AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association has announced how high school football teams across the state will be classified for the upcoming 2020 season this fall. 

Twenty-six teams are slated to participate in eight-man football this season with the eight-man classification being divided into two divisions based on enrollment, one for large schools (375 students or more) and one for small schools (374 students or less). The large school division is slated to have 12 teams while the small school division would have 14. 

Classes B (600 to 949 students) and C (420 to 599 students) will retain the traditional northern and southern divisions, while Classes A (950 students or more) and D (up to 419 students) will have no divisions. 

A trio of Midcoast teams — Belfast, Medomak Valley and Oceanside — remain in Class C North from the 2019 season. Class C North kept eight of 11 teams from the 2019 season. Class C North lost John Bapst (to Class D), Waterville, Mount Desert Island (to eight man) and Waterville (to eight man) and gained Hampden Academy (from Class B North). 

Under the realignment, distributed Thursday to athletic directors, eight teams will play in Class A, 18 teams will be evenly split into two Class B divisions, 16 teams will play in Class C (nine in the northern division and seven in the southern) and nine teams will play in Class D. 

A few teams were granted the ability to play in a different classification than originally assigned including Hampden Academy, Westbrook, Gardiner, Freeport, John Bapst, Poland and Washington Academy. 

Camden Hills and Mount View decided in January it was within the best interests of their respective programs to leave Class D in order to join the eight-man classification. 

“I think it's the right move for our football program at this time,” said Camden Hills athletic director Jeff Hart, in January. “The schools who moved to it [in 2019] were all pretty happy that they did, and everyone involved with the football program here right now believes that it's the right thing for us to do.”

“We still have students who really want to continue playing and I believe 8 man gives them the best chance to be competitive,” said Mount View athletic director Thomas Lynch, in January. “The students we have returning next year and the coaching staff have told me they believe 8 man football is the most viable option for Mount View.” 

Below is the complete list of the proposed football classifications for the 2020 season. 

Class A Statewide
Bangor
Bonny Eagle
Edward Little
Lewiston
Oxford Hills
Sanford
Scarborough
Thornton

Class B North
Brewer
Brunswick
Cony
Falmouth/Greely
Lawrence
Messalonskee
Mt. Blue
Skowhegan
Windham

Class B South
Biddeford
Deering
Gorham
Kennebunk
Marshwood
Massabesic
Noble
Portland
South Portland

Class C North
Belfast
Hampden Academy
Hermon
Maine Central Institute
Medomak Valley
Nokomis
Oceanside
Old Town
Winslow

Class C South
Cape Elizabeth
Fryeburg
Gardiner
Leavitt
Wells
Westbrook
York

Class D Statewide
Bucksport
Foxcroft Academy
Freeport
John Bapst 
Lisbon/St. Dominic
Madison/Carrabec
Oak Hill
Poland
Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale

Eight Man Large
Camden Hills
Cheverus
Ellsworth
Gray-New Gloucester
Lake Region
Mt. Ararat
Morse
Mount Desert Island
Mountain Valley
Spruce Mountain
Waterville
Yamouth

Eight Man Small
Boothbay
Dexter
Dirigo
Houlton
Mount View
Maranacook
Mattanawcook Academy
Old Orchard Beach
Orono
Sacopee Valley
Stearns
Telstar 
Traip Academy
Washington Academy