And that’s probably the least of the changes that will have an impact on the Falcons this season.

Steve LaPointe has won championships as a baseball and girls’ basketball coach and has been involved with Mountain Valley’s golden gridiron exploits since the beginning, so there was no getting-to-know-you period for anyone outfitted in cobalt blue and silver.

Then the coach installed a spread offense. That might be a shock to spectators’ systems, at the very least, since the Falcons and their four state championship teams were brought to you by the I-formation, Wing-T and other saddle-it-up alignments.

“I think it’s going to work, because we have a lot of fast guys,” senior tri-captain Caleb Gauvin said.

Lest you think the Falcons have completely forgotten about the past, meet their three new assistant coaches.

Defensive coordinator Pat Mooney and Devin Roberts have moved over from neighboring Dirigo. Ryan Laubauskas reports for his first coaching assignment after graduating from Division II Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana as a four-year starting offensive lineman.

All three are Mountain Valley alumni, well acquainted with the not-so-distant tradition of 17 Western Maine championship game appearances in a 23-year run.

“It’s just the young energy,” Gauvin said. “They’re here to win. They’re here to get something out of us, and they’re excited for it. They’re all graduates.”

Excitement and some not-so-subtle reminders of the Mountain Valley tradition might be just what the doctor ordered after the first back-to-back losing seasons in school history.

The Falcons went 1-7 in Jim Aylward’s final season before he took the Mt. Blue job. It wasn’t merely a reflection of atrophy in the football program. Baseball and boys’ basketball also missed the 2013-14 playoffs despite dropping from Class B to C.

“We came out in formations that everybody knew what we were going to do,” LaPointe said. “We want these kids to believe they can win. They struggled in basketball. They struggled in baseball. I just hope when they go out that there’s no self-doubt and they just play hard. I think we’re going to be OK.”

Going to the spread theoretically will allow the Falcons’ fleet of quick backs, including sophomore Kyle Farrar, junior Logan Wilhoite and senior Josh Mason, to get the ball with a running start.

Mountain Valley may use either senior Ian Austin or sophomore Nick Newman at quarterback, depending upon the situation.

“The kids seem to enjoy the new offense. We just want to try something different, show a new look to people,” LaPointe said. “I think we have some pretty good backs if we can get them the ball in space because they’re not big, bruising backs. 145, 155 and 170 (pounds), you know?”

Mooney and Roberts were part of a staff that led Dirigo to its second consecutive regional title game. Laubauskas started on the 2006 and 2008 Class B championship teams during his Falcons career.

“Pat Mooney is great. He was able to take the defense over without me having to say a whole lot to him. He and Devin are young guys that have energy and can demonstrate,” LaPointe said. “And Ryan has shown us new techniques. Sometimes you’re teaching 20-year-old technique, and Ryan is able to tune us in with how they’re blocking in college.”

Captains Gauvin, Austin and guard Dalton Milledge are three of 10 Mountain Valley seniors.

That is a huge shift from a year ago, when 38 of the 54 Falcons who suited up in September were freshmen.

“It’s just a lot of confidence. There’s a lot of older guys coming back. There are a couple of new guys who are going to be a big help. It’s just positive energy,” said Gauvin, a two-way starter at end. “We definitely should be able to win some football games and make the postseason again and make something happen.”

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