The Bangor Rams went from a one-win football team in 2022 to a four-win football team last year, getting all their victories at Cameron Stadium and coming up just short of qualifying for the Class A playoffs with a 4-5 record.
The Rams ultimately graduated a few key seniors in quarterback Jack Schuck, two-way lineman Isaac Osborne and WR/DB Xavier Pike among others, but the 2024 Rams have ideas of picking up where they left off, and then some.
Fueling this optimism from top to bottom has been the excellent turnout at voluntary morning workouts this June and July, and a high level of energy that has fed off itself in the first week of official practices in August.
“We had great turnout this summer, from the upperclassmen down to the freshmen. It’s great to see all the commitment and hard work we’ve put in, it’s gonna lead to a great year,” junior co-captain Kyle Johnson (QB/RB/DE) said. “The energy’s super high right now. We come back for our second practice at the end of the day, and we have the same energy as we do in the morning.”
“If not more,” junior co-captain Zac Cota (RB/LB) said.
Voluntary lifting sessions pulled in roughly 25 or 30 kids three days a week last summer. This summer, the Rams tacked on a fourth day and more running to their conditioning regimen, and turnout averaged to 50-plus players.
Workouts started before 7 a.m.
“We changed it up this summer. We’re in great shape, I’ve never felt better,” senior co-captain Ian Blackwell (RB/DB) said. “The 6:50 practices are what built us — these are the best double sessions we’ve had in my four years here. We all know the plays, and there’s no mental mistakes.”
The Rams’ collective goals for the season include beating Brewer in their Aug. 29 exhibition game at Cameron Stadium at 7 p.m., finishing with a winning record and snapping their two-year playoff drought.
The road to the playoffs won’t be easy.
Bangor starts out with a home game versus reigning Class A state champions Thornton Academy on Sept. 6, has tough away games against Lawrence (reigning Class B runners-up) and Windham (the Eagles beat Bangor 35-6 last year), and will also host reigning Class A North champions Portland on Oct. 11.
“We’re not scared of it, we’re not running from anything. We’re looking to beat everyone on our schedule,” Cota said. “We’ve got a great running back core — I think the heart of our team — we have some people that can run routes and catch balls, and [Johnson] can throw the ball. We’re gonna be a team that can do everything.”
Bangor’s ball carriers include speedy senior Jackson Varney, punishing backs Johnson and Cota, plus veterans Blackwell and Mason Knights. The Rams will staff their line with senior co-captain Jake Biberstein, juniors Nolan Coon, Griffin Faulkner, Alex Kearns, Matt O’Connell, Jaeden Paulette, Landon Rockwell, and Dan Tarr, plus sophomore Austin Estey.
Bangor’s returning receivers include Varney (slot back), senior Parker Hunter, junior Fionn Parker-Cummings and junior Trey Tennett. The quarterback job will be contested by Johnson, Hunter and sophomore Hayden Summerlin.
“What I like about this team is how they work collectively. They have a lot of enthusiasm, and they’re good people,” head coach Dave Morris said. “They’ve done a good job of recruiting guys and being positive. We’re just excited to play football.”
