BANGOR, Maine —- Husson University football players Joe Seccareccia, Josiah Hartley, Ellis Throckmorton and Seth Freudenberger began their careers in the Bangor Youth Football program.
“I think it was fourth or fifth grade,” recalled Seccareccia, the Eagles’ starting quarterback. “I actually played soccer up until then. My dad signed me up to play football halfway through the season. I played on the Huskers with Ellis. Josiah played on the Lions. We played against Josiah.
“They didn’t put Josiah and me on the same team because we were the two biggest kids in the league,” grinned Seccareccia.
Freudenberger switched over to soccer after fifth-grade football before returning to the sport this fall.
Seccareccia, Hartley and Throckmorton went on to lead Bangor to two Eastern Maine Class A championships while Freudenberger played on a state Class A championship Ram soccer team in 2010.
Seccareccia, linebacker Throckmorton and wide receiver Hartley have played important roles in helping the Eagles earn their first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference title and NCAA Division III Tournament berth.
Freudenberger has been the back-up placekicker and wide receiver.
Husson, 8-1, will take on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at noon Saturday at the Winkin Complex.
Following high school, Hartley and Throckmorton attended the University of Maine and Seccareccia went to Southern Connecticut State. But all three transferred to Husson.
The players said being able to win a championship at a college in their hometown with their boyhood chums is a neat accomplishment.
“It’s extremely special for us,” said Seccareccia. “For Josiah, Ellis and me, we lost two gold balls in high school so to get one for winning the conference championship was huge for us. It was even bigger for the Husson community.
“We became best friends in high school. This is a great opportunity for us and we’re taking advantage of it,” Seccareccia added.
“It’s nice having that brotherhood aspect although we have that with the whole team, not just the four of us,” said Hartley. “We all really fit in with everybody. It has been a lot of fun having the other three guys on the team. We’ve been playing together ever since we were kids.”
Throckmorton said that his father, WABI-TV of Bangor sports director Tim Throckmorton, has a film of the four of them playing in the same game during their youth football days.
“It’s pretty funny to watch that once in a while,” he said.
Throckmorton was chosen to the All-ECFC first team as he leads the Eagles in tackles with 78, solo tackles (49), tackles for losses (18.5) and sacks (4.5).
“It has definitely been a good year. But there’s always stuff I can improve on. I’m just happy I’ve been able to stay healthy,” he said.
Seccareccia was an All-ECFC second-team pick as he completed 50.5 percent of his passes (112 for 222) for 1,350 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was intercepted nine times. He also ran the ball 60 times for 165 yards and three TDs.
“Going to Southern Connecticut enabled me to gain experience and the things I learned there I have applied here,” said Seccareccia. “And I try to work as hard as I can in practice to get better.”
He had his best game with the conference championship on the line as he threw five touchdown passes in a 41-21 victory over Mount Ida in the regular season finale.
Hartley has hauled in 17 passes for 218 yards and three TDs. He is tied for third on the team in receptions.
“We’ve had a lot of chemistry this year,” said Hartley. “We all want to play for each other and block for each other and that has made a big difference.”
Freudenberger, who has played three years on the Husson baseball team, has converted the only extra point he has attempted.
“I’m having the time of my life. This has been indescribable, better than I expected,” said Freudenberger was convinced to give football a try by roommates Throckmorton and Dylan Walton, a wide receiver from Brunswick.
He added that “Joe, Ellis and Josiah are three of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever seen. They put the work in and it’s nice to see it paying off.”
In addition to the players, the coaching staff has a heavy Bangor influence.
Head coach Gabby Price is a former Bangor High School standout and head football coach and assistant coaches Nat Clark, Chris Morris, Nate Quirion, Fred Lower and Ryan Weston all have ties to Bangor High.
Price said all four former Rams players have made contributions.
“They certainly come from a great program and the thing about the Bangor guys is they know when to show up and when to be counted,” he said. “They’re all very mature kids and that’s a tribute to where they’ve come from.”
Seccareccia has “outstanding athletic ability and has put it all together,” Price added. “He does a great job in practice and that carries over into the games.
“Ellis would play a game every hour if he could. He has had two remarkable years. He has an excellent attitude. Josiah has been a two-year captain. His teammates love him and respect him. He’s an outstanding blocker and receiver. And Seth has a tremendous way about him.”