OAKLAND – Messalonskee held a Class A playoff position in its grasp last year, only to have Cony of Augusta snatch it away with a last-ditch drive during their Pine Tree Conference regular-season finale.

The Eagles are using that defeat to motivate themselves for the 2004 season, according to second-year head coach Wes Littlefield.

“I know they’re hungry,” Littlefield said.

During that game with Cony, the Eagles led 6-0 for most of the way but missed on some chances to widen the lead.

Unfortunately, that came back to haunt Messalonskee after Cony went on offense late in the fourth quarter.

“With 2:35 left, they started a drive on the 1(-yard line),” Littlefield said. “They drove the length of the field. With 59 seconds left, they scored a touchdown, kicked the extra point, and won 7-6.”

A veteran Eagle squad returns for another shot at the playoffs and to improve on last year’s 3-5 record.

“These are the kids I’ve had the last couple of years,” Littlefield said. “We’re looking to have a good year.”

On offense, junior Ted Sabien is the quarterback, with seniors Ryan Prelgovisk (fullback), Chris Duffy (tailback), and Justin Mattos (wingback) ready to run the ball. The top tight-end targets are senior Dan Merrill and junior Wayne Evans.

The Messalonskee offensive line features experience, also, with seniors Collin Clifford and Chris Webb at the guard spots, senior Luke Sekete and junior Josh Cote at tackle, and junior Jamie Bonnell at center.

Many of the same players will also see time on defense.

Prelgovisk starts at nose guard for the Eagles, while Webb and Cote are the tackles and Sekete and Evans are the ends. Mattos, Bonnell, and Clifford will figure into the mix at linebacker.

In the secondary, juniors Justin Willey and Scott Tracy look to start at cornerback, while Duffy and Sabien anchor the safety spots. Sabien will also serve as Messalonskee’s punter.

“This is a pretty experienced group,” he said. “I feel pretty good.”

Will Ziegenfus will handle the placekicking chores.

“That’s a part of the game we’ve worked real hard on,” Littlefield said.

Although the Eagles have 38 players on the varsity this season, it represents a 50 percent increase from the 25 players who suited up last year and gives Messalonskee some depth in the always-tough PTC.

MESSALONSKEE EAGLES

2003 record: 3-5; 6th in PTC Class A North

Key players: Ted Sabien, QB-S-P, Jr.; Ryan Prelgovisk, FB-NG, Sr.; Chris Duffy, TB-SS, Sr.; Justin Mattos, WB-LB, Sr.; Wayne Evans, TE-DE, Jr.; Collin Clifford, OL-LB, Sr.; Luke Sekete, OL-DE, Sr.; Chris Webb, OL-DT, Sr.; Josh Cote, OL-DT, Jr.; Jamie Bonnell, C-LB, Jr.

Outlook: An experienced Eagle squad is itching to make a run at postseason play. With many starters playing both ways, remaining healthy will be key to any playoff hopes.