The Rockland District High School football program has been on somewhat shaky footing during the last two years.

Small turnouts and the overall inexperience of the players who have gone out for the team have resulted in limited success in terms of wins and losses. In fact, the future of the program has been in doubt on at least a couple of occasions.

Things started out slowly during preseason last month, when only 20 players showed up for the three-week training camp. But, more than a dozen athletes have come out for the team since the start of school.

Coach Rick Kelley has 35 players in uniform this fall, and the Tigers appear to be back on solid ground for the moment. Rockland still lacks experience, but Kelley has a dedicated group of athletes who will be leading the Tigers into the always-tough LTC.

“Things are looking up,” Kelley said. “I think with time, these kids will come around.”

Rockland is relying on a handful of returning starters to provide the foundation for the ’92 team. Senior Chris Manning (6-foot-2, 190), a two-way tackle, senior OG-LB Chris Curtis (5-9, 180) and senior OG-LB Jason Vallee (5-11, 170) are the Tigers’ tri-captains and team leaders.

Other veterans include senior TE-DE Kevin Blackwell, junior HB-DB-K Jarret Widdecombe and sophomore OT-DT Clay Fowlie III (6-2, 215).

Kelley also expects to receive big contributions from junior TE-DE Mike Norton, a 6-2, 180-pounder, and junior HB-DB Gene Neild. Senior Shane Rackliffe is a first-year starter at quarterback.

Of the Tigers’ 35 players, 12 are seniors. They are joined by nine juniors, four sophomores and a class of 10 freshmen.

Still, Kelley remains optimistic.

“I think we’ve got quite a lot of potential,” Kelley said. “Our roster is about average for a Rockland team, but a lot of these kids haven’t even played football before.”

Kelley said Rockland must avoid injuries, especially to its veterans, if it is to maintain a solid base on the field until the other players gain some game experience. Vallee and Blackwell are already slowed by knee injuries.

Kelley is joined on the Rockland coaching staff by assistant coaches Clay Fowlie Jr. and Don Robichaud, both Rockland graduates.

Although lacking in game experience, Kelley said once his players learn how to hit and familiarize themselves with the system, the Tigers should put a competitive ballclub on the field.