Coach: Dave St. Hilaire (second year)

Conference: South Class: D

Last year’s record: 3-5, lost in Class D West quarterfinals

Returning players: Seniors — Dustin Tripp (FB/LB), Brendan Dunn (C/DT), Josh Ward (G/LB), Ben Ames (TE/CB); Juniors — Matt Ingram (QB), Alec Brown (FB/DE), Hunter Hamlin (T/DT), Bennett Brooks (SE/CB), Andrew Pazdziorko (RB/DE), Nate Scott (RB/S); Sophomore — Zac Wallace (G/NT).

Key losses: Mario Meucci (TE/WB/LB), Zack Phinney (RB/S), Jeremy Mihilakis (T/DT), Dakota Carter (SE/WB/LB), Tyler Gosselin (OL/DE), Nick Schlosser (OL), Brandon Brown (OL/DT), Mitch Deblois (DE).

Promising newcomers: Seniors —  Zach Berube (G/DT), Andrew Cordes (T/DT); Juniors — Antonio Meucci (WB/LB), Tyler Cote (RB/CB/K), Brad Arsenault (WB/DB), Avery Amero (TE/DE), Rem Lessard (TE/DE), Jack Vickerson (G/LB/NT), Ryan Hafford (T/DT), Mike Brown (T/DT), Jared Gosselin (G); Sophomores — Trenton Wood (T/DT), Luke St. Hilaire (T/DT), Abram Sirois (FB/LB), Cam Gaghan (SE/DB).

Season outlook: The Ramblers started 0-4 before rolling through the second half of their 2014 season, then threw a quarterfinal scare into Old Orchard Beach. That experience and an abundance of returning talent makes Winthrop/Monmouth one of the preseason favorites in top-heavy Class D South. Ingram looks sharp with a year under his belt at the helm of the Wing-T. Tripp emerged as the top runner at the end of last season. Much of the line has returned, led by Dunn, Ward and Hamlin. The Ramblers should be able to come after their opponents in waves, particularly on defense, thanks to their large junior class. An opening-night home game against Lisbon gives Winthrop/Monmouth an immediate opportunity to show and find out where it stands.

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