Head coach: Mark Harriman (19th year)

Last year: 2-6, tied 6th in NESCAC, CBB champions.

Offensive leaders: Seniors — Tyler Janssen, RB; Ryan Spillane, RB; James Fagan, C; Mitch Hildreth, T; Juniors — Brian Daly, WR; Noah Stebbins, WR; Frank Williams, Slot; Mickoy Nichol, Slot; Sean Lovett, T; Dylan Rasch, G. Sophomores — Sandy Plashkes, QB; Peter Boyer, RB, Marcus Ross, WR; Martin Guinee, G.

Defensive leaders: Seniors — Mark Upton, LB; Brandon Williams, CB; Trevor Lyons, FS; Sean Antonuccio, DE: Sam Francis, LB. Juniors — Collin Richardson, NT; Jack Maritz, DE; Andrew Jenkelunas, LB, Max Breschi, LB. Sophomores — Joe Frake, LB; Arthur Churchwell, CB.

Special teams: Junior — Grant DeWald, K; Luke MacDonald, LS. Sophomore — Justin Foley, P.

Outlook: The Bobcats are vying for their third consecutive Colby-Bates-Bowdoin title while hoping to move up in the NESCAC standings. They have solid veterans at virtually every position except quarterback. The defense should be their strength. Upton and Williams are all-NESCAC defenders playing behind a big front in the 3-5-3 led by Richardson. Harriman expects  offensive coordinator Skip Capone’s triple-option offense to be a little less run-oriented this year with Plashkes, who took a few snaps but didn’t attempt a pass last year, getting the starting nod over two freshmen. Boyer, from Dover-Foxcroft, earned the starting “dive” back job after a strong preseason, but Janssen and Spillane will get to hammer the rock, too. With Mark Riley’s graduation, there isn’t a known deep threat, but Harriman believes Stebbins, from Biddeford, Ross and Daly are a deeper group than last year’s. The O-line has the only two seniors on that side of the ball, and Harriman expects the veteran unit to impose its will more at the line of scrimmage this year. The Bobcats start with two early road tests against Trinity and Tufts before the home-opener Oct. 8 vs. Williams. If they are balanced as they think they can be, a good start could propel them to their first winning record since 2012.

Coach’s comment: “We look forward (to the tough early schedule) because it’s a good barometer for us. If we’re going to compete with and against the top teams in this league, we want to come out of the gate and do it.”