Gridiron season is underway> EM teams are hard at work

Bangor football coach Gabby Price had his Rams alternatively laughing, groaning and screaming on the second day of high school football practice yesterday afternoon.

Seventy-three players – about half of which are returnees – ran through tackling, receiving and passing drills and did conditioning work in two two-hour practices at the high school’s practice field.

“It’s still early but the kids have tremendous life,” Price said after the day’s second session.

Price ran drills for the linebackers and running backs, instructing the players to get affectionate with the game.

“If I was a girl, what would you do?” Price asked the laughing group. “He takes a step at you, you kiss him!”

Aside from kissing, Price said he will focus on conditioning and fundamentals to get the team re-focused after summer vacation.

“We’ve worked on being in position, just letting yourself go to make the play,” he said. “We have to assess personnel and scout everyone. We try to tweak everything.”

“It’s still quite early, but we couldn’t be happier. Everyone is fighting for position.”

While practice at Bangor runs the same way it has for years, Orono has a new face on the sideline. Tim McCluskey took over for coach Bob Lucy for the season while Lucy takes a one-year sabbatical.

McCluskey played for Orono’s 1984 Class B State runner-up team and returned to the school as an assistant coach for the defensive line and tight ends. He was the head freshman football coach last season.

McCluskey said his first practice as head coach was “invigorating.”

” was something I’ve always dreamt of,” he added. “It was quite an honor when they asked me and to even be considered.”

The Red Riots’ practices also focus on conditioning, and so far McCluskey said his 35 kids have done well.

“I’m very happy with the kids’ response. They’ve done well with what they’ve been asked to do.”

McCluskey said several players, including linebacker J.B. Soucy and tight end Kevin Stecker, have stood out so far.

“They both worked hard over the summer,” he said of the two sophomores.

At Old Town, coach Ian Braun was also pleased with the Indians’ first few days of practice.

“It went very well,” Braun said. “We worked real hard and we didn’t have any injuries. We had a good day.”

“Most of the kids did some conditioning during the summer so we pushed a little harder than we would,” he added.

Braun said among his 35 players are key returnees Zach Brandmeier, a tackle/guard who returned with a healthy knee and 40 pounds lighter and Justin Brown, last season’s starting center. Brown anchored the Indians’ 4×100 relay during spring track. Braun noticed Brown’s speed; the former center is now a fullback.

But Braun said no one player is set in any position until the whole team is ready for the season.

“We`re going to work on timing of plays and keep up with conditioning so we`re ready to go. It takes a lot of reps to get things back on track. It takes a lot of practice.