BUCKSPORT – While the sun was setting over the nearby Penobscot Narrows Bridge on a recent late-August afternoon, it is beginning to rise on a new football season at Bucksport High School.

Expectations are always high in Bucksport, but they may be higher this year after the Golden Bucks were knocked out of the LTC playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive year by Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln – albeit on their home turf.

“Our expectations are always high,” said head coach Joel Sankey, now in his 13th year at the helm. “We expect the most from our kids, we expect the most from ourselves. We know its going to be a dogfight this year.”

The attitude in this year’s training camp is intense, and senior quarterback-defensive back Derek Fish said after the back-to-back playoff losses, a sense of urgency is present.

“There definitely is,” captain Fish said. “It happened two years in a row against the same exact team, so there’s definitely a sense of urgency for this year.”

Fish leads a talented backfield, along with junior tailback Nate Warren, who enjoyed a 1,000-yard sophomore season.

Fish will have plenty of speedy receivers to throw to in Zach Jellison, Cam Wentworth and Isaac Redman.

Sankey noted that when he first came to Bucksport, “we threw the ball 30-35 times a game,” but when there is a 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, the load on the passing game is much lighter.

“We don’t do that anymore,” Sankey said, but he added that the Bucks will “probably throw a little bit more than last year.”

Leading the way in clearing the holes for Warren and protecting Fish up front will be offensive linemen and senior co-captains Logan Adams and Dylan Small.

Small noted that Bucksport’s line won’t be the biggest in the LTC, but size isn’t everything in football.

“We’re not the biggest line but we’re quick and we like to get off the ball,” said Small, who like Adams also plays linebacker.

Both will backbone Bucksport’s strong linebacking corps in a 4-4 base defense.

“Our defense is going to be leading us the whole way,” Adams said.

One thing that Fish has noticed in camp thus far is that the Bucks are coming together better than in years past.

“This year we’re going to be more of a team,” Fish said. “The last couple years we haven’t been much of a team, so this year we’re all going to pull together.”

The Friday Night Lights that always shine on Broadway from week to week give Sankey’s club that little nugget of extra energy and makes Carmichael Field a tough place for any opponent.

“They love to play here on Friday nights, the crowd’s good,” Sankey said. “This is a football town, a great community with great support. It’s a good time.”

BUCKSPORT GOLDEN BUCKS

2006 results: 7-3, lost in LTC semifinals

Head Coach: Joel Sankey, 13th year

Key Players: Dylan Small, OL-LB, Sr.; Logan Adams, OL-LB, Sr.; Derek Fish, QB-DB, Sr.; Nate Warren, RB, Jr.

Outlook: The combination of speed, talent and athleticism make the Golden Bucks a legitimate contender for regional and state championship crowns. With a dangerous running threat in Nate Warren in the backfield and a strong passing game led by Derek Fish, the Bucks have the ability to put up points in a hurry. Look for coach Joel Sankey’s club to mix in a lot of play-action with its power running game.