By Randy Whitehouse,Staff Writer
After injuries hit early in the season, running back Mike Toothaker stepped up to the plate for Mt. Blue.

Coaches finds football players in the darndest places.

For instance, Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin found the most pleasant surprise of the Cougars’ historic 2005 season, Mike Toothaker, on the baseball diamond.

“We were doing a rundown drill,” said Parlin, who also coaches Cougar varsity baseball. “I couldn’t believe how quick he was changing directions. You’re always looking for football players in baseball.”

Parlin found himself quite a football player in Toothaker. The 6-foot, 187-pound junior went from situational running back to one of the top runners in the Pine Tree Conference this year, and a big reason the Cougars are playing their first state championship game in 18 years today against Bonny Eagle.

Toothaker impressed his coach with his quick feet in the spring and his dedication to the weight room in the summer to earn a spot in the backfield with senior captain Hazen Pingree, who had been the Cougars’ leading rusher as a junior.

“We were hoping to use him the way we used Jordan Stevens last year, with him as an inside runner and Hazen as an outside runner,” Parlin said. “He had a very good JV season, but as we all know, the next step is a big, big step. But he really is a tough kid.”

Toothaker needed that toughness, because before he knew it, he had a lot more weight than he had expected thrust upon his shoulders.

Pingree went down with a knee injury in the preseason, meaning Toothaker wasn’t just going to have to be a complementary runner. He was going to have to be the No. 1 guy.

“I didn’t expect Hazen to go down, but when he did, I knew I had to pick it up,” Toothaker said. “I had some big shoes to fill.”

“At first, he was pretty nervous, which is reasonable. I mean, a junior starting at running back…” said Pingree.

Of course, Pingree could relate to that, so he made sure Toothaker knew he was in his corner.

“Talking to Hazen, him sharing his experiences on the field with me helped out a lot,” Toothaker said. “Sometimes I was nervous and he helped me get into the right mindset going into a game.”

Toothaker gradually got more comfortable in his expanded role, and surprised opponents with his strength and breakaway ability. He scored in each of the Cougars’ first three games, then had a breakout performance in No. 4 with 133 yards against Mt. Ararat. A month later, his first quarter touchdown sent the Cougars on their way to their biggest win of the year so far, a 42-0 thumping of Bangor.

Along with QB Mason Barker, he helped Mt. Blue’s offense become one of the most well-rounded offenses in the state. Heading into today’s game, he’ll be closing in on the 1,000-yard mark while averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

Despite his achievements, Toothaker continues to slip under the radar when observers talk about the keys to today’s game. It seems fitting given that he was overshadowed for much of the year when the discussion focused on the to backs in his conference. And Toothaker himself doesn’t think he needs to open any eyes today the way he did his coach’s during a rundown drill last spring.

“I prepare for every game the same,” he said. “I have all of the confidence in the coaches that they’re going to make the right choices in terms of the play-calling, whether it goes to me or not. We have a lot of weapons on the team, and whatever I have to do, whether it’s blocking, running…let’s do it.”