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BY TRAVIS LAZARCZYK
Staff Writer 09/05/2008

enlarge Staff photo by Thomas Michael Corcoran

READY TO GO: Lawrence High School running back Brock Lawrence breaks a tackle by Waterville Senior High School Purple Panthers’ defensive back Kyle Bishop in an exhibition game last week. Both team open their season this weekend. Lawrence hosts Mt. Blue tonight while Waterville hosts Morse on Saturday.

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Staff Writer

There's no clear cut favorite heading into the season in the Pine Tree Conference Class B division. Unless you ask Waterville Senior High School head football coach Frank Knight.

He puts the Panthers' opening game opponent, Morse, at the top of the competitive league.

"We're giving them the nod as the team to beat," said Knight, whose team hosts the Shipbuilders at 1 p.m. Saturday. "We've got a lot of respect for them."

Every team in the league should have respect for the Shipbuilders. The 2007 season was the best at Morse in years. The Shipbuilders went 7-1 in the regular season, handing eventual state champ Gardiner its only loss before reaching the conference semifinals.

Waterville is no slouch, either. After a 1-3 start, Waterville rallied to win five straight games before falling in the semifinals.

Kyle Bishop will start at quarterback for Waterville, with Josh Gaudette back at wide receiver. Gaudette, who competed with Bishop for the quarterback job in the preseason, joins Cam Bishop and J.D. Gurski in the Panthers' talented receiving corp. That trio combined for 62 catches, 859 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Knight said Gaudette could still see some time under center.

"(Gaudette) could take some reps," Knight said. "We have some plays for him, too."

The Shipbuilders return their entire offensive line from last season. While star tailback Darrus Grate graduated, Morse returns quarterback Michael Walton and tailback Pat Wolfe, who ran for 160 yards and a touchdown in Morse's 32-22 opening game win against the Panthers last season.

Waterville played a tight exhibition game against two-time defending Eastern A champion Lawrence, losing 19-7 after allowing a pair of late scores. Knight compared Morse's physical style to Lawrence's.

"They pounded us. We pounded them. That's good to see we weren't beat physically on the line," Knight said.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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