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Seven Southern Maine teams enter this weekend with 5-0 records. Six are right where preseason predictions projected: Class A powers Thornton and Bonny Eagle; Biddeford and Brunswick in Class B; and Wells and Cape Elizabeth in Class C.

Then there’s Kennebunk, lurking right behind Biddeford in the Class B South Crabtree standings.

“I think we’re kind of a quiet 5-0,” said Joe Rafferty, in his 38th year as the Rams’ coach. “I don’t think people saw us as part of the mix, at least not with the big boys. That’s OK.”

Rafferty knows some people still doubt whether Kennebunk is a grown-up contender. The Rams’ five opponents have a combined 9-16 record.

“That’s part of it, too,” Rafferty said. “The schedule has been good to us and it gave us a chance to get off to a little bit of a jump.”

Kennebunk can make some noise the next two weeks. The Rams are at Marshwood on Friday and home against Biddeford on Oct. 14.

Marshwood, the two-time defending Class B state champion, is 3-2 and its wins also have come against struggling teams. Still, a victory in South Berwick would soothe the sting from Kennebunk’s two losses last year to the Hawks: 61-14 in the regular season and 34-6 in the regional quarterfinals.

“Last year we went into the Marshwood game 5-0 and they scored (61) on us, and then we lost two in a row and went from the top of the heap to finishing sixth overall,” Rafferty said. “Then they beat us in the playoff game. It was depressing. So lessons learned.”

Kennebunk might be better prepared this year, in part because of the emergence of junior tailback Jake Littlefield to complement senior fullback Patrick Saunders. Littlefield did not play football at any level before his sophomore season.

“He’s about 200 pounds, a real strong kid. He’s still learning a lot,” Rafferty said. “You can see he’s still green but he’s run for over 150 yards at least twice.”

Kennebunk also has had solid play from sophomore quarterback Tripp Bush, who took over when returning starter Justin Wiggins suffered an arm injury in the season-opening 12-0 victory at Greely. Wiggins, unable to throw a football, has helped the team as a slot receiver and backup tailback. Rafferty said he expects Wiggins to soon be cleared to begin throwing.

Marshwood also has something to prove. Have the Hawks truly improved since dropping their opener at Biddeford and being belted by Westbrook in Week 3, or have they just benefited from playing weaker teams?

“We have a good stretch with Kennebunk, Falmouth and York so, for us, we’ll find out over the next couple weeks,” Coach Alex Rotsko said.

Fullback Chris Sarzynski has helped complement Marshwood’s offense recently, adding support to a unit that was too reliant on quarterback Cole McDaniel and back Kyle Glidden.

“This game is huge for both of us,” Rafferty said.

“These are the (wins) you need to have. They’re the difference between getting on the bus and playing at home, and we’d much rather be playing at home in the playoffs.”

WINDHAM QUARTERBACK Desmond Leslie (10 of 16, 177 yards; 111 yards rushing) made a series of big plays in a 27-6 victory against Edward Little, throwing touchdowns of 75 and 70 yards to Blake Houser, and scoring himself on runs of 10 and 33 yards. Leslie and Windham (3-2) host Bonny Eagle on Friday night.

The Scots have been tough to score on. Last week they stopped three second-half Deering drives in Bonny Eagle territory in a 21-7 win.

Earlier this season Bonny Eagle stopped three Scarborough fourth-quarter drives inside the 10 in another 21-7 win.

BRUNSWICK AND Brewer meet Friday in a game of unbeatens in Class B North. The Dragons passed supposed tests against Messalonskee and Skowhegan with relative ease. Brewer’s size up front and in the backfield presents a different set of problems. “They’re much bigger up front than the teams we’ve played so we’ll see if that challenges us. We think it will be a little tougher than the last few opponents, more so for us trying to stop them,” Brunswick Coach Dan Cooper said. … Biddeford fullback Brady Crepeau (671 yards rushing) is day to day with a foot injury suffered in last Friday’s 42-19 victory against York, said Tiger Coach Brian Curit. Biddeford hosts Mt. Ararat (2-3) on Friday. … Friday’s Lewiston at Portland game will start at 7:30 p.m.

THE PORTLAND High School Football Hall of Fame announced its 2016 inductees will be Frank Nappi, Class of 1953, F. Phillip Laughlin (1980), Scott Fifield (1984), Scott Alexander (1984), and longtime coach Mike Bailey.

The 2016 Hall of Fame induction is Nov. 23 at the Italian Heritage Center. For tickets or more information, call Portland Coach Jim Hartman at 329-5224.