Past success is motivating Lynx

LINCOLN – Like any good Broadway production, a high school football team has understudies ready to step in to take over when needed.

The Mattanawcook Academy football team will be looking to several juniors and seniors who have waited in the wings over the past year or two to shine under the bright lights of the LTC after the 2005 squad lost in the Eastern Maine Class C final.

“I think we feel real good about our upperclassmen,” said coach Art Greenlaw in his second season leading the Lynx. “They’ve been in the program for a long time. They’ve played a lot the last couple of years.”

Five offensive starters graduated from last year’s 9-2 team, though there are several players looking to step in, Greenlaw noted.

Senior Shey Gardner leads a list of four candidates to replace graduated quarterback Dylan Hanscom, while juniors Derek Libbey and Peter Coggins and sophomore Kyle Epp are in the mix as well.

Seniors Steve Braley and Gary Perry are the leading fullback candidates to take the place of Randy Reed, while four players – senior Jesse Birmingham, juniors Jake Smith and Brady Vose and Mount Ararat of Topsham transfer Derrick Pullen – will look to replace Fitzpatrick Award semifinalist Duncan Markie and Jason Murchison at running back.

“I feel good about these guys,” Greenlaw said about the running back corps. “Someone needs to step up and establish themselves.”

The offensive line is more stable after losing center Andrew Zagorianakos and Ross Clapp to graduation. Juniors Ian and Nathan Nevells (guards) , junior Matt Brown (tackle) and senior Dan Lifer (tackle) anchor the unit, while Even Haskell and Mike Farrell are the center candidates.

A trio of seniors return at wide receiver in Nick Leonard, Josh Nickerson and Jesse Miller. Nickerson and Miller were injured for part of last season. Senior tight end Isaac Young also provides a big target, according to Greenlaw.

“He’ll be a mismatch for most people,” he said.

The Lynx return most of their defensive starters, led by juniors Devin Ireland and Brown at defensive tackle, Ian and Nathan Nevells and Braley as linebackers and Lifer and Young at defensive end.

Libbey and Gardner return as safeties, but the Lynx will have to replace both cornerback positions, with Leonard, Nickerson, Miller, Coggins and Adam Long among the candidates.

After reaching the regional final last season, the Lynx are hungry for more playoff success, Greenlaw said.

“The kids know they came close and are looking to get there [the regional final] and seal the deal,” he said. “They’re going to be disappointed if they’re not playing again in the Eastern Maine championships.

“I’ve been around enough to know that a lot of good things have to happen,” he added.

MATTANAWCOOK ACAD. LYNX

2005 record: 9-2, lost in Eastern Maine C final

Head coach: Art Greenlaw, second year

Key players: Shey Gardner, QB-S, Sr.; Steve Braley, FB-LB, Sr.; Ian Nevells, G-LB, Jr.; Nathan Nevells, G-LB, Jr.; Isaac Young, TE-DE, Sr.; Dan Lifer, T-DE, Sr.; Matt Brown, OT-DT, Jr.; Derek Libbey, QB-S, Jr.; Jesse Birmingham, RB, Sr.; Jake Smith, RB-CB-P, Jr.; Nick Leonard, WR-CB, Sr.

Outlook: A 62-player roster is working to build on last year’s success, when the Lynx returned to the Eastern Maine C title game for the first time since 1999, when MA won its first football state championship. Replacing key graduation losses will be key to MA’s success in 2006.