Coach: Jim Aylward (22nd year)

Last year’s record: 8-3, lost to Cape Elizabeth in Western Class B championship

Returning players: Seniors — Cam Kaubris (QB/DB), Christian Durland (TE/DE), Ben Higley (T/DE), Tyler Mason (HB/DB), Josh Allen (RB/LB); Juniors — Izaak Mills (WB/LB/DB), Ryan Glover (T/LB).

Key losses: Ryan Laubauskas (G/DT), Cole Clark (T/LB), Nick Taylor (G/LB), Brady Fergola (FB/DE), Matt Duka (TB/LB), Chris Day (QB/DB).

Promising newcomers: Seniors — Taylor Bradley (HB/DB), Taylor Carey (NT).

Outlook: The Falcons got within a whisker of their fifth Western Class B title in six years last fall, watching a fourth-quarter lead slip away against favored Cape Elizabeth. Mountain Valley made that run mostly without Kaubris, who sat out much of the season with a shoulder injury. Bradley is back after starting for Class A Skowhegan, where he transferred just before the start of his junior campaign. Glover and Higley anchor an almost completely rebuilt offensive line. Carey, a wrestler, has been a find in his first football preseason. Mountain Valley will be in the mix with York, Wells and Cape, as always, for regional supremacy.

Coach’s comment: “We’ll be OK. Don’t shed any tears for us.” — Coach Jim Aylward