So how do you know when you’re in for a long season?

How about when one of your best players suffers a season-ending knee injury while high-fiving his teammates during pre-game introductions.

Welcome to the life of George “Toogie” McKay, who is in his 22nd year as the head football coach at Mount Desert Island High School.

He lost two other standouts last season as one suffered a concussion in a car accident and another was hobbled by a sprained ankle.

The Trojans, who didn’t have much depth to start with, struggled to a 1-8 campaign while being outscored 344-124.

At one time last season, players who occupied 13 of the 22 starting positions were sidelined with injuries.

They won’t have much depth again this season, but they should be significantly improved thanks to a new offseason training program.

“It’s called the Bigger, Faster, Stronger program and it involves weight training, running, and plyometrics,” explained the 57-year-old McKay. “It’s very comprehensive. We’ve seen some great advances.”

He said the program’s “real concentration is making them faster” and that has occurred among the 10 players who were regular participants.

McKay has only 23 players in his top three classes, but two of them are senior halfback-middle linebacker Dave Zabala and junior fullback-defensive end John Lewis.

“They are two outstanding running backs. If we can keep them healthy, we should do OK,” said McKay.

Zabala, according to McKay, is the “strongest kid I’ve ever coached.”

Lewis was the Trojans’ leading rusher last season with 618 yards on 122 carries and Zabala rushed for 221 yards on just 26 carries.

Lewis was hampered by a sprained ankle and Zabala missed most of the season with the concussion.

Zabala will also be a middle linebacker on defense while Lewis plays end.

Lewis’ twin, Isaac, is a two-way end.

Offensive tackle-middle linebacker Zach Carney, who “may be the best-conditioned lineman in Eastern Maine,” according to McKay, has a clean bill of health this year after missing half of last season with a broken wrist.

Seniors Jon Dow and Dale Beaudoin will be the quarterbacks with Beaudoin being the likely starter in the wing-T offense. They are two of only five seniors on the roster. Dow is also a cornerback.

“This is quite a step up for Dale, but I’ve been very happy with him so far,” said McKay.

Carney and strong-side guard John Reeves, a junior, will anchor the offensive line.

“We’re a little undersized in the offensive line. But we’re quicker than we were last year, and our physical conditioning is a lot better,” said McKay.

McKay said his Trojans are also quicker on defense and pointed out that “we’ve worked really hard on tackling. We’re ahead of where we have been [in the past].”

McKay said he hopes to get more players involved in the Bigger, Faster, Stronger program during the offseason and continue to rebuild the program.

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND TROJANS

2001 results: 1-8 in LTC Class B

Head coach: Toogie McKay, 22nd year

Key players: David Zabala, HB-MLB, Sr.; John Lewis, FB-DE, Jr.; Zach Carney, OT-MLB, Jr.; John Reeves, G-MG, Jr.; Isaac Lewis, TE-DE, Jr., Jon Dow, SE-CB, Sr., Dale Beaudoin, QB, Sr.

Outlook: The Trojans should be better than last year, but they have only 35 players and can ill afford a lot of injuries. The Trojans will be hard-pressed against the playoff contenders. Zabala and John Lewis are quality backs who will try to rebound from an injury-filled 2001 season.