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The program is now in its third year, but the players have yet to be on the field for one varsity play.
The Camden Hills Windjammers will play a full schedule this season, but that elusive varsity status is still at least a year away as they will play an exhibition schedule as a bye-week opponent against Pine Tree Conference Class B teams.
“It has been a process since 2005, but the ultimate goal is where we’re headed with varsity football established at Camden Hills,” said head coach Linwood Downs. “We have a good core group of kids that has been with us since 2005.”
The team is 31 players strong. Only three of them are seniors, but the emphasis with this team is the future, and with 30 kids on the middle school team, the future is looking bright.
No one is predicting championships for the Windjammers in the near future, but neither are they expecting to be league doormats either.
“I’m sure the expectation is we’ll go into every game and get our ass kicked,” said Downs. “That isn’t my expectation, but I can see how people outside will think that, so we have to play and disabuse people of that notion.
“Until they’ve played at the varsity level, they haven’t really played and right now, there are no expectations.”
Except to play hard and continuously improve.
The ‘Jammers will operate out of an I-formation on offense and a 4-3 alignment on defense. With eight starters returning on offense and seven on defense, Downs won’t have to invest as much time in basics and fundamentals. Instead, he can concentrate more on intricacies and extras.
“Virtually my whole offensive line is back, since we only have to replace one guy. We also have a new starting tailback and one new receiver,” said Downs. “In some instances, we’re able to work on a few extra things and expand our repertoire, and be more flexible as well.”
The new tailback appears to be Jake Powers, a very quick sophomore who will also start at cornerback. The new receiver is Cameron Gartley, who will also play free safety.
“We’re not going to have one guy carry the load 30 times a game,” Downs said. “We have a lot of good skill players and we need to spread that load out.”
That even applies to quarterback, where sophomore Collin Downs, Linwood’s son, and junior Thomas Kennedy have both impressed the coach.
“I won’t say we platoon guys, but we may use both guys at quarterbacks to give multiple looks to the defenses,” Downs explained.
The games may not count in the record books, but they mean quite a bit to the players and coaches, especially if they can use this season as a springboard into their first varsity season.
“I’m sure it’ll be a challenging season for us in a lot of respects, but hopefully that will help us further develop our program,” said Downs.
CAMDEN HILLS WINDJAMMERS
2007 results: club team
Head coach: Linwood Downs, 1st year
Key players: Alan Muir, OG-NG, Sr.; Taylor Gartley, WR-OLB, Sr.; Cameron, WR-FS, Jr.; Thomas Kennedy, TE-SS, Jr.; Justin Staggs, WR-S, Sr.; Collin Downs, QB-CB, So.; Jake Powers, TB-CB, So.; Adam Landwehr, TE-OLB, So.; Taylor Harrison, OT-ILB, So.; Jake Halberg, OG-ILB, So; Owen Mahan, OT-DE, So.
Outlook: The Windjammers are plying unfamiliar waters and may not be under full sail, experience-wise, but they are not dead in the water after two seasons of developmental play. Experience, improvement and consistency are the primary goals and Downs is pleased with the direction his fledgling program is sailing.
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