BREWER – As a physical science teacher, Josh Emmett describes a black hole as “matter becoming so tightly compacted that not even light can get through.”

In his role as football coach for the 6-0 Brewer Witches, he uses the metaphor as an inspiration for his team this season “to be a tight cohesive unit, a black hole,” employing the team color, black, as reinforcement for this idea.

Some of the team’s success can be traced to the versatility Emmett has in the starting backfield with senior halfback Seth Emerson, senior fullback Josh Caldwell, and junior halfback Court Rancourt.

Being without a featured tailback allows Emmett to “utilize as many talented people as we can, and their skills as blockers, receivers and fakers” – players who carry out ball fakes to deceive defenses.

A strength of the system is “spreading the ball [around] so much that it is hard to defend us, because you don’t know who will get the ball,” said Emmett.

Some might think getting the players to share the football is difficult. After all, it was a concern enough to Emmett that he challenged the team at the beginning of the season, asking whether the boys would be able to come together as a team.

However, according to Emmett, getting the boys to believe in the system hasn’t been difficult.

“They totally understand the concept of team. If they’re unselfish, collectively we’ll be better,” said Emmett.

Caldwell agrees.

“Everybody buys into the team thing,” he said, adding that “winning always helps.”

Emerson concurred.

“As long as the team is doing well, it doesn’t matter how many carries I have,” he said.

“They know if one of them is having a hard time succeeding, someone else is probably doing well,” Emmett said. “They love to block, they love to do that for each other. They’re great kids.”

The three athletes aid team success by “giving me as a coach a lot of options because each employs a different running style,” added Emmett.

For instance, Emerson is a “scatback,” explained Emmett. Emerson describes his efforts as “when you see something [like a hole in the offensive line], you just go.”

Emmett called the Orrington native adept at “making quick, sharp cuts, and difficult to tackle.”

Caldwell, on the other hand, is a punishing runner, according to Emmett.

“I go north and south pretty much,” Caldwell said, explaining his rushing technique.

“Opponents have to hit him hard, and it usually takes a couple of kids to bring him down,” Emmett said.

Caldwell added that he likes running up the middle and the physical contact, and “I like to think I inflict more punishment than I receive.”

As for Rancourt, he’s “so smooth as a runner, he glides, and runs counters well,” says Emmett.

This isn’t the first year Brewer experienced some prosperity.

“Last year was a breakout year for us,” says Emmett.

“The seniors this year were vital last year, and there is a lot of excitement from last season. We gained a lot of experience from last year and the younger kids really bought into it, the playing for the team concept.

“Goals this season include being a playoff team, and competing at a high level,” Emmett said. “We’ve proved we can so far this year – for example, going down to Scarborough and winning there.”

The wins have highlighted the team’s versatility, its ability to play at a high level, and they’re “looking for the best opportunity to be successful,” says Emmett.

For instance, in the Scarborough victory, the offense relied on Caldwell pounding the ball on the inside. In the Fryeburg win, Emerson and Rancourt carried the load by running to the outside effectively.

“We’re heading into the LTC schedule, and we’d like to win every game. We need to compete at a high level in order to do that,” said Emmett.

The final game of last year, a playoff loss to Belfast, has helped the team for this season.

“It was a learning experience, a growing experience, and very much a motivation for the boys,” Emmett said.

Motivation during the season hasn’t been a problem, he added.

“The success gives the kids more confidence,” said Emmett. “The winning keeps the spirit up, they want to do well, and so far they have done well,” said Emmett.

Emerson added, “Every week we get closer as a team, playing better.”