WALES — The timeline or graph of Connor Elwell’s all-over-the-charts junior football season at Oak Hill can be plotted around three checkpoints.

Each of them labeled, “Lisbon.”

Elwell broke his left foot during the Raiders’ first preseason scrimmage against the Greyhounds.

It was a two-month sentence that involved crutches, a walking boot, water bottles, weights, a stationary bicycle, studying, and no shortage of frustration for everyone wearing red, white and blue.

“We didn’t know what he was capable of, because we lost him like the fifth play of the exhibition,” Oak Hill coach Stacen Doucette said. “First we thought it was going to be four to six weeks, and then it ended up being more like six to eight. We didn’t know what he was going to bring to the table.”

Now they know. All of Class D West does.

Elwell’s quest to make up for lost time began when he returned to the lineup in Week 8 — yes, at Lisbon.

His nose for the ball at defensive tackle helped preserve a 7-6 quarterfinal win against Maranacook, and his versatility on the offensive line — Elwell plays tackle, guard, even tight end — repeatedly ripped open holes for Kyle Flaherty and Alex Mace in a 25-6 semifinal triumph at Dirigo.

And guess what? He gets to go to Lisbon one more time, for Saturday’s regional title game (12:30 p.m.) at Thompson Field.

“I feel like it’s healed, and now I’m just excited to get back out there and play some football,” Elwell said.

Not all the complications with Elwell getting back into the lineup involved his fracture.

Cardiovascular conditioning is no small matter for the Raiders, who regularly run a double wing offense with no huddle. Oak Hill dusts off other formations, too, often making the switch within a single offensive series.

Elwell couldn’t afford to miss a practice, and he never did. Doucette tailored those 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. sessions with all those elements in mind.

“He worked on upper body because he was allowed to do that. He probably was the only player on our team to increase strength instead of lose a little bit. During the season you’re usually losing time in the weight room. You’re losing weight,” Doucette said. “And he paid attention. He’s one of our thinkers on the offensive line. He kind of knows what’s going on, and he helps out the other guys.”

In addition to the prescribed rest when he wasn’t at school or practice, Elwell walked on crutches for five weeks and in a walking boot for two more.

“Probably one of the hardest parts of coming back was staying in shape. I had a cast on, so I couldn’t do much aerobic exercise. I tried to ride the bike when I could, to stay in shape so that when I came back I’d be able to play,” Elwell said. “I did some lifting. Then I would come out about halfway through practice and watch, so I could keep up on the plays, so I could come back in the routine.”

One look at the roster explains why Elwell’s return means so much to the Raiders.

With most of his season spent behind closed doors, Elwell checks in at 210 pounds. Nobody else in Oak Hill’s seven-man rotation tips the scales above 200.

“He’s a little bit of our muscle,” Doucette said. “He’s very physical, and he wants to be physical.”

Elwell hinted at his potential as a sophomore, when he started a playoff game against Boothbay at defensive tackle. He saw time on both sides, in addition to special teams, in the regional and state finals.

This summer and fall were supposed to be his time to shine. Then came the screeching halt and the danger of becoming a forgotten man.

Neither player nor coach allowed that to happen.

“You always worry when a kid gets a long injury like that, that you’ll kind of lose him,” Doucette said. “He kept his interest and he helped out. He was at every practice, every game. He helped out with the water bottles. He was part of the team all along.”

“Whatever I had to do to continue playing football,” Elwell added.

His reward is a chance to help Oak Hill defend its state title. Only six other schools — Bonny Eagle, Cheverus, Winslow, Yarmouth, Boothbay and Lisbon — have accomplished that in any class since 2000.

“We’re not very big, but we work well together, and we communicate,” Elwell said.

Add “don’t give up easily” to that list.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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