Here are five players to watch in the Maine Class D North football ranks during the 2016 season that begins Friday night.
Willie Moss, running back-defensive back, Maine Central Institute: The fleet-footed senior returns as the division’s top game-breaking threat after rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a first-year, full-time starter a year ago. Moss’ big-play potential also should create opportunities for his backfield mates as the two-time defending LTC champions re-stock their other offensive skill positions.
Jackson Coutts, quarterback-punter, Orono: A third-year starter at quarterback for coach Bob Sinclair’s club who already is bound for a Division I college baseball career at the University of Rhode Island, Coutts boasts a strong arm and at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds is a physical challenge for any defender against Orono’s run game. He earned All-LTC first-team honors at both quarterback and punter last fall.
Carter Ward, quarterback-defensive back, Mattanawcook Academy: Another third-year starter at quarterback, Ward likely will receive a lot of freedom from Lynx coach Pat House to use that experience to seek out the best offensive options not only for himself, but a trio of younger skill-position players in junior Matt Young and sophomores Alex Brown and Cayden Spencer-Thompson.
Jared Fox, quarterback-linebacker, Houlton: A returning two-way starter for coach Brian Reynolds’ Shiretowners, Fox can threaten opposing defenses via both the pass and the run. As one of just five seniors on the roster, Fox will take on a greater leadership role as Houlton seeks to build on the momentum of its first postseason appearance in 2015.
Brayden Miller, quarterback-cornerback, Dexter: Miller showed considerable quarterbacking skills a year ago in helping the Tigers qualify for an LTC playoff berth and is poised for a successful senior year as part of a 12-player senior class under head coaches Brian Salsbury and Andrew Shorey. Miller will seek to provide an offensive complement to Dexter’s rushing attack with senior split end Zach White a likely favorite passing target.
