sponsored by
11/05/2009
enlarge
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
enlarge
Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
BUDGET CUTS ORDERED
Many happy returns in Richmond
Tax woes land on Whitefield
Rapist denied new trial
AUGUSTA MINDING A MINE
SPORT OF KINGS Falconry a blend of dedication and commitment
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
WEDDING BURGLAR JAILED
Youths talk Turkey Day
Plenty of free Thanksgiving meals available
Turkey prices make for happier holiday
Kennebec County Superior Court
POLICE
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
BY BILL STEWART
Staff Writer
Forrest Chadwick sits in a chair toward the back of the locker room, pulls a towel over his head and puts earphones on.
It is, after all, just another typical game day for the Gardiner Area High School football team.
Chadwick, a senior, is focused, relaxed and ready to play.
"He does that every game," said fellow Gardiner senior Mike Phelps. "When you see him like that, you can feel the emotion. It also relaxes you because you know he's relaxed."
Meanwhile, Winthrop senior wide receiver Tyler Arsenault remembers watching "the new quarterback" in the preseason.
Travis Luce, a junior coming up from junior varsity, was not focused, not relaxed and was certainly not ready to play.
"I basically was like, 'I hope this guy can get me the ball,' " Arsenault said. "I was nervous. I thought this could be a challenge."
They play in different towns, in different systems and generally have different personalities.
But Luce and Chadwick share a few things in common -- both are first-year starting quarterbacks and hope to lead their respective teams this weekend into conference championship games.
No. 3 Gardiner (7-2) plays at No. 2 Morse (7-2) in a Pine Tree Conference Class B semifinal game at 7 Friday night. No. 5 Winthrop (6-3) plays at No. 1 Dirigo (9-0) in a Campbell Conference Class C semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday.
"Dirigo is beatable," Luce said. "I think we'll give them a run for their money."
Luce opened the season with the unenviable task of replacing all-conference quarterback Jordan Conant, who successfully walked on to the Division I Georgia Tech football team this fall.
Luce acknowledged the transition to varsity starter was anything but smooth.
"On a scale of 1 to 10, I was a 3 at the beginning of the season," he said. "My head was nowhere in football. I was nervous as heck and, I'll be honest, I just wasn't ready. I even told my mom at one point that I didn't know if I wanted to play quarterback. I just didn't want to let anyone down. I'm really glad I stuck with it."
So, too, are the Ramblers.
Although Luce doesn't rank at or even near the top of the conference passing leaders, he's developed into a steady and intelligent quarterback, coach Joel Stoneton said.
"In the preseason, he made bad decisions," Stoneton said. "He got nervous about throwing interceptions. But now he trusts everyone around him. On the other side of things, we watered things down for him. He put a lot of pressure on himself. But at one point I sat him down and told him, 'I believe in you and so does your team.' That clicked for him."
Added Arsenault: "It's been quite an experience going from playing catch with Jordan Conant to a Travis Luce who hadn't played varsity ball before. It was challenging and his confidence wasn't up too much. But now I am stoked with him as our quarterback. Now he is collective, concentrated and determined."
Those three words easily describe Chadwick, who moved to quarterback from running back this season. Unlike Luce, Chadwick already had command of the locker room when double sessions began in late August.
"As quarterback you have the responsibility to lead the team," Chadwick said. "Last year I was a junior and I just showed up and played. My senior year, I had to become more of a leader. I am not a loud guy about getting people pumped up, but if I see a guy acting up I'll say something."
Added Gardiner coach Jim Palmer: "He's improved quite a bit. He's just a gifted athlete."
Teammates describe Chadwick is a quiet and consistent leader.
"Everyone looks to him," running back Dalton Eldridge said. "He's like our field general out there."
Chadwick and Luce acknowledge they had to learn the position on the fly this fall. From picking up blitzes, to changing plays and reading coverages, the season presented plenty of challenges.
"You have to make quick decisions," Chadwick said. "You have to be able to make quick adjustments and see what the defense is doing."
Added Luce: "I am knowing what the reads are and knowing who to look off. I know who my first choice is and who my second choice is. It took a long time to do.
"Normally, I'd choose one receiver and make up my mind to throw it to him whether he was open or not. That was my biggest problem. I'm improving and my confidence is getting higher. Now I just want to keep winning."
Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515
bstewart@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
Click here to view or add reader comments