Aroostook Football begins play for its fifth year next month.
Once again playing eight-man football, the league unveiled the schedule for the season this week. Highlights of this year’s schedule include the fact that each area (the St. John Valley, central Aroostook County and southern Aroostook County) will play as a single squad. As a result, the three squads needed outside competition to round out the schedule. Games against teams from Howland and Milo (groups that play the same format) are included.
“The kids are really excited about the prospect of going outside the County to see how well they stack up,” said Dick Engels, one of the league founders.
This year’s schedule also features a Friday night under the lights game in Houlton on Sept. 28, when the Southern Knights play the Central Huskies, and a game in Madawaska on Sept. 22 for the first time.
“It’s going to help our efforts to attract players up here considerably to have people get to see first hand what we are doing,” said Valley Mustangs coach Ron Dalgo.
The league has attracted a great group of sponsors: First Citizens Bank (a division of Gardiner Savings Institute) and Aroostook Savings and Loan have been sponsors every year of the league’s existence.
Hayden Perry Insurance is back for a third year. Both Cleary Law Offices and County Yankee Grocer return for a second year. A new sponsor in the St. John Valley for the Mustangs wishes to remain anonymous.
The athletic trainers from Cary Medical Center are once again donating their services for all games played in Caribou.
On Sept. 8, people in the area have a chance to preview the coming year when all three squads and the teams from Howland and Milo meet at Sincock Field in Caribou for a round-robin jamboree beginning at 12:30 p.m.
The following is the full schedule for the coming year:
Sept. 15, Central Huskies vs. Valley Mustangs in Caribou, 12:30 p.m.; Southern Knights at Howland, 1 p.m.; Sept. 22, Southern Knights vs. Valley Mustangs in Madawaska, 12:30 p.m.; Central Huskies at Howland, 1 p.m.; Sept. 28, Central Huskies vs. Southern Knights in Houlton, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 29, Valley Mustangs vs. Milo in Howland, 1 p.m.
Oct. 6, Central Huskies vs. Valley Mustangs in Caribou, 12:30 p.m.; Oct. 13, Southern Knights vs. Valley Mustangs in Houlton, 12:30 p.m.; Oct. 20, Central Huskies vs. Southern Knights in Caribou, 12:30 p.m.; Oct. 27, playoff semifinals in Caribou (two games), 12:30 p.m.; Nov. 3, playoff finals in Caribou, 12:30 p.m.
