BANGOR – Many of the key players are the same, but the approach to offense will be different this fall as the Bangor High School football team seeks to return to the Class A championship game for the first time in three years.

Seventh-year coach Mark Hackett has switched to the wing-T to maximize the potential of a deep cast of skill-position players behind an emerging, athletic front line.

“I love that football’s about blocking and tackling, and I love that tough rawness, but we’ve got a bunch of skill, too, so we might as well use it,” said Hackett, whose team reached the Eastern Maine final last fall before losing to eventual state champion Lawrence of Fairfield.

“I think the wing-T best fits our athletes, our linemen as well as the skill players. Instead of always trying to pound the ball and being stubborn, now we want to use our athleticism to play the game wide open.”

That Bangor will transition out of the I-formation to the wing-T is a credit to both the athletic and cerebral skills of a talented senior class led by quarterback Ian Edwards, halfback Shane Walton, fullback Kyle Vanidestine and tight end Ryan Weston.

“I think we’re probably one of the smartest teams we’ve ever been, right from the front through the backfield,” said Hackett. “I don’t know what the grade-point average is of the team, but they have all that gumption, they study hard, they play hard, they’re best buddies, and they play three sports together. This is a heck of a class.”

Edwards, who’s capable of challenging defenses either by running or throwing the football, will direct Bangor’s offense for the third consecutive year.

“I think our best player on offense is the quarterback,” said Hackett. “In this offense, he’s running it and calling a lot of his own plays. He’s energetic, and he’s throwing the ball to everybody. It looks like he’s having a blast with it.”

Walton, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2006, returns with Vanidestine in the Bangor backfield, and they are joined by talented junior Tyler Billings, who was sidelined by injury for much of last season.

“The wing-T’s better for us because we’re all speed backs, we’re not 220 pounds,” said Walton. “It’s more find a seam and get it outside and then run downfield.”

“It’s a new offense so we’re getting better every day,” added Vanidestine. “What I like about it is that teams can’t overload on one side of the ball. They can’t just read where the football goes because we’re doing something different every play.”

At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Weston is an imposing blocker and a top receiving threat at tight end, while Tyler McDade, Andrew Riley, Renaud Collard-Seguin, Steven Schley and first-year senior Sam Martin anchor the offensive line.

“I think the adjustment to the wing-T is perfect for how our line is this year,” said Edwards. “We went from a couple of 300-pounders to a bunch of 200-pound, athletic linemen, so with the all the different types of blocks, it fits our line better and fits our athletic running backs better, too.”

A veteran secondary will spearhead Bangor’s defense, with Walton and Vanidestine as returning starters. McDade is a returning starter at linebacker, while several of the offensive linemen may also find their way to the defensive front.

“At this time of the season we’re usually way ahead in being able to cover the field vertically and horizontally,” said Hackett. “We’re probably a little behind in terms of physical contact and power football this year because we don’t run that any more so we’re not practicing against it.”

Bangor should be one of the favorites in the Pine Tree Conference Class A ranks, along with Lawrence, Skowhegan and Lewiston.

“I think it really just comes down to how this offense works,” said Edwards. “I know we have plenty of guys who really want to win and have plenty of heart to win that last game that we haven’t been able to reach since 2004. I think if we bring it all together and play well every play and every game, we should be fine. We’re just looking to win that last game. That’s our goal every year.”

BANGOR RAMS

2006 results: 8-2, Eastern Maine Class A finalist

Head coach: Mark Hackett, seventh year

Key players: Ian Edwards, Sr., QB-S; Shane Walton, Sr., RB-CB; Kyle Vanidestine, Sr., FB-S; Tyler McDade, Sr., LB-RG; Renaud Collard-Seguin, Sr., DE-OL; Ryan Weston, Sr., TE-DE; Andrew Riley, Sr., OT; Tyler Billings, Jr., RB-DB

Outlook: After losing to a quicker Lawrence of Fairfield team in last year’s regional final, the Rams will seek to capitalize more on their own athleticism in the wing-T offense. A stellar class of seniors featuring multi-sport talents Ian Edwards, Shane Walton, Kyle Vanidestine, Ryan Weston and Tyler McDade should lead Bangor deep into postseason play in an expanded eight-team PTC Class A playoff format.