BOOTHBAY REGION

Coach: Bryan Dionne, first year

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With another season under his belt, Nate Pingitore, now a senior for Yarmouth, will be tougher to bring down this year. And Yarmouth will be tough to bring down as it seeks a regional title. 2009 Press Herald File

Jared Knighton will be back at quarterback for Freeport, which, in its second varsity season, may cause problems for opponents. The Falcons have 14 returning starters. 2009 Press Herald File

Last year: 2-6

Returning starters: 8

Impact players: Brian Hubbard, senior, FB/LB; John Weston, senior, HB/LB; Andrew Bosio, junior, OL/DL; Nick Timberlake, junior, HB/DB; Link Simmons, sophomore, OL/DL

Outlook: With 33 players, should be less of a problem for the Seahawks than last season, when only 21 players suited up. However, the squad remains short on experience. Dionne, who has served as an assistant at Mt. Desert Island and Orono, is dropping the double-wing offense in favor of a T-formation.

FREEPORT

Coach: Rob Grover, third year

Last year: 1-7

Returning starters: 14

Impact players: David Hart, senior, FB/MLB; Matt MacMillan, senior, WB/CB; Jared Knighton, junior, QB/DB; Morgan Kuntz, OT/DT; James Purdy, sophomore, QB/SS

Outlook: The Falcons are entering their second season of varsity football. “I think we’re going to be competitive,” Grover said. “We got some size. We got some speed. We got some depth, and we got a year under our belts.” Knighton and Purdy, who filled at quarterback when Knighton was injured, are both capable of running the double-wing offense, but McMillan is the lone returning running back.

LISBON

Coach: Dick Mynahan, 23rd year

Last year: 6-3, Western Maine semifinals

Returning starters: 11

Impact players: Luke Caron, senior, QB; Jon Crafts, senior, C/DE; Toby Harrington, senior, RB/DB; Mike MacNamara, senior, RB/MLB; Matt Nicholson, senior, G/LB; Zach Spulde, junior, RB/LB.

Outlook: If their key players can stay healthy, the small but quick Greyhounds should be in the thick of the playoff race. Last season, Caron passed for more than 100 yards per game before he was sidelined by an arm injury, and Harrington, who missed the last four games because of a hip injury, rushed for nearly six yards per carry. Lack of size will be a problem, so the Greyhounds will mix things up offensively to keep opposing defenses off balance, “We better be quick in positions because we’re not going to be able to take people on,” Mynahan said.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Coach: Dean Plante, ninth year

Last year: 7-3, Western Maine semifinals

Returning starters: None

Impact players: Jason Dutton, senior, QB/DE; Ryan Gallant, senior, WR/CB; Kyle Christiansen, junior, OL/ILB; Scott Godan, junior, OL/ILB; Jason Regis, junior, FB/DE.

Outlook: After losing 15 seniors from the team that suffered a 35-29 overtime loss to Yarmouth in the regional semifinals, the Seagulls are back to square one. “We’re just very, very inexperienced,” Plante said. “The challenge is to get them some experience quick and hope they improve and stay positive as the season goes on.” Because of a season-ending neck injury to junior Andrew Thayer, the 6-0, 195-pound Regis has been converted from an offensive lineman to a fullback.

ROCKLAND

Coach: Woody Moore, fourth year

Last year: 2-6

Returning starters: 9

Impact players: John Gerry, senior, C/DT; Derek Miller, senior, TB/FS; Donald Prescott, senior, WR/MLB; Sam Meklin, sophomore, QB/DE; Dan Hendricks, sophomore, WR/OLB

Outlook: Lack of size could be a problem, but a slightly-easier Little Ten Conference schedule could help make the Tigers more competitive. “We’re undersized, but we make up for it in athleticism and speed,” Moore said. “It’s probably the quickest team I’ve ever coached.” Miller and Prescott are key players on both sides of the ball, while the 6-4 Meklin takes over at quarterback for his older brother, Dylan, who held the job for the past three seasons.

SACOPEE VALLEY

Coach: Chuck Hamity, first year
Last year: 0-8

Returning starters: 5

Impact players: Chris Nickerson, senior, OL/DL; Ken Corvin, junior, FB/LB; Tyler Lyle, junior, OL/DL; Chris Rowley, junior, FB/DE; Weston Thayer, junior, OL/DL

Outlook: After going winless in their first varsity season, the Hawks look to improve. “Our strength is in the passion and excitement our players have for the game of football, along with their work ethic and commitment to each other,” said Hamity. who served as head coach at Lake Region for 14 seasons. “Our weakness is that we are a new program and, with that, the corresponding hurdles that we will eventually overcome.”

TRAIP ACADEMY

Coach: Ron Ross, eighth year
Last year: 3-5

Returning starters: 15

Impact players: Tim Rogers, senior, OT/DT; Alex Gamester, senior, TB/OLB; Matthew Clifford, junior, QB/CB; Tyler Nay, junior, OG/MLB; Ben Castellano, sophomore, OT/NG

Outlook: With four starting linemen returning, offensive line play should be a strength for the Rangers, who are trying to record their first winning season since 1991. With just 27 players, depth could be a problem. The 240-pound Nay anchors the 5-3 defense.

YARMOUTH

Coach: Jim Hartman, fourth year

Last year: 8-3, Western Maine runner-up

Returning starters: 14

Impact players: Asa Arden, senior, RB/CB; Tommy O’Toole, senior, WR/CB; Nate Pingitore, senior, RB/OLB; Nick Proscia, senior, FB/MLB; Jack Watterson, senior, C/DL; Carter Dorsett, junior, OT/OLB; Anders Overhaug, junior, RB/SS; Ben Weinrich, junior, OG/DT

Outlook: After playing for a regional championship in only their third varsity season, the immediate future looks bright for the Clippers. Four offensive linemen return, and those players should give Yarmouth a big edge up front. Arden, Pingitore and Proscia bring speed and power to the backfield.

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