Bangor ready to move on 5 suspensions fail to deter Rams’ title quest

BANGOR – Less than 24 hours after five members of Bangor’s varsity football team were suspended late Wednesday, the Bangor Rams tried to refocus on football Thursday.

There was little time to bemoan the suspension of those five student-athletes from school as well as the team as the rest of the unbeaten Rams’ squad was busy preparing for Saturday’s Class A state championship game against Portland.

“It’s not a good thing. It was unfortunate and we’re just trying to put it behind us,” said Rams senior captain and two-way lineman Ben Guerette. “I know some people were talking like the season’s over, but really, the biggest game is coming up Saturday.”

The five players were suspended after two allegedly were observed smoking marijuana while accompanied by the other three.

All four of Bangor’s captains were busy mobilizing teammates in the wake of Wednesday’s incident, which began when the five players caught the attention of Maine Mall security officials monitoring security cameras located in the parking lot outside the mall. The team was at the South Portland mall after practicing on Fitzpatrick Stadium’s artificial turf field in Portland.

Lt. Mark Clark of the South Portland Police Department confirmed Thursday that one of the five players was also summoned on a charge of possession of a Schedule W drug after police found he had an oxycodone pill on him. Citing confidentiality requirements when dealing with juveniles, Clark said he could not release the name of the 17-year-old.

Clark said the youths were returned to the mall and confronted by team officials and later by a police officer who was handed the oxycodone pill by the student.

No other summonses were issued or charges filed, Clark said.

Bangor senior captain and two-way starter Chris Bombardier said he doesn’t like talking about the incident.

“I’m disappointed because all of them were my friends, but I was really close to a couple of them,” said Bombardier. “This has probably been the hardest day yet this year. I didn’t really want to be here all day. … Practice helped, being around my other friends, and back to football.”

Hackett said the school has dealt with the situation and the team is ready to move on.

“I think the lesson here is you have to do what’s right all the time, not just when it’s convenient,” Hackett said. “And when you’re not doing the right thing, it’ll be corrected. Hopefully we can help them to help themselves.”

Hackett wouldn’t divulge the names of the suspended players. It’s believed that four of them were starters this season, although Hackett said he didn’t have to do a major overhaul of the lineup.

“It’s like one of our coaches said, we’re not bringing the JV team down to play Portland,” said Hackett. “I’d say we’ve had to do some shuffling, but no one aspect of our game has been decimated.

“We’re either the first- or second-best team in the state still, even with the suspensions. We’ll have to see which one on Saturday. We’re going to play four quarters and they’ll know Bangor showed up.”

Hackett said the rampant injury problems the Rams had early in the season are now a blessing because he now has guys stepping in who are already game-ready.

Portland head coach Mike Bailey said the suspensions caused turmoil Bangor didn’t need.

“Unfortunately, it can happen to any of us in this day and age,” he said. “You just keep your fingers crossed. They know the difference between right and wrong. Unfortunately, kids don’t think.”

Bailey isn’t expecting a cakewalk, and he’s making sure his players know it.

“The kids know because it’s been on the news down here. I’ll address it with them because they’ll think it’s gonna be easier without even knowing who the players are,” Bailey said. “They’ll say ‘Oh, we’re gonna kill them now.’ Then they’ll come up against the notion that if we do win, it’ll be a tainted victory.

“Obviously, this is a good Bangor team with great tradition which probably has some good people who can fill in. They’re coming down here to win a gold ball with or without these guys.”

Rumors were circulating Thursday about possible reinstatement of some of the players, rumors that were quashed by Bangor Superintendent of Schools Sandy Ervin.

“No reinstatements are pending and there’s been no discussion of that that I know of. Nothing’s changed, especially not when it comes to who’s going to win,” Ervin said with a slight chuckle.

Not only was practice productive Thursday, coaches and players called it one of the season’s best.

“Tough day to be in school, yeah. I don’t know how many times people came up to me asking about it,” said captain and tailback Buddy Nickerson. “It felt a lot better to get out there practicing.”

“It helped us a lot getting out there on the field and getting it off our minds for a couple hours,” said captain and tight end-linebacker Derrick Shain. “This has been a memorable season, but this is one part I’d like to forget.”

NEWS reporter Doug Kesseli also contributed to this story.