LINCOLN – Expectations are always high come football season in this mill town.

In other words, a formidable group of juniors and seniors that will don the silver and red of Mattanawcook Academy this fall won’t accept anything similar to last year’s LTC semifinal loss.

“They want to go further than last year, these guys definitely want to go further. We know who we need to beat,” said first-year head coach Dave Hainer, who had previously been the defensive coordinator under the now retired Art Greenlaw.

To reach the promised land in the LTC ranks, the Lynx will count on a spread offense led by quarterbacks Ethan White and Josh Pelkey, both juniors.

“Offensively, we’re not going to be a power team, we’re going to be a finesse team,” Hainer said.

White and Pelkey are among a talented group of juniors who Hainer said will play key roles.

“These juniors were great last year in a limited role. They played some varsity, but they didn’t play every down,” said Hainer. “They’re taking on leadership roles.”

And quite well so far.

“They’re stepping right up,” Hainer said. “They’re going to have to adjust from being role players as sophomores to being key contributors as juniors.”

Seniors Jake Ireland and Jake Ferland will be pivotal players on an offensive line on which Ireland is the only returnee.

“We’re going to be quicker up front, more zone blocking, hopefully get our skill people out in space,” Hainer said.

Hainer added that Ireland is being converted from a fullback to an offensive tackle.

Given that, the Lynx won’t have the size advantage they’ve had in the past, so they’ll have to rely on their speed and athleticism.

“We need to be conditioned because we’re going to run a spread offense and we’ve got a lot of guys going both ways,” said Hainer. “We’re going to have to spread the field, outhustle people.”

Pelkey and White will likely split time behind center, Hainer said, but Pelkey may see some time at running back behind starter Brady Vose while White can line up in the backfield or at end.

All three of those threats, along with fullbacks Josh Murchison and Greg Hand, should make for a vaunted Mattanawcook offensive unit.

“If those guys get out in space, they’re tough to bring down,” Hainer said.

The Lynx have good speed and size in the linebacking corps, a quick secondary and will use a four-man front while trying again to use their athleticism to their advantage.

“Last year we were a four-man team but we mixed it up a three-man from with someone right on the nose, but we don’t have a true nose tackle this year,” Hainer said.

Josh Pelkey and Gardner at safety and Vose at cornerback head up the secondary with Murchison, Ireland and Nolan Pelkey leading the linebacking crew.

“Defensively we’re going to be a very physical, team, stressing gang tackling,” said Hainer. “We’ve always been one of the hardest hitting teams in the league, we’re not going to get away from that.”

With that formidable blend of strength and quickness, the Lynx should be more than prepared for a blend of tough offenses they’ll face.

“The LTC used to be more a running league, but [John] Bapst is spreading teams out more, Rockland runs a lot of spread … you’ve got to be ready for most of these teams, ready for the run and the pass,” Hainer said.

MATTANAWCOOK ACADEMY LYNX

2007 results: 7-3, lost in LTC semifinals

Head Coach: Dave Hainer, 1st year

Key Players: Brady Vose, RB-CB, Sr.; Josh Murchison, FB-LB, Sr.; Greg Hand, FB-DE, Jr.; Nathan Ireland, C-LB, Sr.; Jake Ferland, G-DE, Sr.; Derek Gardner, WR-S, Jr.; Ethan White, QB-RB-WR-CB, Jr.; Josh Pelkey, QB-S, Jr.; Nolan Pelkey, TE-LB, So.

Outlook: The Lynx feature a great deal of athleticism on both sides of the ball, which should make up for a lack of size up front. White is a versatile player who can line up at any position in the backfield. Hainer’s club is very motivated after a first-round postseason exit last fall.