Maine’s Top 5 Public HS Football Programs (2021–2025)

Public Schools Top 25 | National Series — Part 19/50Maine high school football has one of the most unique structures in the country. Unlike most states that operate entirely within traditional 11-man football, a significant portion of Maine programs compete in 8-man football, which has become an important part of the state’s competitive landscape.Currently, Maine fields roughly 75–80 varsity football programs statewide, and about one-third of them compete in 8-man football due to smaller enrollments and geographic challenges. The remaining two-thirds compete in traditional 11-man football.The Maine Principals’ Association organizes the sport into six classifications, ordered by school size and format:11-Man FootballClass AClass BClass CClass D8-Man Football5. 8-Man Large6. 8-Man SmallEach classification crowns a state champion every season.Because such a large percentage of programs play 8-man football, championships in both formats were considered for this ranking. However, sustained success in larger 11-man classifications still carries slightly more weight, particularly when comparing teams with similar résumés.For this series, only public high schools were included. That means independent academies such as Thornton Academy and Foxcroft Academy were excluded despite winning championships during this window.When isolating the public programs from 2021–2025, several teams clearly separate themselves through championships, title-game appearances, and sustained playoff success.Here is the definitive ranking of Maine’s Top 5 Public HS Football Programs of the Past Five Years.🥇 1. Leavitt Hornets (Turner)Accomplishments (2021–2025)Class C State Champion — 2022Class C State Champion — 2023Class C State Runner-Up — 2025Why they’re #1No public program in Maine matched the peak dominance Leavitt reached during this stretch.The Hornets produced back-to-back undefeated state championship teams in 2022 and 2023, establishing themselves as the premier public program in the state during the middle of the decade. Their 2023 squad was particularly dominant, finishing 11–0 and defeating several larger-class programs along the way.Even after a brief reset in 2024, Leavitt returned to the top of the classification in 2025, reaching another state final.Two championships, another title appearance, and one of the most dominant two-year runs in Maine football makes Leavitt the clear No. 1 public program of the era.🥈 2. Portland BulldogsAccomplishments (2021–2025)Class A State Champion — 2024Class A State Runner-Up — 2023Class A State Runner-Up — 2025Why they’re #2If Leavitt dominated Class C, Portland owned the public-school conversation in the state’s largest classification.The Bulldogs reached three Class A state championship games in four seasons, breaking through in 2024 with a signature victory over perennial powerhouse Thornton Academy.Competing at the highest level of Maine football while consistently reaching the final stage of the playoffs gives Portland one of the strongest résumés in the state.Among public schools, no program had more success in Class A during this five-year span.🥉 3. Greely Rangers (Cumberland)Accomplishments (2021–2025)Class C State Champion — 20258-Man Large State Champion — 2024Why they’re #3Few programs in Maine have navigated the state’s changing football landscape as successfully as Greely.After capturing the 8-Man Large state championship in 2024, the Rangers transitioned back into 11-man football and immediately won the Class C state title in 2025, defeating Leavitt in the championship game.Winning titles in two different formats in back-to-back seasons is extremely rare and highlights the program’s depth and adaptability.Greely’s rapid rise late in the window gives them one of the most impressive recent peaks in Maine football.4️⃣ Wells WarriorsAccomplishments (2021–2025)Class D State Champion — 2023Class D State Champion — 2024Why they’re #4Wells quietly built one of the most consistent runs in the state during the middle of the decade.The Warriors captured back-to-back Class D state championships in 2023 and 2024, finishing the latter season undefeated.Even after moving up in classification in 2025, Wells remained competitive and continued to reach the later stages of the playoffs.Two state titles in three seasons secures Wells a spot firmly inside the Top 5.5️⃣ Kennebunk RamsAccomplishments (2021–2025)Class B State Champion — 2023Class B State Runner-Up — 2024Why they’re #5Kennebunk may be the most underrated program in Maine over the past five seasons.The Rams captured the Class B state championship in 2023, then returned to the title game in 2024 before falling to Falmouth. They followed that up with another deep playoff run in 2025.That stretch gives Kennebunk one of the strongest three-year runs in the state’s competitive Class B division.When evaluating sustained success in 11-man football, Kennebunk’s résumé edges several other contenders for the final spot.Just Outside the Top 5Several programs narrowly missed the cut:Falmouth — Class B State Champion (2024)Old Orchard Beach — 8-Man Small State Champion (2024), Runner-Up (2025)Westbrook — Class B State Champion (2025)Marshwood — Class B State Champion (2021)Skowhegan — Class B State Champion (2022)Cape Elizabeth — Class C State Champion (2021)Each of these programs had championship seasons, but none matched the sustained success of the Top 5 across the full five-year window.The VerdictUnlike some states in this series where a single dynasty dominates the rankings, Maine’s landscape during this period was defined by multiple programs taking turns at the top.Leavitt produced the most dominant run, Portland established itself as the leading large-school public program, and Greely surged late in the window with championships in two different formats.Together, these five schools represent the standard of public high school football in Maine from 2021–2025.