On a cold and gray October afternoon, the Mustangs and Ponies played on a field carved out of a horse pasture. It was a fitting site for the first playoff game in Mt. View High School history.

“Lot of firsts this year,” said Mt. View senior Craig Nealley, a running back/linebacker.

The Mustangs had their first winning season, and their first trip to the playoffs. Adding to that excitement, the first trip to the playoffs coincided with Mt. View’s first home playoff game.

Unfortunately, when those firsts include first playoff games, they often include first heart-breaking playoff loss.

Mt. View’s first playoff game ended in defeat, 19-0 to Foxcroft Academy. The loss in no way diminishes the accomplishments of the 2011 Mustangs. They know that, but minutes after the game, it didn’t feel that way.

“There’s some disappointment here today, but when they look back on this when they get older, they’re going to be some proud of what they accomplished this year,” Jack Brady, who has been Mt. View’s head coach over the last four seasons, said.

Brady and his 14 seniors were instrumental in the Mustangs’ turnaround. In their first four seasons, the Mustangs won a total of three games. This season, they hit the three win mark on the last day of September, with a 42-22 win at Hermon.

“We just all came together. When I was a freshman, we were just starting, really,” Nealley said. “Every year we improved. We’re better players.”

Jon Shaw graduated from Mt. View in 2010. On Saturday, he was a member of the chain gang, and he was excited to see the progress his old team has made.

“It’s pretty impressive,” Shaw said. “It’s good to see it going in the right direction. I mean, look at this.”

Shaw pointed across the field, toward the packed bleachers behind the Mt. View sideline. Toward the fans lined up along the fence behind the Mt. View bench. The standing room space was full. Mt. View’s Larrabee Field is a modest little place, but the Mustangs were cheered by a few hundred fans.

“We’ve got a full stadium over there,” Shaw said.

Shaw, a former offensive lineman and linebacker for the Mustangs, was just as impressed by the product on the field.

“This is the first real football game I’ve ever seen here,” Shaw said. “This is great. We’ve got some real intensity.”

Before the season, Brady had a feeling this was the team that could turn the corner for Mt. View. This was the team that could make the Mustangs a team to be reckoned with in the Little Ten Conference.

“They have just become excellent football players. I guess that’s obvious, because we had our first home playoff game ever. It’s because of this group of seniors. They led us right out into this, and led us through the entire season,” Brady said.

The Mustangs closed the regular season with four straight wins, averaging 44.5 points in that month of victories. A youth football program is starting to develop players. Confidence, the greatest of those important intangibles, is on the rise.

Saturday’s loss to Foxcroft was an aberration of sorts for the Mustangs. Mt. View turned the ball over six times, and they were unable to capitalize on three trips inside the Ponies’ 20-yard line. They were playing an opponent well-versed in playoff football.

They were playing the opponent they hope to become.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com