Coach: Gary Parlin (18th year)

Last year’s record: 3-6, lost to Bangor in Eastern A quarterfinals

Returning players: Seniors — A.J. Larrabee (WR/CB), Ethan Kyes (TE/IR/DE), Brandon Cochran (T/NG), Matt Archer (T/DT), Dillan Burnham (G/LB), Colton Miranda (LB); Juniors — Eric Berry (WR/CB), Cam Sennick (QB/IR/FS).

Key losses: Ryan Backus (QB/FS), Nick Watson (G/DE), Zach Tracy (C/LB), Jake Malone (IR/CB), Dana Kane (RB/CB), Alec Wallace (LB), Dan York (T).

Promising newcomers: Seniors — Dakota Savage (G), Brandon Scott (C), Matt Davis (RB/LB), Nick Luker (DT), Adam Lewia (DE); Junior — Isaiah Tracy (RB); Sophomore — Jordan Whitney (QB).

Outlook: With seniors at 17 of the 22 starting positions and a bumper crop of 23 juniors on the roster, Mt. Blue flaunts its most experienced team in years. The Cougars threw a playoff scare into eventual Eastern Class A champion Bangor and hope to build on that this fall. The Cougars will cover for the loss of all-around athlete Backus with a possible QB rotation of Sennick and Whitney. Larrabee, Kyes, Berry and Sennick give the offense a surplus of receivers. Cochran, Archer and Kyes are multi-year starters on the defensive front five. In a more balanced PTC, the Cougars could contend for their first title since 2005.

Coach’s comment: “Most of our varsity players are going to be juniors and seniors. This is the first time we’ve had that in a long time.” — Coach Gary Parlin