This Saturday, October 1st @ 6pm, the Maine Sabers Football Club will be have their first play-off game on the turf field at Falmouth High School. The Sabers have generously donated all gate proceeds to the Falmouth Football Program.

Come on down to Falmouth High School on Saturday and check out some very good football!

About Maine Sabers Football
The Maine Sabers Football Club is part of the 15 team Eastern Football League, the oldest semi-pro league in the country. Maine has had a few teams in the league, most notably the former Portland Seahawks in the 60s and 70s, and the original version of the Maine Sabers in the early from 1990s.

The team is made up of over 50 former and prospective college football players, as well as area high school standouts. Nearly half our men played in college including LB Anthony Hicks and CB Stephen Barker of UMaine, LB Brandon Dorsett of Colorado State and Portland HS, and QB Jeremy Shorey of Hussan College whom was also a pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system. Falmouth's David Goodrich had been the Sabers kicker until reporting to UConn's football camp earlier this Fall. The team is coached by area college and HS coaches.

The Sabers finished the season with a league best 9-1 record and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The first game will be played at FHS this Saturday at 6pm vs. the Bay State Buccaneers and QB Anthony Comer, formerly of Boston College. Ironically, Bay State was the only team to beat Maine this year, so it should be interesting.

A suggested donation will be accepted at the gate with all proceeds going to Falmouth Football.

The Maine Sabers were winners in their return to the Eastern Football League for the 2011 season.

He didn't remember the patches of black and blue that marked body parts that pads didn't cover. No memory of aching or cramping muscles. No flashbacks to the fatigue that swept into his mind when the last second ticked off the scoreboard clock.

After four years away, Matt Benson missed the feel of a football between his hands, and looking to his left and to his right and seeing men who had become his brothers. Those were reasons enough to raise his hand when Steve Goodrich and friends decided to reform the Maine Sabers and went looking for players.

"At first I kept saying I'm not sure," said Benson. "Then it was, let's give it one more shot."

One more shot at a game that will pay off in blood, sweat and in this case, more than a few cheers. The Maine Sabers were winners in their return to the Eastern Football League for the 2011 season. Benson and his teammates walked off the field Saturday with a 9-1 record and top seed in the upcoming playoffs.

Benson is listed as the team's 6-foot, 290-pound center. In 2002 he was an All-State lineman for Coach Brian Curit at Biddeford. A pretty good wrestler on a team that finished third in the Class A meet, and a winning pitcher and home run hitter on a good Biddeford baseball team. He went to Husson University to help Coach Gabby Price turn that start-up program into a winner and walked away in 2007 after being named to an all-star team of New England Division II and III players.

He's 26 now and a counselor at the Sweetser School in Saco. He had moved on to the next chapter in his life when he realized he could do both and play football again.

"This season exceeded expectations," said Benson. "I wanted to see if I could still play, if I still had it in me. This has been very satisfying. I joined a team where I just knew a few guys and now I have 50 new friends I'll keep for a long time.

"These are the times I'll never forget."

Understand that the Eastern Football League falls into that loose grouping of so-called semipro teams. Players aren't paid and frequently pay for much of their own gear. Their teammates are college students or fathers with children holding day jobs.

They practice once a week, usually, for weekly games. They're coached and they're fed. Win and everyone comes back for more of the same. Lose two or three in a row and players find other things to do with their time.

The men who score touchdowns catch the little attention the media pays.

The men who form the core of the team on the offensive line are anonymous. They always are.

"Matt is my coach on the field," said head coach Jason McLeod. "He calls the adjustments during games. He understands the game."

Benson's younger brother, Jon, plays left tackle. As injuries took a toll, McLeod had to look down his depth chart to fill in at left guard.

Don't worry, McLeod told the new guy, you're playing between two of the best. Just follow their lead."

Nine years ago, Matt Benson received the compliment of being big enough to take on any nose guard or linebacker in Class A, yet athletic and quick enough to handle smaller defenders who tried finesse or technique to get by him.

"I like to see myself listed at 6 feet but I'm really not," said Benson. "I went against some guys taller and heavier than me with leverage, but our coaching staff puts us in a place to succeed.

"On the field I'm a completely different person. When you strap it on you're doing it for the cause, to be part of something special."

The Sabers are champs of the league's Northern Division and will sit this weekend while other teams make up games postponed by Hurricane Irene. The Sabers have home-field advantage but don't yet know who their first opponent will be in two weeks.

Not that they care.

They're playing football.

(Portland Press Herald)

Staff Writer Steve Solloway can be contacted at 791-6412 or at: ssolloway@pressherald.com

The Sabers enter the playoffs with a 58-0 win.

Video Link: http://www.wmtw.com/video/29219803/detail.html

(WMTW)

Video Link: http://www.wmtw.com/video/28991993/detail.html

(WMTW)

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKIawU6hwqk

(YouTube)

Link: http://www.wmtw.com/video/28859310/detail.html#ixzz1V6ZW0H7a

(WMTW)

The unbeaten Sabers play once-beaten Boston in a gridiron game at Fitzpatrick Stadium today.

PORTLAND — The Maine Sabers, the only unbeaten team in the Eastern Football League, will put their record on the line today against a North Division rival, the Boston Ravens.

Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. Admission is free.

"They are by far the most physical, athletic and put-together team we've faced up to this point," said Sabers Coach Jason McLeod. "They're a disciplined team on both sides of the ball. They have athletes at all the playmaker spots."

The Ravens (4-1) have played one more game than the Sabers (4-0) and are averaging 33 points per game. The Sabers' offense has been productive, averaging 31 points.

Matt Rollins, a Bonny Eagle High graduate, has been the Sabers' starting quarterback. Jeremy Shorey, the former Lisbon High and Husson University star, relieved Rollins in a couple of wins. "We focus on a small set of plays and dress them up," said McLeod.

Strong safety Anthony Hicks, a former University of Maine player, and Brandon Dorsett, a Portland native and Colorado State linebacker, form the nucleus of a defense that has allowed an average of one touchdown per game.

(Portland Press Herald)

Link: http://www.wmtw.com/video/28773022/detail.html

(WMTW)

Matt Rollins threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as Maine won 42-6. James Dobson had three touchdown catches as Maine improves to 3-0.

Read more: http://www.wmtw.com/video/28573745/detail.html#ixzz1SPttPFI5

(WMTW)

PORTLAND - Matt Rollins' 18-year-old legs took him quickly from one drill to the next, one play from scrimmage to another. Rollins looked quick, just waiting for the football to be snapped.

So quick, I had to ask the other Maine Sabers quarterback a question: Does he make you feel young?

"No," said Jeremy Shorey, smiling ruefully through a weeks-old beard. "Matty makes me feel old."

When the owner, Steve Goodrich, and Coach Jason McLeod revived the Maine Sabers' name, the belief four months ago in tryouts was Shorey would lead the semipro team into the Eastern Football League season. Shorey was the former Lisbon High and Husson University star whose football career was interrupted by two years pitching in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system.

Shorey had the maturity and presence that can come with a 30-year-old birthdate. Rollins had the exuberance of youth. He just graduated from Bonny Eagle High this spring. He was the high school quarterback whose senior season and 8-2 record was overshadowed by Peter Gwilym of Cheverus and Jamie Ross of Deering, the Fitzpatrick Trophy winner and the Fitzy finalist.

Rollins is the kid on the roster. He says he's the only 18-year-old on a team with more than a few married men and fathers. He's the one who can't legally have a beer with teammates after games.

"Every time I step onto the field, I try to prove to them I belong, that I'm not here because of personal accolades," Rollins said after Wednesday night's practice in the dome at the Portland Sports Complex. "It puts a chip on my shoulder. The whole season is a tryout for me."

Rollins is the Sabers' No. 1 quarterback. He passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more in the season-opening 41-8 win over the Charlestown Townies on June 25. After a 21-12 road win over Braintree a week later, the Sabers open at home at 4 p.m. Saturday at Deering High with a second game against Charlestown.

"I know we beat them the first time," said Rollins, "but you know football. You can't take anything for granted."

Eight months ago he was playing with and against boys, no disrespect intended. Now he's looking into the eyes of adult men who may have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or played NCAA football. Rollins' youthful poise was tested on the road in Braintree, facing hostility on the field and from the grandstand that was more extreme than anything he experienced. "Biddeford fans are pretty classy compared to what I heard."

That's when Shorey put his arm around Rollins' shoulder pads and became the big brother. At Wednesday's practice, it was amusing to hear Shorey call Rollins "son."

"He won the job," said Shorey. "Now it's all on-the-job training. He's learning from everything he experiences."

Twelve years separate them. Neither really knew of the other. Shorey, who just got married, works at Bath Iron Works in materials control. He didn't pay a lot of attention to Bonny Eagle football.

"I barely knew who Quinton Porter was," said Rollins, who actually paid for some quarterbacking lessons from Porter, the former Portland High and Boston College quarterback, now with the Hamiton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League. "But I've learned what Jeremy's done."

Rollins' dream was to play college football, perhaps in Division III. The plan was to attend Norwich Academy, a prep school, but there wasn't enough financial aid. Instead, Rollins will enroll at the University of Southern Maine and get his football fix playing for the Sabers.

"There was a small bit of concern having a teenager essentially lead the team on the field, particularly for a first-year squad," said Jason McLeod. "I think the veteran and seasoned players that Matt has around him have eased most of my initial concerns."

It helps, too, that McLeod put in a spread-style offense that is similar to Coach Kevin Cooper's system at Bonny Eagle. The Sabers have an offensive line that works well together, and receivers and backs who are good playmakers.

"We're here to enjoy the game, laugh it up and hit people," said Shorey. "This team is gonna have some fun (winning games.) Sure, I want to be the quarterback, but we have to get the wins. I'm the captain, I'm the leader and I'm still the best punter. I'll give as much support as I can."

He looked at Rollins walking off the turf.

"I didn't have those legs when I was 18."

(Portland Press Herald)

The Maine Sabers topped Braintree, 21-12, improving to 2-0 on the season.

The semi-pro team returns to Portland next weekend. The Sabers' first home opener in 17 years will be Saturday, July 16 at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.

(WGME)

Brandon Dorsett knows his football playing days won't last forever. So while he can still make a tackle, shed a block and have fun, the former Portland High standout jumped at a chance to put on the helmet and shoulder pads once again.

The revival of the Maine Sabers, a minor league team in the Eastern Football League, has given players like Dorsett, 25, a chance to play the game they love.

The Sabers open their 10-game schedule at 7 tonight against the Charlestown Townies at Charlestown, Mass.

The Sabers fielded a team in the Eastern League in the early 1990s. They're back under the ownership of Stephen Goodrich, who was a kicker for the team back then. Goodrich is CEO of PowerPay in Portland.

The Sabers list 57 players on their roster. The majority are former southern Maine high school players and college players from various schools. The head coach is Jason McLeod, Windham High's offensive coordinator. A pair of Bates College assistants are part of the Sabers' staff. Skip Capone is the defensive line coach and Chris Kempton the defensive coordinator.

After graduating from Portland High in 2005, Dorsett, an outside linebacker for the Sabers and a tri-captain, played two years at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and then at Colorado State University.

"Football is in my blood," said Dorsett, who lives in Westbrook and works for an insurance company there. "It's a way of life for me. It feels good to put the pads on and have the camaraderie of teammates. It's rewarding to get back into playing shape again. I feel truly blessed that I can still play.

"I think we'll have a good season. We've done well in scrimmages against other teams. We have a lot of guys who played in college."

McLeod said Dorsett is a "silent leader."

"His actions speak louder than his words. When Brandon does speak, the guys listen because it really means something," said McLeod.

Former Lisbon High standout Jeremy Shorey and Matt Rollins, who played for Bonny Eagle High last fall, are close in the competition for the starting quarterback position. Shorey is getting married today, so Rollins will play.

McLeod has been impressed with Rollins' play and maturity. Rollins provides a running threat at quarterback while Shorey, at 6-foot-4, is a traditional pocket passer.

"Matt fell into our lap," said McLeod. "He was supposed to play football at Norwich University, but it didn't work out.

"He's enrolled at USM and wants to play football."

A key addition to the team is Anthony Hicks at strong safety. Hicks is a former defensive back at Maine.

"It's really hard at this level to put together a well-run organization, but I feel we have," said McLeod.

Goodrich said the team's first run in the league ended because he was looking for help in running the team and couldn't find anyone suitable.

"We decided to conclude operations," said Goodrich.

"Jason and I have talked about bringing the team back for a couple of years. We've managed to get a few marquee players.

"The other teams in the league are glad that we're coming back. In our first year in the league, we made it to the league semifinals. They remember the Maine Sabers."

The Sabers have five home games and five away games. They will play home games at Fitzpatrick Stadium and Scarborough High.

"Based on our talent and experience, I think we'll have a competitive team," said McLeod. "The work ethic has been phenomenal. The players soak things up like a sponge."

The Sabers first home game is July 16 against Charlestown at 4 p.m.

Other homes games are: Boston on Aug. 6, Braintree on Aug. 13, Twin City on Aug. 25 and Eastern Massachusetts on Sept. 17. The Eastern Massachusetts game starts at 7 p.m., and the other home games start at 4 p.m.

(Kennebec Journal)

PORTLAND — The session of running football drills and plays was over. Nick Wilson walked off the artificial turf mopping the sweat from his face with a towel. The grin stayed.

"This is great," he said, eyes making contact with a stranger. He had played tight end and defensive end at Bonny Eagle, before the run of state championships. He played at Maine, an understudy to tight end Chad Hayes. He played organized football after he left Orono.

"I gave it up when I had a kid three years ago. I want him to see me play football before I can't anymore."

There were about six dozen Nick Wilsons in the dome at the Portland Sports Complex on Saturday. Maybe no one else had a 3-year-old son, but most had the same grins, put there by the opportunity to play competitive football again.

The Maine Sabers semi-pro football team sent out the call for a second workout last week. The first of twice-weekly practices begins in early April. Its first game of the 2011 Eastern Football League schedule will be in late June.

They will get no pay and, in fact, will have to cover some out-of-pocket expenses to play. During the season they will ignore bruised and aching and maybe broken bodies to report back to the real world and real jobs when workweeks begin again. Once a football player, always a football player.

Which is why Steve Goodrich has felt a tad uncomfortable by all the expressions of gratitude he's heard lately. The Portland businessman and member of the Maine Red Claws ownership group loves football. He was part of the first incarnation of the Maine Sabers 20 years ago and derived so much satisfaction from that experience, he decided to re-form the team after a nearly 15-year hiatus.

Not for money. The chances of flipping a semi-pro football franchise for a profit to a new owner are virtually nil. Not for ego. Goodrich most recently bought the Portland Public Market building for his company, Power Pay. He's a Gorham native with a string of business successes.

Note the Gorham hometown. He was a soccer player who discovered the satisfaction of playing football in college. Once a football player, always a football player. Except as a 50-something Goodrich won't be strapping on shoulder pads and a helmet. The challenge of recruiting coaches, players, administrators and support staff to win football games is why the Maine Sabers are back. In theory, it's the same formula he uses in business.

Except watching Jeremy Shorey, the former Lisbon High quarterback, Milwaukee Brewers' minor league pitcher and Husson University wide receiver throw a touchdown pass will give Goodrich a different thrill. And a lot more quickly than waiting for a quarterly sales report.

Maine is no stranger to the world of semi-pro football, dating back to the Portland Seahawks. The Southern Maine Raging Bulls, with a home base in Biddeford, have been around for more than 10 years.

Other teams have come and gone.

Goodrich simply wants to return to the party.

Fellow traveller Jason McLeod is his head coach. McLeod is the offensive coordinator for Windham High's football team and played at Bonny Eagle High back in the 1990s. He coached the Maine Freeze, an all-female semi-pro team. He was a head coach at Westbrook High. He's still a young man but a football lifer. Skip Capone, the former Lewiston High head coach and current Bates College assistant is on his staff. Chris Kempton, also a Bates assistant, is another.

Saturday, their enthusiasm was at odds with the modest stipends they'll receive. Once a football coach, always a football coach. The eagerness of players high stepping through mundane agility drills was infectious. John Wiechman, the star running back from Bonny Eagle and Southern Connecticut State and home on spring break, caught the fever and he was just a spectator.

Goodrich and McLeod would love Wiechman on their roster but he's considering other options, even as he's trying to cope with the frustration of the NFL lockout.

Brandon Dorsett, the former Portland High and Colorado State linebacker. Mike Leconte, the former South Portland and Maine lineman. Will Isbister, the former Cony High lineman now hoping to realize a dream of catching passes as a tight end. They were men with the faces of kids.

Goodrich, too. The former placekicker has just one concern. "I am worried they will ask me to kick field goals."

He laughed.