BAR HARBOR – Two years ago, when Mount Desert Island’s freshman football team went 6-1, football was fun for the young Trojans.

But when last year’s varsity went winless, things didn’t have the same feel for the sophomore class.

In this year’s preseason, however, the junior Trojans found themselves moving the ball well again in a scrimmage. And suddenly, the old feeling was back.

“I was just talking about that with some of my friends,” said receiver Chris Walton, one of three junior captains. “We’re finally having fun again.”

The Trojans are hoping that translates to the regular season, too. Despite the 0-9 record in 2004, MDI head coach Mark Shields had nine sophomores starting on both sides of the ball which means the Trojans are young but experienced this season.

Most of those players are back this year, including quick quarterback Sean Paradis. He went into last season as the backup, but became the starter when senior Dale Beaudoin became a receiver.

“He’s throwing a little better and he’s running the offense a lot better,” junior fullback Chris Ward said of Paradis. “He knows where to throw it now.”

Walton will again be among Paradis’ targets, along with junior Alex Keene, a long jumper on the MDI track team who hasn’t played football since his freshman year.

The Trojans have their most depth at tailback, where four players with good quickness and athleticism will compete for time.

“It’s going to be whoever runs the hardest each night,” Shields said.

Juniors Tyler Murphy, Pat Murphy (not related) and sophomore Jon Hall, will be joined by senior Jeremiah Cousins, whose family moved to the island from Alaska last year.

“He’s an extremely tough kid, hits hard on defense and he can run a little bit,” Shields said. “So right now I still have not established who my starting tailback is. It could take a few games.”

The juniors like the looks of Hall, too.

“He’s really good, definitely opens your eyes,” Walton said. “When we see him run we’re like, wow, he’s only a sophomore. So he’s definitely going to be involved.”

Two senior linemen, Brandon Chase and Peter McCann, have both graduated and that’s where the Trojans are the thinnest in terms of depth and size.

Shields said it may take a few weeks into the season to solidify his starters, although one of them is sure to be junior tackle Andrew Leiser.

“We’re a little undersized up front but basically we’re just gonna try to use our speed and play heady,” Leiser said. “It won’t be easy, but we’re confident in our backs.”

MDI TROJANS

2004 results: 0-9, 9th in Pine Tree Conference Class B

Head coach: Mark Shields, 3rd year

Key players: Sean Paradis, QB, Jr.; Collin Walton, WR-CB, Jr.; Tyler Murphy, RB, Jr.; Pat Murphy, RB, Jr.; Jon Hall, TB-S, So.; Jeremiah Cousins, TB-LB, Sr.; Andrew Leiser, OT-LB, Jr.; Chris Ward, FB-DL, Jr.; Alex Keene, WR-CB, Jr.; Vincent Poirier-Moore, WB-S, Jr.; Mark Nickels, TE, Sr.; David Karnofsky, OT-DT, Jr.

Outlook: The Trojans have been dealing with some injury and illness issues to their running backs, but Shields is hoping that will be sorted out by the first two weeks of the regular season. Paradis will also return kickoffs. MDI had 45 student-athletes turn out for the preseason, but some of those players will be out the first week of the regular season due to ineligibility.