OAKLAND — With the Messalonskee High School football team about to score its first touchdown of the game last Friday against Hampden Academy, head coach Brad Bishop called timeout, and spoke to his offense.
Bishop pointed at Connor Garland, sitting nearby. A Messalonskee junior, Garland survived the Haunted Hayride accident that killed his girlfriend and fellow Messalonskee student Cassidy Charette on Oct. 11.
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“(Bishop) said to us, ‘All right boys, after this play, we score this touchdown, we’re going to go over and shake his hand,'” senior Jacob Doyon said.
The moment was an opportunity for the Eagles to honor a friend and will go down as a highlight in a season that has seen Messalonskee play the toughest schedule in the Pine Tree Conference Class B, with an undermanned roster, while dealing with the deaths of two Messalonskee students.
Through it all, the Eagles are 4-3 heading into Friday’s regular season finale at rival Lawrence. Physically and mentally, the Messalonskee football team is playing iron man football.
“Coming down here, after what’s happened, to practice, is their outlet. Playing on Friday night, it’s good for the community to get out there and play and forget about things and carry on. If they can have some type of outlet for a couple hours a day, I think that’s great,” Bishop, now in his second season as Messalonskee’s head coach, said.
There was just 34 Eagles on the roster when Messalonskee opened the season at Cony. Now, through injury and roster atrophy, Bishop estimated he has 26 players.
“That’s enough. We’ve got some kids that like to play. We haven’t changed anything since August 18th. We’ve done the same exact things, and I believe that’s how you get better, regardless of what you have. The kids, they’re very tough. They really are,” Bishop.
Low participation was a problem, Doyon said, but not because of the low number itself.
“Not because of the number, but because of what it made everyone think,” Doyon, a co-captain, said. “No one had that much confidence, but look what’s come now. Kids have stepped up pretty big, they’re doing great.”
Three freshmen have seen significant playing time for the Eagles: Austin Pelletier, Matt Trembly, and Alden Balboni, who was recently lost with an arm injury.
“A lot of guys are finding their roles more. They’re getting a lot better,” senior Jake Dexter said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who haven’t played much varsity, so getting that experience every Friday night helps.”
“With all the young players stepping up, we’re getting some confidence and winning some games,” senior Klint Hall said.
The biggest win thus far came on Oct. 10, when for the second consecutive season, the Eagles beat an undefeated Brunswick team. Messalonskee beat the Dragons 20-7, and became the only opponent to hold Brunswick under 34 points in a game this season.
“It was the same situation as last year. We were 2-3, they were 5-0. We feel like we matched up with them pretty good. We had a good week of practice, and everything added up to a win,” Dexter said. “I think the only people who didn’t think we could win was anyone outside this locker room.”
Younger players have learned on the job and played well, Bishop said. On the defensive side, it helps to have a strong veteran at each level: Doyon on the line, Jack Bernatchez at linebacker, and Dexter at safety.
“Next man in has always been my philosophy. It’s hard to get reps during the week because we really don’t have a second unit right now,” Bishop said. “We can build around those three guys. Everybody else has filled in around them, done their role, and done their job so far.”
At this point in the season, playing iron man football is second nature to Messalonskee. It doesn’t matter, Bishop said, that he doesn’t have a lot of players.
“We’ve got the right ones,” Bishop said.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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