WINSLOW – The Winslow Black Raiders have used a balance of size and speed to achieve considerable success during Mike Siviski’s first 18 years as head coach.

But in 2004, the maturation process of a young team – particularly a deep and talented sophomore class – may play an equal role in determining the Black Raiders’ lot in the Pine Tree Conference Class B ranks.

“It’s going to be a very, very interesting year at Winslow High School,” said Siviski, the dean of the division’s head coaches. “We’re an inexperienced team at the varsity level, but we’re playing a varsity schedule, so the sooner the kids become varsity players, the better.”

Siviski labeled this year’s roster the youngest he has led since 1986, his first season as the Black Raiders’ head coach.

“That year we had just one starter back, Wes Littlefield [a former all-state player who now is the head coach at Messalonskee High in Oakland],” Siviski said.

The Black Raiders have few returning starters back this year, among them senior Ryan Lindie, a tailback and defensive back until he suffered an ankle injury midway through the 2003 season, and classmate Jared Maroon, who replaced Lindie in the lineup after his injury.

Winslow also features one of the region’s top athletes in 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior split end and defensive back Eric Lopez, who’s considered one of the top basketball players in the state as well as a strong baseball player for the Black Raiders.

Many of Winslow’s other returning upperclassmen do have some varsity experience, as the Black Raiders were able to go deep into their bench during several games of 2003’s undefeated regular season.

“A lot of kids have been waiting in the wings to play behind the strong senior class we had last year,” said Siviski, whose graduation losses included Derek Runnells and Ben McPherson, both now on the University of Maine roster.

The dynamics of the Winslow backfield and line are virtually the opposite of a year ago, when Winslow boasted a smallish, quick line blocking for bigger backs. This season, the Black Raiders have good size on both sides of the line of scrimmage led by senior tackles Matt Malloy (6-4, 260), Andy Poulin (6-3, 235) and Tory Joseph (6-2, 220). Lindie (5-9, 177), Maroon (5-10, 155) and Tom Jacques (5-6, 140) and sophomore fullback John Goulette (5-9, 185) provide the complementary speed and quickness in the backfield.

Sophomores Stephen Siviski – the coach’s son – and Andy Wheeler and junior Michael Shorey competed throughout the preseason for the starting quarterback slot. The winner of that competition will have two top-flight split ends in Lopez and 6-1 sophomore Kevin McCabe, with senior Alex Pellerin a strong blocker at tight end.

Malloy, Poulin and Joseph will handle interior duties on the defensive line, flanked by ends Pellerin, senior Mike Bombardi and sophomore Ryan Cosgrove. Juniors Brandon Bellows and Josh Mellows will work at inside linebacker, while Stephen Siviski, Goulette, Lindie and McCabe all will play outside linebacker or in the secondary with Maroon and Jacques.

Winslow also has a quality placekicker in sophomore Ben Poulin, who made his only field-goal attempt as a freshman last year and converted 37 of 40 extra-point tries.

WINSLOW BLACK RAIDERS

2003 results: 9-1, lost in EM Class B title game

Head coach: Mike Siviski, 19th year

Key players: Ryan Lindie, Sr., TB-LB; Alex Pellerin, Sr., TE-DE; Jared Maroon, Sr., TB-DB; Eric Lopez, Sr., SE-DB; Matt Malloy, Sr., OT-DT; Andy Poulin, Sr., OT-DT; Tory Joseph, Sr., OT-DT; Mike Bombardi, Sr.; FB-DE; John Goulette, Soph., FB-LB; Stephen Siviski, Soph., QB-LB; Kevin McCabe, Soph., SE-LB; Ben Poulin, Soph., PK

Outlook: The Black Raiders return only eight letterwinners, but a strong sophomore class that went undefeated against Class A and Class B competition will help overcome major graduation losses. Despite some inexperience at the varsity level, the talent pool is deep and the Black Raiders should be significant players in the PTC Class B playoff chase.