ROCKLAND – After flirting with extinction less than 10 years ago, the Rockland High School football team has posted three consecutive 5-4 seasons – its first winning campaigns since the late 1980s.

But what that success has yet to bring the Tigers is a trip to postseason play, though that may change in 2006.

“Our youth program, our middle school program and our high school program I think have finally turned the corner, and it’s really starting to pay off at the high school level,” said sixth-year head coach Daryle Weiss

“We had an undefeated team at the middle school, and that’s this year’s senior class, and we won the youth state championship last year and we beat Portland for that, so I think the next logical step is for the high school team to start putting up more wins.”

Rockland boasts experience and depth on both sides of the ball, led by junior quarterback-free safety Andrew Weiss, the coach’s nephew. Weiss has passed for more than 2,700 yards and rushed for more than 1,300 yards in two seasons as a starter. He’s joined in the backfield by senior Mike Marsh, a 1,000-yard rusher, while seniors Dom Morrill, Josh Elwell and Derrick Tripp are three veteran receiving threats behind a line led by seniors Dale Damon and Vern Kvorjak that returns four starters.

That experience also transfers to the Tigers’ 3-4 defense, which includes nose guards Mark Boynton and Travis Hall and ends Dave Searle and Dale Damon up front and has Weiss, Morrill, Elwell and Tripp manning the secondary behind linebackers Kvorjak, Tyler Patterson, Nick Baudanza and Joe Simmons.

“Obviously in every season you want to win every game, and our focus is no different this year than it’s ever been,” said coach Weiss. “We want to win every game, and we’re going to go out and try to do that every week.”

One key for Rockland will be to finish what it starts in every game. Last year, the Tigers led Old Orchard Beach 16-0 at halftime but lost 28-16, and led Bucksport 14-6 at the break only to lose 30-21.

“One of the things we’ve talked about a lot is finishing,” Weiss said. “Finishing plays, finishing drives, finishing games. We’ve got to step up to that challenge.”

Weiss and his players alike are optimistic that will happen, in part because of the camaraderie that exists within the squad.

“This is a team that’s got a lot more character, and a lot more characters,” he said. “This year’s team really seems to blend well together. They like each other and are friends, and it’s really up to them at this point. I’ve told them to show me your character.’ That’s kind of our slogan, to display it in practice, display it in school and display it in the community, and these kids are all doing that. There are 50 kids out here, and every one’s a good kid that I’d invite over to dinner.”

ROCKLAND TIGERS

2005 results: 5-4, fifth in LTC Class C

Head coach: Daryle Weiss, sixth year

Key players: Mike Marsh, RB, Sr.; Josh Elwell, WR-CB-Sr.; Dom Morrill, TE-FS, Sr.; Derrick Tripp, WR-CB, Sr.; Vern Kvorjak, G-ILB, Sr.; Dale Damon, T-DE, Sr.; Andrew Weiss, QB-SS, Jr.; Mark Boynton, NG, Jr.; Dave Searle, G-DE, Soph.; Nick Baudanza, OLB, Soph.

Season outlook: The Tigers have the offensive weapons to challenge any defense, with Andrew Weiss accounting for some 4,000 total yards in his first two years at quarterback and Marsh the leading returning rusher in the LTC ranks this year after gaining more than 1,000 yards as a junior. Rockland also has a talented receiving corps led by Dom Morrill and Josh Elwell. Rockland’s fate may rest on an improved defense buoyed by the presence of new defensive coordinator Archie Stalcup, a former head coach and defensive coordinator at Div. I-AA LaSalle. Rockland is coming off three straight 5-4 seasons but are focused on a postseason breakthrough in 2006.