The LTC football standings have a topsy-turvy look about them two weeks into the 2009 season.
But it’s not only about the surprising Mount View Mustangs, who two weeks ago were winless in two previous seasons of varsity competition but now share the conference lead at 2-0 after last Saturday’s stunning 41-7 victory over Rockland.
Joining Mount View, defending state champion John Bapst and perennial power Foxcroft Academy as unbeatens through the first 25 percent of the schedule is Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield.
MCI, which last won the LTC championship in 2000, followed up its season-opening 49-22 victory over Calais-Woodland with a come-from-behind 19-18 win over Bucksport last Friday night.
That win provided a measure of revenge for the Huskies’ 22-0 loss at Bucksport in last year’s LTC quarterfinals.
“We’ve had a hard time before getting over that hump, but the kids believed in themselves and we were able to do it [against Bucksport],” said MCI coach Tom Bertrand.
Senior Shawn Bennett, a first-year starter at quarterback, sparked a last-minute comeback with a 40-yard kickoff return after Bucksport had taken an 18-12 lead on an 18-yard pass from Sam Carmichael to Brandon Flegel.
Bennett then tied the game with a 23-yard scoring run with just 20 seconds left, and Patrick Hapworth added the extra point to account for the margin of one of the more satisfying victories in recent MCI history.
“It’s a big win for us,” said Bertrand. “We were playing one of the best teams in the lead, and the kids had something to prove to themselves, the fans, their coaches and the league.”
Much of MCI’s early success can be attributed to the shift of Bennett from fullback a year ago to quarterback this season.
He has completed 17 of 24 passes for 286 yards and four touchdowns in two games while rushing for 189 yards and three TDs on just 21 carries, including scoring runs of 52 and 23 yards against Bucksport.
Bennett also totaled 103 return yards against the Golden Bucks.
“Shawn’s always been a guy who could play quarterback, but he just hadn’t played there yet,” said Bertrand. “This year we wanted him to touch the ball as much as we could get it to him so we moved him to quarterback.
“He’s shown great senior leadership and has been making some good decisions.”
Bennett also was a standout defensively against Bucksport from his strong safety spot, as was middle linebacker Britton Moholland.
“There were a lot of turnovers and we gave up a touchdown on special teams, but our defense made some plays,” said Bertrand. “We had a bend but not break mentality. The kids just hung in there and believed in themselves.”
And MCI’s final margin of victory came off Hapworth’s foot, as the senior placekicker not only made all three of his extra-point attempts, but hit a 27-yard field goal.
“I don’t think I’ve ever called to attempt one in a game before,” Bertrand said.
MCI returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday at 0-2 Dexter.
HA nose guard shines on offense
Rarely does a football player who does most of his work in the trenches scores three touchdowns in a game.
But Hampden Academy sophomore Nick Stevens, the starting nose guard and a reserve running back, had a breakout offensive performance as the Broncos topped Mount Desert Island 46-6 in their home opener at the Weatherbee Complex last Friday night.
The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Stevens rushed for touchdowns in each of the final three quarters of the game. He had a 19-yard sweep on third-and-goal with 3:20 left in the first half, then ran behind the lead block of junior Nick Fitzpatrick 18 yards to the end zone on Hampden’s opening possession of the second half.
He capped off his evening with an 80-yard touchdown sprint on the game’s final play from scrimmage.
Stevens finished with 135 yards on six carries, joining senior Ryan Blake — who had 12 carries for 118 yards — in leading coach Harry McCluskey’s club to a 343-yard rushing night.
“We call him ‘Cheetah’ because he’s one of the fastest kids on the team,” said Hampden senior Michael Jenkins. “He’s smart, he’s strong, he’s a great player.”
Jenkins, Hampden’s starting middle linebacker, and Stevens work closely on defense.
“Me and Mike try to think about some tricks we can do on the center,” said Stevens. “He has me line up like I’m going one way, and the center may bite real hard and Mike would take him and I’ll go through.”
Despite the rushing heroics against MDI, Stevens currently prefers his role as a nose guard.
“I get a little nervous when I’m offense,” said Stevens, “but I definitely have a good time on defense.”
Hampden, 1-1, returns to action against Winslow in a 1 p.m. start Saturday from Gerry Poulin Memorial Field in Winslow. The Black Raiders are 1-1 after a 34-14 win at Belfast last Friday night.
