Mannix:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MMM-10-23-25-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

Predictions

I'm now 4-3 on my popular, prescient Patriots pick, following Sunday's victory in Tennessee.

This week's guess:

Patriots 17 Browns 13

Cleveland has a very good defense and there won't be time for Drake Maye to fling the ball all over the field. It's time to start being a force at Gillette Stadium and hopefully this week is the first step in that direction. Nothing will come easily, but the Patriots should do enough to improve to 6-2. Fingers crossed.

Turning to high school football, here are my picks for this week's games. I went 9-3 last week (63-16 for the season):

Old Orchard Beach over Cape Elizabeth
Falmouth over Cheverus
Deering over Lewiston
Dirigo over Freeport
Greely over Oceanside
Exeter (N.H.) over Portland
Noble over Scarborough
South Portland over Massabesic
Bonny Eagle over Thornton Academy
Westbrook over Gorham
Oxford Hills over Windham
Yarmouth over Mt. Desert Island

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," South Portland quarterback Parker Reny: