Coach: Mark Soehren (second year)

Last year’s record: 2-7

Returning letter winners: Seniors — Ian Hodgkiss (G/DL), Josh Cooper (QB/DB); Juniors — Conrad Labbe (FB/LB), Cam Woodford (FB/LB), Connor King (TE).

Key losses: Tyrus Steinman (QB), Edgar Satterfield (G/DE), Matt Seger (HB/LB), Nick Douglass (HB/DB), Devin Stevens (T/LB), Casey Ray (HB/LB), Patrick Collins (FB/LB), Ben Piper (HB/LB).

Promising newcomers: Seniors — Matt Cooper (T/DL), Mike Whalen (TB/CB), Matt York (WR); Juniors — David Whittier (OL/DL), Mike Adams (OL/DL), Lucas Salas (OL/DL), Frank Benedict (OL/DL), Derek Hanscom (FS), Jake Moody (LB), Kyle Seger (WR/CB).

Outlook: The Knights made gains over the second half of last season after a new triple-option offense was plagued by turnovers against the heavy hitters of Western Class B in the opening month. Josh Cooper has taken plenty of varsity snaps under center since freshman year. He now becomes the full-time starter and will be assisted by a big, if untested, junior-dominated line. The addition of track and field standout York gives Poland a playmaker on the flanks. Labbe and Woodford are hard hitters on defense. It’s a brutal early schedule, again. But if the Knights can run the gauntlet of York, Wells and Mountain Valley without significant injury, they should be well equipped to compete for wins in October.

Coach’s comment:

“I don’t think we’ll have 40 fumbles in our first four games this time.” — Mark Soehren

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