This fall, 23 teams will compete in Maine’s eight-man football classes, 12 of them in the division for schools with enrollment below 375 students.

Here’s a look at four programs that might not exist were it not for eight-man football, which became an option in Maine in 2019.

THE DYNASTY

Old Orchard Beach football coach and athletic director Dean Plante didn’t set out to be the torch bearer for eight-man football in Maine, but his team’s success made him so. The Seagulls are coming off a dominating 60-14 win over Stearns in the Small School state final last season, their second Gold Ball in three years and third straight championship game appearance.

Old Orchard Beach graduated six seniors, including a few four-year starters, but by now, the program is in reload mode. Plante gave credit to middle school coach Claude Pettaway, an all-American safety during his playing days at the University of Maine, for making sure players are ready for high school football when they get to Plante and his staff.

“The good thing is, a lot of these kids saw time. We had success and substituted freely. We’ve got some talent that nobody’s seen, and they bought into the way those older kids got ready. The system’s kind of in place,” Plante said.

The players believe it, too, and expect no major dropoff. Is there pressure to keep the success going? Sure, said senior Trot Moody, who could play wideout, quarterback and defensive back, but that’s welcome. The motivation to keep it going has to be internal, said Gage Barrett, a senior two-way lineman.

“It’s a great privilege. We have what everyone wants to be, and we’re going to strive to be the best team every year. We set the standard,” said Wes Gallant, a senior running back/linebacker.

Old Orchard Beach has embraced eight-man football, where it’s rediscovered its swagger.

“We were .500 most seasons and battling (in 11-man football), but we never really had that chance to excel because it’s just a numbers game. This gives us the opportunity to be competitive every year and know we’re going to field a varsity and JV program,” Plante said. “The kids have bought in and the community’s bought in, and that makes it even better, and easier.”

THE RESILIENT 

The first practice of the season began the same way it has so many seasons for Traip Academy, with low numbers, but high morale. Fourteen players went through drills with coach Eric Lane and his assistants. Lane said his roster was actually 18 players, but a handful would join the team later.

“A lot of kids in town don’t realize football is still around until they get to high school, because we don’t have a feeder program. We have to recruit and try to go get kids to keep the program alive,” Lane said. “We’ve been fortunate the last seven years since we went to eight-man to get the numbers that are enough that we can play and compete.”

A few players come to the Rangers with a little football experience. Senior Ben Martine, a wide receiver/linebacker, played a year of youth football in nearby Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Seamus Berry, a senior running back/linebacker, played in the Marshwood and Bonny Eagle systems before moving to Kittery.

Senior quarterback Max Jordan recalled his freshman season, when there was talk of Traip forming a co-op with York to keep the program afloat. He and some friends joined the team, helping to keep it going on its own.

“It’s awesome to see that we’re here today,” Jordan said. “As seniors, we can play, just like we helped the seniors our freshmen year. You’re walking around to anybody you can. ‘Hey, what are you doing at 3:30?’ Try to get them here. Every year, the season starts and we gain five or six players just from them seeing a game or us pursuing them. I’ve never seen a kid come out here and try after bringing them here and not come back.”

Even with low participation numbers, Traip has shown small but steady improvement, from a winless 2022, to one win in 2023, to two wins in 2024. The Rangers endure, and try to build lifelong bonds along the way.

“A lot of these kids, some had never played a sport before. They try out, they come out here and it’s a great brotherhood. They bond and form relationships that last forever,” Lane said. “It’s that camaraderie because they’ve all been through the same thing. They all went through double sessions. I’m glad we went to eight-man to keep the program alive. In 11-man, we wouldn’t have been able to sustain it. It’s been a blessing for me, and for a lot of programs in the state.”

THE BUILDERS 

With his team preparing to begin a late practice on the first day of the season, Mount View football coach Gerald Hartley finished a conversation with a parent. That was confirmation of another athlete joining the Mustangs, giving the team 17 players, with two or three expected to also join the team soon.

“I started preseason last year with eight, so we’ve already doubled it. This is a soccer school, so it’s pretty rough,” said Hartley, beginning his second season as Mustangs coach.

A decade ago, Mount View was starting to enjoy success as an 11-man team, even reaching the Little Ten Conference semifinals. A few lean seasons led to struggles, and that led to a participation decline. Now, Hartley is looking to get the program on a stronger foundation as an eight-man program. The programs that are able to field a junior varsity team, like Old Orchard Beach, Orono and Sacopee Valley, those are the ones Hartley looks to emulate.

“I have a great group of kids. They’re very enthusiastic. If we get two or three more kids, I can have a full JV schedule. We’re not going to get any better unless we have a JV,” he said. “Just playing varsity (isn’t enough). You’ve got to get your younger kids involved, too. They aren’t being beat up at the varsity level. I had boys playing with men last year. We made it through the season without any injuries until the last game. I still say I was highly successful with how that turned out last year.”

The Mustangs haven’t won a game since a 1-6 record in 2022. Last season, the team went scoreless until the final two games. Still, returning players are optimistic. In preseason, optimism is a necessity.

“I think with the group we have, we can get a lot done. Hopefully we can get a couple more (wins),” said junior quarterback/defensive back Aaron Hartley, Gerald’s son.

“It’s pretty hard. Some kids, they just don’t really want to do it, and it really sucks. But we have a good group, and I’m pretty confident with the boys we’ve got,” said Brody Ward, a junior center/defensive end. “I’m all for the challenge. I’m ready. We’re going to keep working as hard as we can.”

THE IMPROVED

With 26 players, participation at Sacopee Valley is holding steady. Coach Eric Schroeder, now in his second season, thinks it could be better but knows why it’s not.

“A lot of the kids work. A lot of the kids have to watch their younger siblings after school. A lot of it’s just time. I would say the main problem we have out here is we don’t have a youth program. At least a third of them are first-year or second-year players,” said Schroeder.

He reminds his team regularly that it’s building something, and that he went 0-for his career as a Sacopee Valley player when it was first starting. The five wins and a spot in the regional championship game last fall is real progress, something the Hawks can use as a foundation in the program’s further growth.

“When you get to the playoffs and you lose, it kind of gets that fire back in you. You want to get back to that same place again and win. Put a spark into the team,” said Eddie Evans, a sophomore lineman.

Seniors Max Tripp, a running back/linebacker, and Draven Elston, a center/defensive tackle, see the improvement the team has made in their time as Hawks and know they’re leaving the program in better shape than they found it. The team plays with confidence now, they said. Last season’s playoff win over Spruce Mountain showed Sacopee Valley what it’s capable of.

Schroader credits his predecessor, Seth Johnson, with setting the template for him to follow.

“He really set the program straight. He gave us the structure we hadn’t had in a while. Even though my play calls are different and we have a different playbook, the system that he started, this will be year three of that system,” Schroeder said. “The biggest thing about that team last year was instilling the belief, not only in the kids, but the community. The parents are having their kids here on time. They’re not missing practice. It’s not where we need it to be, but we’re starting to believe in ourselves as a program, and it’s huge. It’s been a long time coming.”