ORONO, Maine (WABI) – Two state champion teammates are joining the Maine football team this season.

The Maine Black Bears added a pair of Leavitt Hornet stars to their roster in this year’s recruiting class with Noah Carpenter and Jace Negley.

They’re all done winning state championships in high school, and now they want to make an impact on the college level.

Carpenter and Negley gave credit to the Hornets coaching staff in their journey to Division I college football.

“They just do a great job of putting guys out on the field and getting them game ready,” said Carpenter, freshman quarterback.

“Mike Hathaway, head coach of Leavitt, was helping develop us when we were in second grade,” said Negley, freshman defensive lineman.

They’re glad to be back playing together.

“Being here with Noah, we’ve been friends for a long time, so it’s a great feeling,” said Negley.

“It’s been a dream of ours to come up here. We grew up in Maine. We always wanted to play football and play D-I football at Maine,” said Carpenter.

Maine’s players and coaches are taking notice of the two players from Turner.

“Noah’s got a lot of energy. He comes into the meeting every day fired up and ready to go. You can tell he’s really proud to be here. I think it’s really cool that he’s in his home state playing for his state team,” said Carter Peevy, graduate quarterback.

“He can make pretty much every throw that you need to make here. It’s just going to come down to him actually getting into the playbook and really getting a grasp on it,” said Anthony Harris, senior quarterback.

“We’re getting some young players who are passionate about the game of football. (They’re) high character young men who value teamwork,” said Jordan Stevens, head coach.

The former Hornets know the path that’s ahead of them to succeed in the CAA.

“(We’re) just putting everything we have into this game,” said Carpenter.

“We’re onto a next chapter, so we’re going to put the work in here, and hopefully get the results we’re desiring,” said Negley.

Carpenter and Negley’s first college game will be under their usual high school Friday night lights on Aug. 30 against Colgate.

“I’m just going to take every day with a great attitude, put my head down, work hard, and see where that gets me,” said Negley.

“I’m going to love it, man. I’ve been looking forward to it my whole entire life. Just to be out here with this special group on the team already, the brotherhood we’ve built already is just going to be electric on that night,” said Carpenter.

Carpenter and Negley are joined by fellow Leavitt Hornet, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Jack Boutaugh, on the Maine roster.

The Hornet to Black Bear tradition continues.

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