CASTINE – It doesn’t matter if you suit up in the Pine Tree Conference, lace your cleats in the Campbell Conference or go helmet-to-helmet in Aroostook County’s eight-man league. If you play high school football in Maine, you’ve probably met Maine Maritime Academy coach Chris McKenney.

“We go to every high school in the state and talk to the senior football players every year,” said McKenney. “We get them from all over the state. Some years we get a lot from your area.”

McKenney meant Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties. It’s a region top-heavy with blue-collar communities and regional schools that pull students from two, three, even eight different towns. A majority of its football players compete for Class B and C schools. Some, as glorified junior varsity programs in a developmental league.

It’ll never be confused with a cradle of college football stars. Only three players with those geographical ties currently play at the state’s flagship university. Athletes graduate in slightly greater numbers to the Division III outposts of Husson, Plymouth State, or perhaps the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin troika. But it’s rare to find more than one or two in the starting lineup.

Try eight. That’s how many tri-county players are in the regular rotation at Maine Maritime, which flaunts the No. 1 rushing offense in the country and is 6-1 after routing Framingham State in its final regular-season home game Saturday.

“It shows that anybody who comes here, if they try hard and put in the effort, is going to get an opportunity,” said senior quarterback Tyler Angell of Leeds.

Angell is surrounded in the backfield by record-shattering classmate Jim Bower of South Paris (Oxford Hills) at fullback and sophomore Nick Bourassa of Jay at halfback. Clearing space for them on the left side of the offensive line are tackle Mike Durrell of Livermore Falls and guard Andrew McCann of Rumford (Mountain Valley).

McCann’s former high school teammate, Travis Fergola of Mexico, is a four-year starter and the Mariners’ leading tackler at inside linebacker. Lisbon’s Mark Stambach starts at defensive end. Lewiston High School product Franklin Sawyer shines at free safety.

“All the Class A and B players I know talk about Class C as if we’re not much of anything compared to them,” said Bourassa, named most valuable player in the Class C division of the Campbell Conference two years ago. “I just say to them, ‘Well, I’m starting.’ And I know a lot of guys I played against in high school who are just as good as anybody else and could be doing what I’m doing.”

Bower made school history in the win over Framingham, joining Kirk Matthieu, Rob Marchitello and Steve Tardiff in Maine Maritime’s exclusive 3,000-yard career club. He ranks third in the nation with 1,148 yards after matching school and conference records with 25 touchdowns as a junior.

As the fullback, Bower is the focal point of a triple-option offense that thrives on Angell’s subterfuge and ability to throw, tuck-and-run or pitch to any member of his explosive supporting cast.

“It’s a unique offense, and we have so many weapons,” Bower said. “I think it’s a big key for us that we’re all from Maine. A lot of us grew up in the same area playing against each other or playing with each other as teammates in the Lobster Bowl.”

One weeks ago, Bower rambled for 235 yards on 41 carries, scoring four touchdowns in a 41-34 victory over Massachusetts Maritime. The Mariners walked off with the Admiral’s Cup, symbolic of a win in the coastal rivalry game, for the sixth year in a row.

Angell accounted for 1,223 total yards and 16 combined rushing and passing touchdowns last season. Bourassa set multiple school records as a kick and punt returner while anticipating his turn to emerge as one of the two full-time halfbacks.

Maine Maritime’s offense has scored at least 41 points in five of its seven games. The Mariners rolled up 461 yards on the ground at a clip of 6.7 yards per carry against Framingham State.

“They say defense wins championships,” said Fergola, “but right now we’re just doing our best to keep up with what the offense is doing. It definitely gives us a little bit ot a cushion.”

McKenney’s sales pitch to the local men was equal parts Maine Maritime’s football tradition and job placement rate. Bower made his choice to attend the school during his junior year at Oxford Hills, after attending a college fair at Sunday River.

Fergola fielded other Division III offers but didn’t hedge for long, either.

“I just felt like Maine Maritime offered the best opportunities all the way around,” he said.

Statewide, and notably in this mostly rural corridor more than two hours driving time to the west, other high school students are getting the same message.

In addition to the area’s elite eight, five other underclassmen — Jay grads Mike Holland and Zach LaCroix, Leavitt products Phillip Russell and Shawn Atkinson, and Oxford Hills’ Chris Ney — wait in the wings for their chance to contribute.

“It doesn’t matter where they come from,” McKenney said. “If they have the desire to play football and work hard, I’m going to look at them.” 

As will the opposition. And chances are good that the encounter won’t be easy on the eyes.

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