Who: Portland (9-2) vs Thornton Academy (10-1)
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland
Portland impact players: Senior QB/LB Cordell Jones (169 carries, 1,259 yards, 24 TDs; 69 of 123 passing, 846 yards, 5 TDs; 81 tackles, 4 interceptions, 11 tackles for loss); Junior RB/LB Alex Martin (118 carries, 745 yards, 6 TDs; 30 catches, 303 yards, 1 TD; 84 tackles, 11 tackles for loss); Senior WR/CB Charlie Abramson-Thompson (12 catches, 167 yards, 1 TD)
Thornton impact players: Senior RB Connor Ayoob (238 carries, 1,862 yards, 27 TDs); Junior QB Noah Fullerton (57 of 110 passing, 1,081 yards, 11 TDs); Senior WR Nate Neely (23 catches, 410 yards; 24 carries, 152 yards; 5 total TDs); Senior OLB Grady Hersey (team-high 91 tackles, 5 sacks).
Outlook: Neither team is going to be awed by being in a state championship game. This is Thornton’s seventh straight trip to the Class A final, and Portland’s in its fourth straight title game, including a 2022 loss to Skowhegan in Class B. This is the third straight year Portland and Thornton have met in the Class A final, and the sixth overall meeting between the teams in three years. They split in 2023, with Thornton winning the championship game. Last season, Portland won both games, ending a 22-year title drought with a 35-14 victory. In Week 5 this season, Thornton rolled to a 36-0 win at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
Both teams revolve around a true standout player. Portland has Jones, the 2024 Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. He took over quarterback duties full time this year, and Portland’s passing game has improved as the season has gone on. Portland has a top-tier No. 2 threat in Martin. Alex McCusick (17 carries, 139 yards; 19 catches, 235 yards) and Abramson-Thompson have good run-after-catch ability. … Thornton’s offense features a heavy dose of the powerful yet nimble Ayoob behind an athletic offensive line. If Thornton has its ground game going, Fullerton won’t throw much, but he does have quality receivers in Neely, Simon Gellis (5 TD catches) and Will Edborg. … Both defenses are good but not dominant. Portland has allowed 17.7 points per game; Thornton gives up 13.4. Offensively, Thornton also has an edge, averaging 38.2 points to Portland’s 27.5.
Expect this game to come down to which team controls the opposing star the best. Or, if both Jones and Ayoob are contained, which team has the best second option. … Thornton has limited Jones’ run-game productivity. In the past four games vs. Thornton, Jones averaged 3.8 yards per carry. … Ayoob ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns in the regular-season meeting. … Both teams have experienced kickers. Thornton’s Yeonwoo Kim is 28 of 30 on PATs (0 for 2 on field goals). Portland’s Justin Bouchard is 36 of 42 on PATs, 2 of 2 on field goals.