Brewer to tread in hallowed grounds

When it comes to the playoffs, Brewer High School’s football teams have appeared in them about as often as Halley’s Comet visits Earth.

Since Brewer’s glory era ended after the 1970 season, when Ken Perrone coached the Witches to an unbeaten season, a state title, and a No. 5 national ranking; the Witches have tasted postseason play only twice.

In 1980, Bangor and Brewer each finished 6-1 and played a second time to determine which team landed a playoff spot. Bangor won 20-14 in overtime.

Eleven years later, the Witches qualified for postseason play in an expanded and short-lived playoff system which sent eight of the 10 teams into postseason play. Brewer lost in the quarterfinals.

Fast-forward to 1996 and Brewer finds itself in unfamiliar territory again: the playoffs. Only this year marks the first time the Witches have qualified for the playoffs in a non-expanded system.

The 6-3 Witches will travel to Orono to face the 9-0 Red Riots at 7 p.m. Friday.

“I don’t think the average fan realizes what we did,” said Brewer coach Don Farnham. “But I don’t think anyone in the program realizes it yet either. It’ll probably sink in after the season’s over.”

The fourth-year coach credits a hard-working senior class, an unselfish team attitude, immediate contributions from young, first-year starters at key positions, and a suddenly stingy defensive unit that hasn’t allowed a point in its last two games.

“I think it’s the guys we don’t taive and defensive lines,” said Farnham. “And some of the other running backs who don’t get a lot of press who run real hard and block for the guys you do hear about.”

The members of a young, but quickly maturing offensive line are tight end Justin Thornton, tackles Jay Corey and Nate Briggs, guards Mike Kennedy and David Meierdirk and center Corey “Bubba” Coffin, the only returning starter.

And when Kennedy was injured, Ray Allen capably filled in.

“We lost quite a few players from last season’s line. I was worried those kids wouldn’t be able to step up and fill those roles, but they’ve surprised me at how well they’ve done,” said Coffin.

The season has been especially rewarding for Coffin and his cousin, fullback-linebacker Dan Coffin. Their family is no stranger to gridiron glory: Corey’s father Don played for state championship teams at John Bapst in the mid-1960’s and Dan’s father Dick was the starting fullback for Brewer’s legendary 1970 team.

“When I was little, I heard a lot about how good my dad and his brothers were. It’s nice to be able to keep the family success going,” said Dan Coffin.

It has also been a gratifying season for the other upperclassmen on the team who know what it’s like to go from beggar to baron.

Players like quarterback Jeff Conlon and running back Seth Burnes… Players like defensive tackle Ben Gargan, defensive end Matt Collins, cornerback Rob Pawson, and safeties John Schwarze and Kevin Getchell – who have all helped transform Brewer’s defense from an early season question mark to a strength.

When this year’s senior players were freshmen, Brewer went 3-6 in Farnham’s first season. In 1994, the Witches were 2-7. Last year was a turnaround as Brewer was 5-4. But the players’ excitement over their first winning season was tempered by the fact they missed the playoffs by one game.

“That’s why we’re not really satisfied yet. We feel like `Well, let’s try to win some games while we’re here,’ ” said senior running back-linebacker Chris O’Donnell.

“It’s been a big goal for a long time. I’m glad we finally did it because this is my last year,” said Dan Coffin.

“Right now, I think we’re just happy to be in the dance,” said Farnham.

But this time around, Farnham and his players hope to keep dancing long past midnight.