Winslow must be watched Skill positions strong for Raiders

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Over the years, low-key Winslow coach Mike Siviski has elevated good-natured preseason poor-mouthing to an art form.

His team always has holes to fill. The Black Raiders – to him, at least – are never the favorites.

This year is (apparently) no different.

“We’ll probably be a very different team this year,” Siviski said as preseason practice entered its second week. “We had a very powerful line last year, and a couple of breakaway backs. … What we’re trying to do now is rebuild that [line], offensively and defensively.”

It would be tempting to believe the personable coach, who is beginning his 16th year at the helm. Perhaps this is the year that Winslow becomes … vulnerable.

Or maybe not.

Look at Siviski’s track record: His Raiders have lost exactly 14 regular-season games over the past decade.

And last year? They won the LTC “B” crown and capped an 11-1 campaign with the state Class B title.

Don’t start writing off the Black Raiders yet.

While Siviski does have concerns about the line – “We’ve just got a bunch of kids who lack varsity experience, and the only way to get it is on the field,” he says – he’s not too concerned about his returnees at the skill positions.

Five reasons for that optimism:

. Senior quarterback Chris Langlais, a 6-3, 190-pounder.

“He’s smart and he really understands the game,” Siviski said. “We had one game where he audibled 60 percent of the time. I called the formation and he called the play. … Of course, when you’ve got a line like we had, you can do things like that.”

. Junior tailback Ricky Vigue.

“He’s a slashing type of runner, and he scored two TDs in the state game,” Siviski said.

. Senior fullback-linebacker James Bridges, a 6-1, 230-pounder who tore up his knee at a football camp before his junior year and didn’t play last season. That forced Siviski to turn standout tailback Chris McCabe into a fullback, but also allowed Vigue to emerge as a sophomore star.

“He’s a force,” Siviski said of Bridges. “He’s looking forward to getting two years [worth] of football in one, I guess.”

. Wideouts Sam Hapworth and Chris McInnis.

“They both have good speed,” Siviski said, before deflecting attention back to a team

he expects to rule the LTC.

“But nobody has speed like Belfast.”

Overall, the Black Raiders are a lot like a lot of the teams they’ll face while defending their state crown … at least, that’s what Siviski says.

“We’re just doing what everybody else is: Just trying to fill some spots,” Siviski said.

Believe that at your own risk.

WINSLOW BLACK RAIDERS

2000 results: 11-1, state Class B champs

Head coach: Mike Siviski, 16th year

Key players: Chris Langlais, QB, Sr.; Ricky Vigue, TB, Jr.; Sam Hapworth, WR, Sr.; Chris McInnis, WR, Sr.; James Bridges, FB-LB, Sr.; Shawn Roy, OG-DT, Sr.; Ken Nadeau, RG-NT, Sr.; Chris Desrosier, OT-DT, Soph.; Nick Souviney, C, Soph.; Dan Burke, OT-DT, Sr; Derek Runnells, DE, Soph.; Shawn Poulin, OG, Soph.; Herby Fournier, LB, Jr.

Outlook: The Black Raiders hope its unproven line will be able to provide a skilled backfield room to operate, and give Langlais time to find a pair of top-notch wideouts in Hapworth and McInnis. Langlais is a heady performer who has earned his coach’s confidence with good reason: He helped the Raiders win a state championship as a junior. While not overly big, the young line is speedy, and should improve steadily as the year progresses. Pencil Winslow into playoff contention: Siviski and his staff will round them into fine shape by late October.