The John Bapst Memorial High School football team spent Friday night in Portland, choosing to make the long trek from Bangor the day before the Class C state title game against Winthrop.

"It's going to be hard to get to bed tonight," Crusaders quarterback Derek Smith said from the hotel Friday night. "We're all just so really excited."

The Crusaders (10-1) play Winthrop (11-0) in the Class C state championship game Saturday at 2:30 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

Smith has enjoyed an incredible season, throwing for 1,898 yards and 22 touchdowns. Throw in his rushing statistics (410 yards and seven touchdowns), and Smith has piled up 2,308 total yards and 29 touchdowns.

Smith, who played wide receiver last season, and the Crusaders have come a long way. The program, after all, was mired in one winless season after another dating to the late 1990s and early 2000s.

"I almost started crying on the way down here, just realizing where we've come from," Smith said. "To see our sideline (Saturday) filled with purple in the stands is going to be amazing. We've been working so hard for this."

John Bapst hasn't won a state title since 1976. The Ramblers (11-0) last won a state championship in 2000.