The road to success in what used to be called Division I-AA football is filled with challenges, particularly for someone from Maine’s relatively small gridiron world.

At 6-foot-3 1/2, 280 pounds, Corinna’s Steve Shea looks all the part of someone capable of making that transition.

But he has one other thing working against him – technically he has never played in a countable varsity football game.

Now winding down his final weeks as a senior at Nokomis Regional High School of Newport, Shea has been a key member of the Warriors’ fledgling football program, which will make its varsity debut this fall.

And that’s all been a bonus for this 18-year-old, who believed his playing days were over even before he reached high school, after several years spent in Dexter’s youth program.

“I thought I probably wouldn’t get another shot unless I moved somewhere,” said Shea, “which I wasn’t going to do.”

Shea didn’t go find a football program. One found him, and when Nokomis decided to field a football team for the first time two years ago, Shea was at the front of the line.

“I first heard about it the end of my sophomore year,” said Shea, who had played golf during his first two autumns at Nokomis. “I was really excited.”

Shea and the Warriors found a veteran leader in former Dexter, Stearns of Millinocket and Skowhegan coach Dave Evans, and the program quickly gained popularity.

Nokomis played fellow developmental programs and other subvarsity foes in 2005, then battled Class A teams during their regular-season bye weeks last fall.

“I was kind of nervous,” said Shea of the Class A schedule. “I didn’t want to be embarrassed, because the teams we were playing were pretty good.”

“But it was good overall. I got to see that we could compete at the varsity level. It showed I could play with them, it gave me a lot of confidence.”

Some college recruiters also gained confidence that Shea might have a future at the next level. That included the University of Maine, which has invited Shea to walk onto its program this fall.

Shea can’t wait, for the reality of that invitation came last weekend when he attended the Black Bears’ annual Blue-White spring scrimmage at Alfond Stadium on the Orono campus.

“It was incredible to think that this was where I was going to be next year,” said Shea.

It will not be easy for Shea, who understands his emergence from the weight room to the playing field likely will take years.

“It’s going to be hard,” said Shea, also a basketball player and track athlete at Nokomis. “I know I’m not where the other linemen are yet. It’s very physical, and I know I’ve got to get stronger. But I think I can contribute a lot, and I believe I have the determination to make it there.”

Shea’s determination is not without precedent. Matt Mulligan attended Penobscot Valley High School in Howland – which does not offer football. He first burst onto the competitive football scene at Husson College in Bangor, and now is a contributing tight end at Maine.

Steve Shea similarly might be described as a football diamond in the rough at this stage of his career. That’s OK by him.

“The coaches said I didn’t have any bad habits because I haven’t had time to develop any,” Shea said. “They said I can be taught a lot because I don’t know a lot right now.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net.