MILLINOCKET – The minute star running back Justin Cummings picked up his final carry and ran for his last bit of yardage as a high school player, the Stearns football team knew its dependence on Cummings to carry the offensive load was over. Cummings led Stearns to the LTC Class C regular-season crown, and the Minutemen would have to find a way to fill the gap.

But Stearns’ biggest loss happened two days before the season started, when coach Tom Bertrand announced he was resigning and moving over to an assistant position at Winslow High.

“It was a big surprise,” said senior fullback Rick Michaud. “I thought he was going to be here forever. It was kind of hard. It’s always hard losing a coach.”

The Minutemen didn’t have to wait long for a new coach. Three-year assistant Chris Preble stepped right into the interim coach’s position.

The team is pleased to have a familiar face in charge.

“The first couple of practices it was like, whoa, what’s going on?” said Jeremy Rush, a senior and returning starter on the line. “But Coach Preble is doing a great job and we’re getting right into the hang of it again. It’s a lot better than having somebody new here. It’s good to have somebody who’s been around.”

Preble said he had already discussed plans for this season with Bertrand, so most things will stay the same. Stearns’ offense will come out of the wishbone and “I” formations, while the defensive set will be 5-3 or 5-2 depending on the situation.

Those schemes are probably the only elements back from last year’s team.

In terms of finding a backfield to pick up for Fitzpatrick Award finalist Cummings, Preble has five or six backs in mind. Senior Ryan Sweeney, a defensive starter last year, should be a key to the running game but is out with an injury for now. Juniors Ian Johnson and Matt Leino (also a returning cornerback) will help carry the ball for the Minutemen.

“A lot of the younger running backs are doing a great job,” Rush said. “Those are huge shoes to be filled. We’re just going to have to read the holes a lot better and get in there and handle the ball a lot better from the quarterback. That’s the main thing.”

Preble also has to find a new quarterback. Preble said sophomores Adam Qualey and Derek DiFrederico are both capable quarterbacks. Qualey will likely get most of the playing time.

“He’s [Qualey] got a strong arm and he’s a smart, smart kid and a real good athlete,” Preble said. “Derek’s the same thing, but he’s a little more interested in the running game, so he’ll actually be playing running back and quarterback.”

Stearns’ offensive and defensive lines will be much smaller (average weight about 190 pounds) than in the past. The Minutemen are hoping to counter that with speed.Stearns will have one more hurdle to get over at the start of the year. The team opens its season against Class B Winslow, a traditional powerhouse and Bertrand’s new team.

“We’re gonna come out and take those [first few games of the season],” lineman Brad Cyr said. “Especially the first one. We want that one pretty bad.”

STEARNS MINUTEMEN

2000 results: 10-1, lost in LTC Class C final

Head coach: Chris Preble, 1st year

Key players: Rick Michaud, FB-DE, Sr.; Jeremy Rush, OT-DE, Sr.; Brad Cyr, OG-DT, Sr.; Ryan Sweeney, RB-LB, Sr.; Matt Leino RB-DB, Jr.; Ian Johnson, RB-LB, Jr.; Anthony Arsenault, WR-CB, Jr.; Adam Qualey, QB, So.; Derek DiFrederico, RB-QB-DE, So.

Outlook: Stearns is young and inexperienced, with only two starters back (both linemen). The Minutemen have also picked up Belfast, another traditionally strong Class B team. Preble said a big group of 50 kids came out for tryouts.