You could say Messalonskee’s football team is rebuilding this year, but in sports “rebuilding” evokes a sense of arduousness, of the long haul. So how do you describe a team that has a 6-0 record after previously winning only five games in five years?
Whatever you want to call it, the Messalonskee Eagles are doing it over in Oakland.
After two winless seasons in 2018 and 2019, and a two-win season last year, Messalonskee has kicked off its 2023 season on an incredible undefeated streak, beating teams like Cony and Falmouth after being haunted by them for so long.
“Hitting our marks,” first-year head coach Blair Doucette calls Messalonskee’s revenge tour. “Checking off boxes.”
The seeds of a renaissance were first planted at the end of last season, when an interim Messalonskee coaching staff, rookie quarterback and bare bones squad defeated historical powerhouses Lawrence in a shootout, 48-45.
At the time, the program was at a low, with three coaches having suddenly quit or been dismissed. Messalonskee nearly canceled its final three games, until some of the players encouraged Doucette and other Oakland-area coaches to fill in at the final hour.
“We had no business winning that game,” Doucette said with a laugh. “It was Tatum’s third start at quarterback, and we had so many injuries. That win picked the kids up, and propelled us to this year.”
It was over the offseason that the Eagles built on their momentum, and without warning became the fearsome team they are today.
Numbers at voluntary workouts ballooned from 10 or 12 to up to 40, the pace of play at practice grew exponentially, and the coaching staff totally revamped the offensive and defensive schemes.
“We were motivated to get back to our rich tradition of winning,” Doucette said. “The kids were so engaged and bought-in. They were excited for change and put the work in — the championship reps.”
The work has certainly paid off.
Through six games, Messalonskee has scored 247 points (41.2 points per game) and allowed only 55 (9.1 per game) en route to an undefeated start.
Powered by dominant skill guys like seniors Sam Dube and Garrett Card, an “outstanding” line corps allowing only 1.5 sacks per game and a true leader in sophomore quarterback Tatum Doucette, the Eagles can beat you any way they need to — and the stats show it.
Messalonskee has 15 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns. Tatum Doucette has the same number of interceptions (three) as Messalonskee’s defense and special teams have touchdowns.
“It’s a whole team effort,” coach Doucette said. “I couldn’t be luckier with my coaching staff, and the kids have shown they can respond to adversity.”
Most importantly, though, the Eagles have not lost their underdog spirit, despite winning six in a row. They haven’t forgotten how much they’ve struggled in recent memory, and how much they want that gold ball.
“We definitely still have that underdog mentality,” Doucette said. “We want to be that program with those big wins.”
Messalonskee’s biggest win yet could come this Friday on the road against Lawrence. Lawrence is right on Messalonskee’s tail and also has a 4-0 record against in-conference opponents.
A victory over the Bulldogs would bring Messalonskee’s renaissance full circle, back to where it started late last October.
Of the teams that have troubled Messalonskee in recent years, Lawrence is at the top of the list. The two sides have met 22 times in the last 20 years, with the Eagles only winning three times, and not once in Fairfield.
“Playing at Lawrence is a tough environment,” Doucette said. “It gets loud, with the Dog Pound. I can’t remember the last time we beat them away.”
To make things even more interesting, 18-year Lawrence head coach John Hersom was formerly Messalonskee’s head coach in the 1990s when Blair Doucette was the team’s quarterback.
A potential state championship appearance is weeks away, but this Friday the Eagles have a chance to prove to themselves, to their rivals and to the community of Oakland that their renaissance is in full bloom, and that they have fully taken flight.