SANFORD — The Sanford High School football team had its championship hopes cut short Saturday, losing to Windham, 49-7.

However, the loss was a slight tear in the big picture of how the Redskins played in 2009.

Finishing last season with an 0-8 record, Sanford had what could possibly be the most remarkable turnaround of any Class A team, going from winless to the playoffs.

Sanford head coach Mike Fallon said the coaching staff believed before the season started the team’s fortune could be turned around, but the players had to buy into the mindset.

“We definitely had the mindset that this year would be a turning year,” Fallon said. “But when you’re swirling in the negativity of losing like we were last year, and a few years before then we were only getting a handful of wins, we were just hanging on. We didn’t know if the kids would hang on and believe and I think that was the biggest thing early on. Were our kids going to compete right out of the gate? What happened early in the season was, we had to win.”

And win they did. The Redskins went on a three-game win streak, with victories over Noble, Marshwood and Scarborough.

The Redskins also defeated Westbrook, Kennebunk and ended the season with a victory over rival Massabesic.

Offensively, Sanford attacked defenses with the strong running combination of Ryan Legere and Shawn Goodrich.

Sanford also displayed a strong defense for much of the season. In their six victories, the Redskins allowed an average of seven points per game.

Fallon said players who gained experience during the winless 2008 season stepped up this season.

“Coming from an O-8 season where there’s a lot of negativity, kids aren’t really believing in themselves,” Fallon said. “Belief is a tough sell as a coach, especially when you’ve been losing. These kids were great. They wanted to compete right from the beginning, and they did. It’s on them. They were a group of fighters.”

Fallon also gave credit to a selfless senior class, who decided to share the leadership responsibilities throughout the season. Fallon said during training camp, the group decided to switch the duties of captain from game to game.

“I was just floored by that, and I was excited,” Fallon said. “I thought it was an amazingly mature response, and right away it told me before our first game, ”˜Okay, I think these kids might get it.’ That was a huge sign for us that they were willing to be very unselfish. They truly bought into the team concept, and that was huge for us.”

The Redskins will lose the senior class, 17 next season, including Legere and quarterback Spencer Wiegand. However, 16 juniors will return next season, including Goodrich, linebacker Jonathan Anata and linebacker Aaron Marshall.

“There’s no question we’ll have some shoes to fill, because there are some super seniors in that class,” Fallon said. “Our kids learned how to win again and put the pride back in the program. We feel like we have some tremendous underclassmen coming back. I have no doubt that with the success we had this year, the kids are going to do the work necessary in the offseason. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be kids drifting to the weight room tomorrow.”

Only nine months until the start of the Sanford 2010 football season. Let the countdown begin.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 317.