Winslow relying on speed and execution

WINSLOW – Ask about the makeup of the Winslow High football roster, and you’ll generally get the same answer every year.

“We’re pretty small, we don’t have much size,” said Mike Siviski, now in his 20th year as the Black Raiders’ head coach. “We’ll have to rely on speed and execution.”

Speed, execution and a decent amount of size along the line of scrimmage enabled Winslow to win the Eastern Maine Class B title and a trip to the state final last fall.

The Black Raiders won’t be as big up front this year, but several key juniors – including starting quarterback Stephen Siviski, the coach’s son, and speedy tailback Justin Lindie – now have a year of varsity experience to go with their considerable talents.

The younger Siviski completed a Pine Tree Conference Class B-best 59 percent of his passes during the 2004 regular season, earning second-team all-conference accolades. Lindie also was a second-team All-PTC B choice as a sophomore after rushing for 564 yards and 11 touchdowns while sharing the carries with older brother Ryan, now graduated.

That junior class also includes Kevin McCabe, a tight end and defensive end expected to step forward as a receiver this year with the graduation loss of All-PTC B wideout Eric Lopez, fullback-linebacker John Goulette and Ben Poulin, the first-team All-PTC B place-kicker a year ago.

“Our juniors have had a lot of success in athletics,” said coach Siviski.

Mike Rancourt, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior, and 6-1, 205-pound senior Barrett Hoskins, will anchor both sides of the line, which is in a bit of a rebuilding mode.

“We lost a couple of really big linemen from last year that we’re trying to replace,” Siviski said. “The development of our offensive line will be key.”

The Winslow defense features a talented linebacking combination of Stephen Siviski, Brandon Bellows and John Goulette, and a veteran secondary led by Lindie and senior Jared Maroon.

In Poulin, Winslow has a kicker who has made 73 of 79 extra-point kicks over two seasons and is a source of good field position thanks to his deep kickoffs.

“He’s a field goal threat from inside the 30, and his kickoffs are even deeper this year,” Siviski said. “We’ve had our share of all-conference kickers over the years, and he’s right in line with those other kids.”

The Black Raiders suit up 36 players from grades 10-12, and while there is a decent amount of experience, Siviski hopes to get increased contributions from throughout the varsity roster.

“We don’t have a whole lot of depth, so we’re working on developing depth with our younger players,” Siviski said.

The Black Raiders begin their season against two of the other three teams to qualify for postseason play a year ago. Winslow opens at home against Leavitt of Turner Center – a team that defeated the Black Raiders in 2004 – and visits Belfast in Week 2.

Winslow also faces 2004 Class A playoff qualifier Gardiner, which dropped to Class B during the offseason, in Week 5 and closes out its regular-season schedule with the renewal of its crossriver rivalry with Waterville, another team that has dropped from Class A.

WINSLOW BLACK RAIDERS

2004 results: 9-3, Eastern Maine Class B champion

Head coach: Mike Siviski, 20th year

Key players: Mike Rancourt, C-DT, Sr.; Kevin McCabe, TE-DE, Jr.; Stephen Siviski, QB-LB, Jr.; Justin Lindie, RB-DB, Jr.; Jared Maroon, RB-DB, Sr.; John Goulette, FB-LB, Jr.; Barrett Hoskins, OT-NG, Sr.; Ben Poulin, PK, Jr.; Brandon Bellows, LB, Sr.

Outlook: Winslow boasts a talented junior class that already has tasted success with last year’s run to the Class B state final. The Black Raiders’ offense features the speed of Lindie and the savvy of Siviski. Winslow isn’t big, but team quickness and aggressiveness should land the Black Raiders back in the playoffs.