Young MMA football team eyes progress

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The Maine Maritime Academy football program has averaged two wins and seven losses in its last three seasons. That was also last year’s record under first-year coach Chris McKenney.

The Mariners are hoping to make some inroads this season although there will still be some growing pains with 48 freshmen and sophomores on their 56-man roster.

“We were young last year and we’re young again this year. But we’ve got some sophomores who played as freshmen a year ago and they’ve got some experience now,” said McKenney.

“We should pick up some more wins this year. We have a better overall team than we had a year ago,” said senior guard and co-captain Kendal O’Gorman of Springvale.

The Mariners had their problems defensively, ranking 12th in the 13-team New England Football Conference in points (32.2 points) and yardage allowed (384.9) per game.

“We should be better on defense. We’re a little quicker than last year. But there’s a lot of room for improvement,” said the 40-year-old McKenney. “It’s still a learning process but, hopefully, we’ll eliminate our mistakes and be in better position to make plays. We got beat deep and we weren’t able to make tackles last year. Hopefully, we’ve become better tacklers.”

Sophomore outside linebacker and co-captain Alger Yanush of Milford said he has been impressed with the freshman class and feels they will contribute immediately.

“Some of them had real good times in the 40 [yard dash] and there are some in the defensive line who are real aggressive and who want to get to the ball and hit,” said Yanush, who was in on a team-leading 100 tackles as a freshman last year.

“I’d like to get three or four more tackles a game this season,” said the 6-foot, 230-pound former Old Town High School standout. “I’ve put on 20-30 pounds since last year and it’s a little easier to shed blockers.”

The other starting linebackers in the 4-4 alignment will be Belfast sophomore Josh Pooler, converted defensive back Ian Hanson, a sophomore from Livermore, and freshman Dan Rosen. Yanush and Hanson will be the outside backers.

The defensive line comprises sophomore tackles Vance Gray of Brewer and Jared Slauenwhite of Bangor; sophomore end Ben Graffius of Mount Desert Island High School and Bradley freshman Brian DeGrasse, who will play end and tackle.

Winslow senior Eric McCaslin and fellow senior Joe Barrett will be the cornerbacks with Winthrop freshman Anthony McPherson at free safety.

On the other side of the ball, the Mariners were ninth in total offense (265.9 ypg) but 12th in scoring offense (14.1 ppg) due in part to the fact they turned the ball over more than anybody else in the conference (37 times).

“We’ve got to hold on to the ball,” said McKenney. “We like to run the ball but, hopefully, we’ll throw the ball with more accuracy.”

NEFC Rookie of the Year Don Thibodeau of Shawmut and Lawrence High rushed for 907 yards a year ago and fellow freshman Justin Cummings of Millinocket, a halfback, ran for 471 more yards.

Sophomore quarterback Patrick Bard of Winslow returns after missing most of last season due to injury.

Old Town’s Jeremy Belyea filled in for him and they will both see playing time. Belyea is a sophomore.

Scarborough sophomore Mark Googins will be the other halfback and the offensive line will be composed of Greene sophomore Anthony Signer at center; O’Gorman and Gorham freshman Joseph Crowe at the guard spots; Gorham freshman Cam Rand and Portland junior Nathan Hellen at the tackles and wide receivers Kyle Meehan of Brewer, a senior; Penobscot sophomore Cory Black and junior Curtis Brown, who caught 23 passes for 453 yards and had 338 yards in kick-off return yards.

Norridgewock freshman B.J. Dunlap will do the placekicking and Thibodeau will punt after averaging 32.8 yards per punt last year.

Maine Maritime Academy opens at home against Mount Ida on Saturday.

Maine Maritime Academy

2002 Football Schedule

September

14 – Mount Ida, 1 p.m.

21 -at Curry College, 1 p.m.

28 – Massachusetts Maritime, 1 p.m.

October

5 – at Nichols, 1 p.m.

12 – Bridgewater State, 1 p.m.

19 – Fitchburg State, 1 p.m.

26 – at Worcester State, 1 p.m.

November

2 – Westfield State, noon

9 – at Framingham State, noon