The 2004 season for the Foxcroft Academy football team ended one point and one minute too short.

The personnel is a bit different this year – in some cases dramatically so, in others it’s the same faces as last year – but after last year’s devastating 26-25 loss to Bucksport in the Eastern Maine Class C final, the Ponies are ready to bounce back and make another title run two years after they won the state crown.

“Last year we were so close but we were so far away,” senior captain James McPhee said. “But that just brought us back into this season raring to go.”

Although four of five starters on the line have graduated, Foxcroft’s biggest loss in terms of offense was Bobby Gilbert, who was a Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist last year.

The bulk of the carries this year will fall to McPhee, a second-team All-LTC fullback who racked up more than 600 yards in 2004.

But he’s not the only back the Ponies will rely on this year, and that’s what makes this Foxcroft team different.

“The way I look at it, we’ll be a lot more diversified,” head coach Paul Withee said. “We don’t have a kid who’s going to get the ball 25 times a game but we’re gonna have six, seven kids.”

Aside from McPhee, those kids include senior Joey Caparrelli, who scored seven touchdowns as a varsity back but spent last school year in Rhode Island. Justin Freeman, Jared Rideout and Brad Bellemare will also contribute.

“They’re all guys who can break out,” McPhee said.

Returning receivers include Scott McCusick and Jon Catell.

The biggest question this year will be who opens up the holes for all those backs. Josh Pelletier is the lone returning lineman. Still, Withee feels he has a deep group of about 10 linemen who just need to gain experience.

“We’ve got to get the juniors and sophomores tougher,” said Pelletier, who was first-team all-LTC. “We have some big kids who don’t move well and some small kids who need to toughen up.”

The Ponies will go with a two-quarterback system again this year. Seniors Shayne Croan and Logan Forrest will split time.

Croan, a senior captain who started his career at receiver, said he and Forrest are comfortable with the situation.

“Logan does certain things better than I do, and I do certain things better than he does,” said Croan. “We can both perform no matter when. He’s pretty fast, he throws a good ball, and if he’s at quarterback they can put me at receiver.”

Many of those same players will contribute on defense. The Ponies started off the 2004 season using a 5-3 base, but switched back to their traditional 4-4. That’s where they’ll start out this year, with McPhee and Pelletier at linebacker positions, Croan at safety and McCusick and Catell at corner.

“I think that’s going to work really well,” said McKusick, who is also a senior captain. “We’ve got a great linebacking crew and we’re getting all our defensive backs from the Eastern Maine game back. Logan’s going to step in and play some corner, he’s looked really good, and we’ve got some new kids.”

FOXCROFT PONIES

1997 results: 9-2, lost in LTC Class C final

Head coach: Paul Withee, 16th year

Key players: James McPhee, FB-LB, Sr.; Josh Pelletier, OT-ILB, Sr.; Shayne Croan, QB-DB, Sr.; Logan Forrest, QB-DB, Sr.; Jon Catell, WR-DB, Sr.; Scott McCusick, WR-DB, Sr.; Justin Freeman, HB-OLB, Sr.; Joey Caparrelli, RB-OLB, Sr.; Ian Imbert, WR-DE, Jr.; Brad Bellemare, HB-DB, Jr., Jared Rideout, HB-LB, So.

Outlook: Foxcroft has a big squad with 61 players participating in the preseason, but just 10 of them are seniors. Imbert is the younger brother of former Foxcroft standout E.J. Imbert, now playing at Central Connecticut State. The Ponies know teams will be out to get them this year – especially teams like Mattanawcook, which fell 28-27 to Foxcroft last year.