BANGOR – Two summers ago, Chad Bennett was at a crossroads in his life.

He had returned from his freshman year at Alfred University (N.Y.) determined to give up playing football and pursue his education in the sun and fun of central Florida.

Before he could make the move, Bennett learned coach Gabby Price was heading up the fledgling football program at Husson College in Bangor.

With his family, a chance to play football and a quality education all right there in front of him, the Pittsfield native decided to stay home. Now, he is enjoying all of those benefits.

By morning, Bennett is an ambitious employee at Sierra Communications, a Bangor company owned by his parents, Steve and Lori.

“It’s good for me because I’m learning something at school that I can apply at my job,” he said

Later, he transforms into a hard-hitting junior cornerback for Price’s team, now nicknamed the Eagles.

Next month, Bennett will be spending some evenings taking business administration classes at Husson. Through it all, the football field is his sanctuary.

“I come to practice and it’s awesome. I just like running around the field. It’s like a personal vacation,” said Bennett, who admitted there are considerable physical challenges.

“People have hobbies so they don’t go nuts. Some people knit, some people sew, some people play football,” he laughed.

Bennett doesn’t shy away from a challenge. He is proud to be part of the Husson football team, which opens its second season Saturday at Salve Regina in Rhode Island.

“He’s a good Division III athlete,” Price said. “He’s very methodical, very competitive and very goal-oriented. He’s an analytical player, also.”

The Eagles have endured some tough times trying to start a Division III program from scratch. Husson was 0-7 in 2003.

Bennett, the Eagles’ only player with any college experience prior to last fall, looks back fondly on what the team accomplished in its inaugural season.

“It was such a good experience,” Bennett said. “It [not winning] mattered, but looking back I don’t have any regrets. Even though we were losing, it was a lot of fun.”

Bennett said coach Price and his staff made sure the players worked hard throughout, but still maintained a positive attitude in the face of setbacks.

“We had a lot of young guys out of high school,” he said. “We were just getting our feet wet, but we built character and that’s one of the most important things you can have on a football team.”

Bennett was a standout quarterback and defensive back at Maine Central Institute, helping lead the Huskies to the 2000 LTC Class C title and a state runner-up finish.

He admits he isn’t the fastest defensive back around, but instead relies on his intensity and considerable football experience to defend opposing receivers.

“He’s certainly fast enough to get the job done,” Price said. “There’s many different ways to play; being smart, understanding the game. He’s a very intelligent player.”

Bennett comes from a football family. His father, grandfather and some uncles played at Dexter High. He learned a lot about character and determination from his dad.

There was a time when Steve Bennett worked all week in Massachusetts to support his family, then returned home to Pittsfield to spend Sunday with the family before returning to work. He later found his way to Sierra Communications, which he eventually took over.

“He’s a good role model,” Chad Bennett said. “He’s always done what he had to do – and a little bit more when he could.”