While some high school football programs have been struggling with participation levels, one team that hasn’t is Medomak Valley of Waldoboro.
More than 50 players are practicing in preparation for the Panthers’ final year of developmental play in Class D before they move up to Class C by enrollment in 2017 and become eligible for postseason play for the first time.
“This is the first go-around with football here, and in my opinion, it’s the perfect community for football, and a lot of people here agree with that,” said Medomak Valley coach Ryan Snell, who has guided the program from its infancy several years ago. “There are just a lot of blue-collar type families who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, and that obviously translates well to the game of football.”
Snell and his coaching staff have been conducting single-session workouts to maximize participation while accommodating summer work schedules.
“We’re in a similar boat with Oceanside [of Rockland-Thomaston] with the number of kids who work, especially in lobstering and with the lobstering season being at its height at this time of year,” he said. “The reality is that if we make the kids choose between football and lobstering, with the amount of money they make it’s going to be a pretty easy decision for them, and they’re going to be out on the boat.
“The bottom line is you need numbers and you need depth in this sport to have success,” he said.
Two years ago as a club entry, Medomak played a full LTC Class D North schedule as a fill-in on bye weeks because that league had an odd number of teams in 2014. Last fall, the Panthers began its two-year varsity developmental phase and went 6-2 in the LTC.
This year Medomak Valley has shifted to Class D South to help both divisions of Class D football have an even number of teams for scheduling purposes.
“We had a great time in the LTC last year,” said Snell, “but we kind of knew when Camden Hills dropped out [of Class B North midway through the 2015 campaign] that we’d be switching. We were the one that made the most sense to move and even things out.”
Medomak Valley’s roster features a 19-member senior class, with 18 freshmen adding to the optimism about the program’s longer-range future.
“We’re senior heavy this year,” said Snell, “but we do have some underclassmen that are going to play prominent roles at quarterback, at fullback, a couple of linebackers and defensive backs, so we’ve got some younger players who will be out there. They really need to take advantage of this year and get as much varsity experience as they can knowing that they’re going to be called upon the following year in big roles.”
Medomak Valley will play its final developmental season against a Campbell Conference Class D South division that has been deep near the top of its standings in recent years.
Oak Hill of Wales is the three-time defending Class D state champion, but its regional championship-game victories on route to those titles were decided by a combined four points — 21-20 over Lisbon last fall, 7-6 over Lisbon in 2014 and 16-14 over Dirigo of Dixfield in 2013.
Six of the nine Class D South championship games and semifinals in the last three years have been decided by three points or less.
“I think we’re still at a point where we have the mentality that anybody’s going to give us fits,” said Snell, whose team opens its regular season at home against Dirigo on Sept. 3. “Last year went well in the LTC, but we had a couple one-point games and some good, tough battles there, too.
“We need the challenges if we’re planning to move to Class C next year.”
When Medomak Valley does make that transition, it hopes to join Class C North where midcoast rivals Oceanside and Belfast await as well as other fellow Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference schools.
“It would be great if we could,” said Snell.
And while the move to playoff eligibility next year is an immediate goal, long-term sustainability rests with maintaining depth within the feeder system.
“The community support has just been tremendous, and I think that’s seen in the numbers we have from our pre-K and [kindergarten] flag football league all the way up through high school. We’ve got solid numbers and solid involvement from parents and coaches and the community,” he said.
“The biggest challenge now is to sustain what has been built and make sure it isn’t just that we have large numbers because it’s new and exciting right now.”
Bangor-Brewer preseason game Friday
The Bangor-Brewer football rivalry will be renewed in exhibition fashion Friday evening at Doyle Field in Brewer. Game time is 7 p.m.
Brewer is coming off a trip to the Class B North championship game last fall, and while the Witches’ graduation losses included starting quarterback Logan Rogerson, coach Nick Arthers’ club returns a veteran line to lead what should be a punishing rushing attack and aggressive defense.
Bangor rebounded from a slow start last fall to finish with a 2-6 regular-season record under coach Al Mosca. The Rams then avenged an opening-night loss by outscoring Edward Little of Auburn 54-21 in the Class A North quarterfinals before having their season ended in a semifinal loss at top-seeded Portland.
Both teams begin their 2016 regular seasons next weekend, Bangor at Edward Little at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, and Brewer at Nokomis of Newport at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3.
MDI-Belfast game pushed back
One early season schedule change in Class C North will move the Week 2 contest between Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor and Belfast from Friday, Sept. 9, to Saturday, Sept. 10, according to Belfast athletic administrator Terry Kenniston.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Bryant Field in Belfast.
