AUGUSTA — One of the most storied players in Gardiner football history walked into Fuller Field on Friday night dressed in Cony red and thirsty for a Rams victory.

Welcome to yet another twist in the state’s most storied gridiron rivalry. 

Nate Sergent, who won the James J. Fitzpatrick trophy (awarded to the state’s top senior player) in 1997 at Gardiner, is now a Cony die-hard.

Of course, it’s hard to find fault, given Nate’s son, Parker, is a senior captain and standout receiver for Cony. The Rams hosted the Tigers on Friday night in the 145th meeting between the rivals.

“You do run into a couple of people who go, “I can’t freaking believe you let your kid go to Cony,” said Nate Sergent, 43. “Some of the old-timers (say it).”

The Sergent family has deep ties to the rivalry, which began in 1892. 

Bud Sergent, who is Nate’s father and Parker’s grandfather, was a two-way lineman for Gardiner in the mid 1970s. Furthermore, Bud Sergent’s uncles played for Gardiner in the 1950s.

On Friday night, the Sergents were out in force to support Parker and the Rams.

“Blood is thicker than water,” Bud Sergent said, matter of factly. “We’re a football family. When (Parker) chose not to play football, good for him, do what you want. But to get him to come out (last year) and see how well he’s done (this year), that’s a pleasant surprise.”

Nate said switching from Gardiner fan to Cony never felt awkward.

Gardiner’s Nate Sergent celebrates a touchdown during a Nov. 24, 1997 game. Kennebec Journal file photo

“There isn’t (weird feelings),” said Nate Sergent, 43. “I think it’s been so long now. When I first got out of high school, went to college, came back to town, I just kind of did my thing, I wasn’t around a lot of the high school rivalry stuff. I read about it in the paper, but didn’t take a deep dive into it.

“I had a great experience at Gardiner. I had great coaches, great teammates, great friends that I’m still in touch with. We just live up here in Augusta and it’s a great community as well. From the teachers to the administrators, the school system. My wife works here and knows everyone that’s involved. It’s been a pretty seamless transition. Plus, if I can ruffle a few feathers, I do like to do that every once in a while.”

Vikki Sergent — Nate’s wife and Parker’s mother — works in the athletics office at Cony.

A basketball standout who will play at Thomas College next year, Parker Sergent is a relative newcomer to the gridiron. He picked up football as a junior last year. 

“Growing up, I always heard about my father and grandfather playing in these games,” Parker Sergent said. “Especially with my dad, some of his closest buddies always talk about the Cony-Gardiner game. I’ve always heard about the intensity and emotion brought out by the game. I’m just looking forward to, not the exact same emotion, but continuing the tradition for as many years as it’s been now.”

Dad welcomed his son’s decision to play football. 

“I was elated,” Nate Sergent said. “I always wanted him to play football. One of the things we always talked about was waiting until seventh grade to play (tackle football). I agree with playing flag football until seventh grade… Freshman year, he wanted to try it, but then COVID hit. When he told me he was going to play, I was secretly excited. I love going to football games and I enjoy the atmosphere. That’s what I was trying to tell him, about the atmosphere. He’s really got into it this year, the joy of Friday night under the lights. He just loves the camaraderie. I just want him to enjoy it.”

Marine Sgt. Joseph TuÕi, left, waits with Cony senior Parker Sergent and his mother Vikki Sergent for announcement of Scholar Athlete Award on Friday October 20, 2023 on ConyÕs Fuller Field in Augusta. A football player on each team won a scholarship from the Marine Corps. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Parker’s football career didn’t start well. In just his second game last season, he broke his collarbone, which sidelined him for the fall. 

After rehabbing in the offseason, including running receiver routes, Parker returned to the field for his senior year. 

“What really kept me in it for this year were my teammates, they kept encouraging me,” Parker Sergent said. “They said, ‘hey, we need you. Stick it out, it’s your senior season.’”

He’s provided a spark in the dangerous Cony passing attack. He’s also helped rekindle the Cony-Gardiner rivalry in the family. 

“There was a genuine dislike (for each other years ago),” said Bud Sergent, 65. “We didn’t see the (opposition) like we do now. We didn’t have social media. … I won’t give away any details, but there might have been an incident where some people were caught at Capital Park in ‘75, by our football coach, after the police called. But that’s a story for another day.”

Bud Sergent said his loyalty will likely head back to the Tigers after Parker graduates in the spring.

“There may be a (Gardiner) shirt under this (Cony) one right now,” he joked.