How do you follow up a year in which your team was undefeated during the regular season and advanced to the conference semifinals?

Partly because of the way last season ended in disappointing fashion and partly because it was just a step toward a larger goal, that question is an easy one for head coach Bob LeCours and the Skowhegan football team.

The long-term plan appears to be nearing fruition as the Indians have gone from the lower tier of the Pine Tree Conference to the elite level in three seasons.

Three years ago, the Indians were 3-5 and seventh despite having one of the state’s top quarterbacks. They were 6-5 two years ago and PTC runners-up. Last year, they were the top seed before ending their season 9-1 after getting upset in the semis.

This year, even though Skowhegan returns only five starters on defense and three on offense (only one of whom is still playing the same position), it stacks up as a solid contender once again.

“I look at Bangor and the success they have despite graduating everybody year after year and we’re now finally in kind of the same boat,” LeCours said. “I’m looking at my depth chart and all 11 starters on offense are seniors. On defense, 10 of them are seniors.”

Having 61 players on the team helps the depth chart, but quality has to come with the quantity.

Gone is all-conference quarterback Brandon Hamilton, but ready to step into his spot in the huddle after being his understudy for a season is senior Mark Malo. How confident is LeCours in Malo’s ability?

“We’ll still like throwing the ball,” LeCours said with a chuckle.

They’ll be doing some running, too, as 5-foot-9, 205-pound senior Jared Walker can play both halfback and fullback and will run behind a line featuring size and experience. Left guard David Folsom (6-3, 220) started 10 games last year, as did tackle-turned-guard Craig Lowell (5-11, 230). They’ll be paired with big tackles Dan Worthley (6-4, 260) and Nick Adams (6-2, 254) and center John Savage (5-10, 220).

The Indians’ versatile wing-T offense should put some points up with regularity again, and the defense also shapes up solidly.

The linebackers are the heart of the defense with Savage and Nate Goff, both returning starters. Linebacking depth allows LeCours to shift Scott Libby to strong safety and team with free safety Walker. The tackles are huge with K.J. Gould (6-7, 360), Mike Beauregard (6-1, 265), and junior Jeff Padgett (6-3, 340) in the mix.

“I’m very confident. It starts in the summer and anyone playing at this level who doesn’t believe strength and conditioning play a big part doesn’t know the sport very well,” said LeCours. “In the summer, we ask our kids to lift or run every day of the week, so conditioning is a key. It has obviously helped because we haven’t had an injury.”

SKOWHEGAN INDIANS

2002 results: 9-1, lost in PTC semifinals

Head coach: Bob LeCours, 6th year

Key players: Jared Walker, HB-FB-FS, Sr.; Nate Goff, TE-LB, Sr.; Mark Malo, QB, Sr.; David Folsom, OG, Sr.; John Savage, C-LB, Sr.; Zach Davis, HB-FB-DE, Sr.; Nick Adams, OT-DT, Sr.; Scott Libby, SE-SS, Sr.

Outlook: The Indians took massive hits in terms of graduation losses, but most of this fall’s new starters are mature players who served as understudies or part-time starters last year. This still remains a veteran team with hunger and big-game experience. If Malo can make a seamless transition in the pocket, the Indians’ offense should again be multi-faceted as camp featured plenty of competition in the split end corps.