Foxcroft Academy field hockey coach Stephanie Smith knew she was going to have a good team team this season. It certainly lived up to her expectations as the top-seeded Ponies prepare for Saturday’s 1 p.m. Class C North semifinal against No. 4 Dirigo High of Dixfield.

Back in 1980, Billy Lander and his brother Tim -- along with more than 36,000 other eager Mainers -- applied for one of 700 permits that were to be handed out in Maine’s first modern moose hunt.

With the state’s firearms hunting season for deer looming, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s deer specialist says he expects plenty of hunters to fill their tags this year after a banner year in 2018.

What activities do you suggest to someone who’s not outdoorsy but wants to be? -- Aspiring Outdoor Person

Lexi Vafiades of the Ridge View Community School in Dexter won the Inland cross country championship on October 21 at Mattanawcook Middle School. Vafiades covered the 1.85 miles in a time of 13 minutes, 11.16 seconds, besting the time of 13:13.36 for Kaylee Johnston of Doughty Middle School in Bangor along with 112 other entrants.

Avery Herrick was a prolific goal scorer for the Dexter Regional High School girls soccer team for two seasons. But she wasn’t happy.

Milo resident Rico Portalatin, age 48, finished fourth out of a field of 600 runners in the annual Mount Desert Island Half-Marathon on October 20. Portatlin covered the 13.1 miles in a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 1 second.

Giving talks to rod and gun clubs around the state is enjoyable for me. It's a good chance to rub elbows with good people who share a common interest. I learn a lot and always come away with new insights and topics to write about. Most of the time, the food is good, too.

The Dexter Regional High School boys cross country team finished in fourth place among 12 Class C schools at the 2019 Penobscot Valley Conference championships on October 19 at Searsport District High School. The Tigers ended the meet with a score of 152 points.

In a game featuring plenty of offense -- the two teams combined for a dozen trips to the endzone -- Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln scored three times in the fourth quarter to retake the lead and hold off Foxcroft 47-35 in a Class D North/Little Ten Conference matchup on Friday, October 18 at Oakes Field.

Difficulty: Moderate. Out and back, the hike is about 3 miles. The trail climbs gradually but steadily. Watch your step for exposed tree roots and rocks. Footing is especially tricky near the East Spur Overlook. Take your time traveling over the exposed bedrock.

Every game at the end of the season becomes crucial for teams battling to get into the playoffs. An Oct. 11 contest at Hermon HIgh School was no exception for the Foxcroft Academy boys soccer team looking to make the postseason this year. The Ponies sit in ninth place in the Class B North standings, where only the top 10 teams make the playoffs.

The Dexter Regional High School cross country concluded the regular season by taking part in the Pendale Invitational on Oct. 12 at Hermon High School. The Tiger boys scored 59 points to finish third of three teams, just behind the 56 points for Presque Isle High School. Host Hermon came in first with 18 points.

On a more regional level, the Dexter Tigers ended a 31-year, 25-game losing streak against neighboring rival Foxcroft Academy on Saturday, outlasting the visiting Ponies 27-21 in overtime.

A quarterback sneak and interception in the endzone helped give Dexter Regional High School a 27-21 overtime victory vs. Foxcroft in a Class D North/Little Ten Conference contest on the afternoon Oct. 12. The win is the first for the Tigers over the team’s neighbor to the north since the Reagan administration.

In the last competition before Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championships in Searsport, four members of the Foxcroft Academy cross country team ran in three separate races at the Red Riot Challenge on Oct. 12 at Orono High School. Each race covered 2.48 miles

Come Monday morning, Oct. 14 another herd of hunters, along with their friends and family members, will embark on special hunts as the second major week of moose season gets underway across the state.

Northern Maine Media Inc., the home of WHOU 100.1 FM, has been awarded the exclusive contract from the Maine Principals’ Association to video stream the five state football finals and the 60 games of the basketball regional semifinals and finals. All broadcasts can be seen live, online at www.whoufm.com.