BANGOR – The Bangor Rams had a 2002 football season of extremes, losing their first two games, then winning six straight before having their quest for a second consecutive state Class A championship ended in a first-round playoff loss.

The 2003 edition will rely on a small corps of veterans blending with teammates getting their first opportunity to start in an effort to return to the Pine Tree Conference playoffs and challenge for a state title.

“We have seven guys who have seen substantial playing time,” said third-year Bangor head coach Mark Hackett. “We’re young at some positions, and we’ve moved people around at others.”

Numbers certainly aren’t a problem at this school of 1,510 students. Bangor has 77 varsity players from its sophomore, junior, and senior classes, along with 47 freshmen and 41 players at the eighth-grade level.

The biggest question in the Rams’ camp during preseason was who would take over for quarterback Zak Ray, a Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist now at Bates College in Lewiston.

“Zak Ray you don’t replace,” admitted Hackett.

Senior Shaun Sullivan is a returning quarterback to the program, but is being contested for the starting job by junior Jordan Heath, a basketball and baseball standout who is playing football for the first time since fifth grade.

“He’s a talented athlete, and mentally he’s very tough,” said Hackett of Heath.

Captain Mike Prentiss, a wide receiver in 2002, has been shifted to tailback where he replaces the graduated Ryan Largay.

“Mike is someone we want to find a way to get more touches,” said Hackett.

Tyler Heber and Matt Cassidy will play wingback, while Ben Payson is the fullback, and captain P.J. Dowe and Kevin Flynn give the Rams strength and athleticism at tight end. Anthony DeRosa will line up at split end.

Bangor’s strength may be most pronounced along the line of scrimmage. The offensive line has good size and athleticism in center Eric Anderson (6-0, 230), guards Trevor Lagrange (6-0, 265) and Ricky Dexter (5-10, 190), and tackles Kyle Oliver (6-3, 240) and Danny Day (5-10, 200). Jeremy Tyler (6-0, 230) and Andrew Trundy (6-6, 270) will add depth once they shake off preseason injuries.

“Our offensive and defensive lines should be a strength once we get a little healthier there,” Hackett said. “We’ve been a little banged up, but they’re coming around. A football team is only as good as its front, and I think we’ll be in pretty good shape. We have pretty good athleticism there.”

Anderson, Lagrange, and Day will anchor the interior of the Rams’ 5-2 defensive front, with Dowe and Flynn playing the ends. Ben Payson and Brian Lever are the linebackers, with Heath stepping in at free safety, Nick Payson at strong safety, and Prentiss and Aaron Gallant at cornerback.

Another significant weapon Bangor needs to replace is graduated kicker Nick Achorn, who gave the Rams good field position with deep kickoffs and field goal range to 40 yards. Heath, a former soccer player, will handle the placekicking, while Dowe is the punter, and T.J. Vanidestine and Ryan Toomey are competing for kickoff duties.

Bangor learned in season-opening losses to Skowhegan and Gardiner last September that the life of a champion is not an easy one, given the competitive nature of the Pine Tree Conference Class A ranks.

“It’s a tough, tough league,” Hackett said. “We call it a black and blue league, because there are no weak sisters on the schedule. The communities in the league have a lot of pride, and their teams come to play every week. And I think they all like to play Bangor.”

Like last year, the Rams will be tested immediately, as the 2003 opener pits the Rams against Edward Little of Auburn in a matchup of the last two PTC champions.

“They represented the league [in the state final] last year, and they had one of the best defenses in the league, so it will be a test for us.

“We lost our first two games last year, so we know we’ve got to come out of the gates quicker this year.

BANGOR RAMS

2002 results: 6-3, second in PTC, lost to Waterville in Eastern A quarterfinals

Head coach: Mark Hackett, 3rd year

Key players: P.J. Dowe, TE-DE-P, Sr.; Mike Prentiss, TB-DB. Sr.; Trevor Lagrange, OG-DL, Sr.; Eric Anderson, C-DL, Sr; Danny Day, OT-DT, Sr.; Kevin Flynn, TE-DE, Sr.; Jordan Heath, QB-FS-PK, Jr.; Ben Payson, FB-LB, Sr.; Anthony DeRosa, WR, Jr.; Shaun Sullivan, QB, Sr.; Tyler Heber, WB, Sr.; Brian Lever, LB, Sr.; Aaron Gallant, DB, Jr.; Kyle Oliver, OT, Jr.

Outlook: The battle for the quarterback job between Sullivan and Heath may prove pivotal for the Rams, who also need to develop additional depth, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. Still, a trip to Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland in late November is the ultimate goal for this program, and that’s certainly conceivable.