Most observers believe that the final Pine Tree Conference Class A standings will look very similar to last year. But that doesn’t mean many of the contestants won’t have a new look this fall.

Several teams will be changing identities this year, whether it’s from a passing team to a running team, from a running team to a passing team, from a borderline playoff team to a solid contender, or from an also-ran to a feisty competitor.

The overall theme may be metamorphosis, but the common goal is the same — be the last team standing in November. What makes this intriguing this season is the road to that goal could go through at least half of the PTC’s dozen teams. 

“I think the goal of most of the teams in the conference right now is you’ve got to crack that top four, and there are probably six legitimate schools that think they deserve to be in that top four,” Lewiston coach Bill County said.

Edward Little may be virtually unrecognizable from last year’s PTC finalist, but the Red Eddies could be just as dangerous with a revamped offense and a physical defense. The Eddies will need to shake off some bad preseason luck quickly, though, with Brunswick and Lawrence on the docket for the first two weeks of the season.

“I’m very happy with my numbers, but we’ve had a couple of kids injured, and we’ve had a couple of ineligibility situations that have been a little bit troubling,” EL coach Darren Hartley said. “Other than that, it’s been a pretty good camp. The kids have worked hard, but the learning curve for us has to come quickly.”

The sharpest learning curve rests with the Eddies’ skill position players. Graduation gutted them at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, so the high-powered offense will likely lose some of its jet fuel this season.

But there is still plenty of intriguing talent on that side of the ball. Teven Colon takes over at quarterback. The speedy junior brings a very different skill set than strong-armed Cody Goddard brought to the position last year, and the Eddies will adjust their offense accordingly.

“We love him as an extra run threat,” Hartley said. “Our vertical pass game is going to be changed with having a quarterback that can scramble from the pocket. We’re basically running a spread formation with a Wing-T offense, with some option.”

Tailbacks Brandon Vye and Cory Spruill hope to bring the toughness and versatility that Buddy Foss and Dylon Therrien brought last year. The receiving corps, led by Alex Clark, Zac Henry and Jimmy Foss, doesn’t have the experience of last year’s crew, but it does have the size. Size is a strength along the offensive line featuring guard Wade Colon as well. That bulk and skill carries over to the defensive line, which will pressure opposing quarterbacks as well as any team in the PTC.

While Edward Little is making the transition from a vertical passing team to a running one, rival Lewiston is making opposite plans. Keeping the ball on the ground has been a staple of Bill County offenses in his decade with the Blue Devils, but this year, fans will be looking to the sky at Don Roux Field with greater regularity.

“We can’t go toe-to-toe with Bangor and EL and some of those good sized teams, so we’re going to beat people with some skill and some speed and some leverage,” County said. “Quite honestly, I’m hoping to throw the ball more than I have in the past. I think Ronnie Turner is the real deal. We won’t go overboard and throw the ball on every down, but we hope to be a little more diverse.”

Turner, a second-year starter, showed off a strong arm and good decision-making in the pocket his junior season. With a speedy receiving unit led by Peter Blais and Nick Weekes, the downfield passing game will move from the Auburn side of the Androscoggin to the Lewiston side, but the Devils still have a potent backfield that will factor in both the running and passing game. While County leaned on feature backs the last six years, tailbacks Andy Pulk and Jeff Keene and fullback Cody Dusseault figure to share the carries. behind a well-seasoned offensive line led by Kris Gagne, Monte Scott and Ben Wigant.

The defense boasts depth along the line and excellent quickness and toughness behind it in Dussault, Wigant, Tyler Nunez, Keene and Matt Therrien. 

A huge sophomore class bolstered Oxford Hills to 60 players in preseason. That’s important considering the Vikings finished last year with less than half that number of able bodies after injuries, ineligibilities and the discouraging nature of a winless campaign ravaged the roster.

Last year, the Vikings lost seven of their eight junior starters to injury during the season. The hope in South Paris is that those players come back hungrier for their senior year.

“After last year, there was some soul searching coming into this year,” Vikings coach Nate Danforth said. “I like their attitude.”

The first order of business for the Vikings is to rebuild the defense, which yielded 45 points per game in 2008. Danforth has simplified things with a new base defense that he hopes leads to a new attitude.

“We moved to a 5-2, so things are a little bit easier to understand on defense,”  Danforth said. “We’re expecting kids to step up and play physical now. There’s not much strategy in a 5-2. You basically line up and play hard.”

Offensively, the Vikes hope to keep athletic senior quarterback Jake Hall healthy all season. Hall will be a pain for opposing teams to prepare for with his ability to run and throw. Tailback Nate Dubois gives the Vikings a dangerous running and receiving threat out of the backfield, where Josh Champagne will also look to contribute

Brunswick, which claims perhaps the league’s best defense, joins Edward Little and Lewiston among the PTC South favorites, with Cony and Mt. Ararat vying for playoff spots. The last five league champions, however, have been PTC North teams, including Skowhegan, which is defending its crown with much of its nucleus returning. Perennial powers Bangor and Lawrence remain in the mix, as well.

Mt. Blue has been in the mix too briefly to its liking the last two years. The Cougars have drawn the No. 8 seed and thus have had the unenviable task of being a sacrificial lamb for powerful Lawrence. With half of their starters returning backed by talented young additions, they have plans to climb up the playoff ladder.

“We’d like to move up and at least get into that middle of the pack so we’d have what we feel is a winnable playoff game,” coach Gary Parlin said. “With a lot of young guys, if we can get there and get a game where we can compete and win, I think that’s going to really help us.”

Ryan Backus, who trailed only Cody Goddard in PTC passing yardage last season, is back to lead the offense. 

“Our offense is going to go as far as he goes,” Parlin said. “He’s going to be a big part of the running game and he’s thrown the ball well in preseason. I really have a lot of faith in our young receivers.”

Jake Malone, A.J. Larrabee and Eric Berry will be Backus’ primary targets. Sophomore Cam Sennick, a long, lanky and fast sophomore, gives the backfield more big-play ability. Big bookend tackles Barndon Cochran (291 pounds) and Matt Archer (271 pounds) join seniors Nick Watson, Zach Tracy and Dan York on the line. Linebackers Alec Wallace, Colton Miranda and Tracy lead the defense.

PTC Class A predicted order of finish

 North

1. Lawrence

2. Skowhegan

3. Bangor

4. Messalonskee

5. Mt. Blue 

6. Brewer

South

1. Lewiston

2. Brunswick

3. Edward Little

4. Cony

5. Mt. Ararat

6. Oxford Hills

Players to watch

Ryan Backus, QB/FS, Mt. Blue

Wade Colon, G/DT, Edward Little

Teven Colon, QB/CB, Edward Little

Nate Dubois, TB/SS, Oxford Hills

Jake Hall, QB/FS, Oxford Hills

 Peter Blais, WR/DB, Lewiston

Monte Scott, T/DL, Lewiston

Ronnie Turner, QB/CB, Lewiston

Brandon Vye, TB/OLB, Edward Little

Alec Wallace, LB, Mt. Blue