BREWER, Maine — Confidence is a state of mind, but in a sporting sense it often portends more tangible improvement.
That’s where the Brewer Witches begin the 2015 high school football season, buoyed by steady progress a year ago in their debut campaign under head coach Nick Arthers and eager to take even more significant steps this fall in a world where East is now North and West is now South.
“They have the year under their belt and are a lot more confident with what we’re doing offensively and defensively,” said Arthers, whose team finished 4-5 last year after a trip to the Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinals and this season is considered among the contenders in the newly named Class B North.
“We had the [offensive] playbook in within the first two days of double sessions, and it’s just been a matter of perfecting it, and defensively we have a number of starters coming back with a great group of linebackers who have really worked hard in the offseason,” he said.
If last Friday’s 22-8 preseason victory over Bangor is any indication, Brewer will use a balanced approach to challenge the likes of defending regional champion Brunswick, 2013 state champion Cony of Augusta and Mt. Blue of Farmington.
On offense, the Witches have a fourth-year starter at quarterback in Logan Rogerson, a talented backfield pairing of tailback Dylan Severance and fullback Trey Wood and an emerging line. On defense, Brewer features the linebacking tandem of Wood, Severance, Danny Davis and Tyler Friel.
“We’ve got three seniors and a junior [Wood] there who have started for the last two or three years, and they’ve committed to being a great group of linebackers,” said Arthers after the preseason win at Bangor. “Defensively we’re very happy with where we’re at.”
Brunswick and Cony of Augusta have star power of their own at running back and linebacker, Brunswick with Will Bessey and Cony with Reid Shostak, while Seth Powers of Lawrence of Fairfield, Nate Pratt-Holt of Mt. Blue in Farmington and Jack Bernatchez of Messalonskee of Oakland are other top playmakers.
Nokomis of Newport has gained momentum under the guidance of third-year head coach Matt O’Connell, but the big test comes now as the Warriors move up from Class C and become playoff-eligible.
Hampden Academy has a new coach in Scott Flagg, who will seek to create open space for several top athletes who have experienced that winning feeling on the school’s boys basketball juggernaut in Conar Moore, Jake Black, Billy Campbell and Brendan McIntyre.
Class A North: Bangor has reached the Eastern A semifinals in both years since the Maine Principals’ Association reverted to a four-class football system.
The Rams boast a new head coach in longtime assistant Al Mosca but a fairly veteran cast of players, particularly at the skill positions where senior Dane Johnson, who rushed for 1,257 yards and 18 touchdowns during the 2014 regular season, returns as one of the state’s top running backs.
Classmate Jeff Lewis is a second-year starter at quarterback, while running back Ben Crichton, wingback Ethan Dorman and wide receiver Tanner Goodine also return to an offense that may become more diversified to keep defenses from keying on Johnson.
First-team all-conference tackle Josh Clement and fellow seniors Zac LeClair and Cam Cota anchor the Rams’ line play.
Bangor opens at home against an improved Edward Little of Auburn club, then it faces its first road test in Week 2 at Windham, the reigning regional champion.
Windham is favored to top the Class A North standings thanks to a roster loaded at the skill positions with senior halfback Dylan Koza, senior wide receiver Eric Webb, junior quarterback Desmond Leslie and junior running back Kyle Houser.
Cheverus of Portland, which has lost just one regular-season game in the last five years, and Portland are other top regional challengers.
