BUCKSPORT – For the past two years, Bucksport has been a near-miss team.

The Golden Bucks have finished the last two seasons with 4-5 marks, good for sixth in the LTC Class C rankings. But they haven’t been able to secure that elusive playoff berth.

And that’s something that haunts running back-defensive back Rustin Ames, one of the squad’s 17 seniors.

“As eighth graders we were all undefeated. … We’ve had some obstacles. … We had a lot of injuries last year,” he said.

Senior quarterback Chris McHale was one of the Bucks who spent most of last season on the sidelines. McHale was felled by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the second game of the year.

McHale endured an extensive rehabilitation program and had to sit out the basketball season, but he said he doesn’t feel any ill effects from the surgery.

“It’s just for support,” he explained, gesturing toward his knee brace. “It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to it.”

Coach Joel Sankey said he has been pleased with McHale’s progress.

“I saw him throw last week. He’s gotten stronger. He’s a great leader; the kids look up to him,” Sankey said.

Junior Dow Cain quarterbacked the Bucks in McHale’s absence. Sankey said Cain, who is also a defensive back, gives the team added depth at that position.

In fact, Sankey believes Bucksport is deeper, faster, and stronger at nearly every position. Seven two-way starters are returning.

Sankey said the defense has shown remarkable improvement.

“We’re definitely quicker than last year. We’ve got a lot of people flying around on the ball,” he said.

Bucksport will continue to use multiple offenses and will take advantage of its strong runners in running back Warren Chase and fullback Eric Mitchell. Chase is one of the fastest athletes in the league.

But McHale believes the team’s biggest asset will be its unity.

“Last year we all went our separate ways after practice, now we’re sticking together. Because we’re all seniors, we want to win pretty bad,” he said.

McHale said the Bucks’ passion found some focus when a Florida-based coach from the Bigger, Faster, Stronger weight-lifting program conducted a clinic for the team in June.

The coach demonstrated the proper techniques, and McHale said that has made a big difference in the players’ ability to build strength.

Tight end and defensive tackle Mike Ogden added that the Bucks have been running almost twice as much as they have in past preseason workouts.

It’s a regimen Ames hopes will propel the Bucks to the playoffs and give them the chance to pursue their ultimate goal.

“We want a gold ball,” he said.

BUCKSPORT GOLDEN BUCKS

2000 results: 4-5, 6th in LTC Class C

Head coach: Joel Sankey, 7th year

Key players: Rustin Ames, DB-RB, Sr.; Eric Mitchell, LB-FB, Sr.; Chris McHale, QB-DB, Sr.; Mike Ogden, TE-DT, Sr.; Warren Chase, RB-DB, Sr.; Trevor LaLonde, PK-DB-WR, Jr.; Josh Ames, WR-DB, Sr.; Phil Harvey, LB-OT, Jr.; Marcus Boober, OT-FB-DE, Jr.; Matt Carrier, FB-DE, Sr.; Brian Sullivan, TE-DT, Sr.; Dow Cain, QB-DB, Jr.

Outlook: Bucksport’s playoff quest will be a challenge with a schedule that includes defending Eastern Maine champion Maine Central Institute, Stearns, Foxcroft, Mattanawcook, Belfast, and Dexter. The Bucks were young last year, but another year of playing together could be enough to propel the team over the .500 mark and into the playoffs.