Old Colony League football capsules
ATTLEBORO
Coach: Kevin Deschenes (sixth year, 19-34).
Last year's record: 5-6.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: MIAA.net.
Returning starters (10): Allen Leach, WR/FS, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Ali Kruja, RB/DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Tyler McCarthy, RB/CB, 5-8, 150, Jr.; Nick Sheehan, RB/LB, 5-10, 192, Sr.; Luke Johnson, RB/LB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Cedric Wright, G/DE, 5-11, 190, Jr.; MacMichel Borgellas, TE/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Nick Mazurkiewicz, FB/LB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Matthew Howe, G/LB, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Chris Brown, OT/DT, 6-2, 250, Sr.
Returning letter winners (1): Brendan Dozier, RB/CB, 5-9, 166, Sr.
Strengths: Skilled position players, depth at wide receiver and defensive back.
Concern: Inexperience at offensive line and quarterback.
Outlook: Luke Johnson has one more year in the Attleboro backfield after scoring 14 touchdowns last season. "In order for us to have a productive year, Johnson has to continue his pace from last year," Deschenes said. Matt Whitis and Mike Barry will compete at quarterback, and whoever gets the job will rely on the experienced Ali Kruja as a target. Seniors Matt Howe and Chris Brown will anchor the offensive line. Deschenes is pleased with his team's depth at wideout and in the secondary, where he has four returning starters in Allen Leach, Kruja, Tyler McCarthy and Johnson. Johnson won't be the only one getting carries in the Attleboro backfield. Deschenes will go to a combination of Nick Sheehan, McCarthy, Brenden Dozier, and Jason Patterson to get yards on the ground, and he will rely on the offensive line to open up running lanes. Senior captain Matt Howe and Chris Brown will "anchor the offensive line and will have to create holes for our backs," Deschenes said.
BARNSTABLE
Coach: Spanky Demanche (19th year, 110-73-1)
Last year's record: 3-5.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: redraiderpride.com.
Returning starters (5): Jared Broberg, OL/LB, Sr., 6-2, 230; Pat Fulham, DB, Sr., 6-2, 190; Jordan Looby, LB, Sr., 5-9, 175; Garrett Mills, DB, Sr., 5-9, 170; Isaiah Voegeli, T, Jr., 5-10, 160.
Returning letter winners (3): Rob Bancroc, DE, Sr.; Mike Brown, TE, Sr.; Drew Fifflard, LB, Sr.
Strength: Offensive line.
Concern: Depth.
Outlook: Barnstable is switching to a Wing-T offense and moving away from the option this season to "take some pressure off of the quarterback position," Demanche said. John Gomes will take over quarterbacking duties in his first year on the varsity, and Barnstable will look to its three-headed monster in the backfield to produce. Garrett Mills, Jordan Looby, and Pat Fulham will share the carries until Demanche finds the right combination. "We'd like to be diverse and share the load," said Demanche."We'd like to be diverse and share the load," Demanche said. With only five returning starters and a new offense to learn, the preseason will be crucial for the Barnstable offense. Demanche believes that the switch to Wing-T allows his agile offensive line to move the running lanes for his backs. "In the last couple of years we've lost some size up front," Demanche said. "But our O-line is pretty quick this season." Gomes will be thrust into the starting QB spot at the head of a new offense, and Demanche will use the preseason to get Gomes as much experience as possible before the first game. "(Gomes) played quarterback on the junior varsity last season, and he's worked really hard and is in tremendous shape."
BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM
Coach: Dan Buron (15th year, 113-34-2).
Last year's record: 3-7.
Playing surface: Artificial turf.
Football website: brathletics.com.
Returning starters (9): Alex Sharp, OT/DT, 6-0, 250, Sr.; Sam Barrett, OL, 5-11, 225, Sr.; Brad Gordon, TE/DE, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Colby LeClerc, WR/DB, 5-10, 195, Sr.; Brett Wyman, FB/LB, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Tom Graziano, K/P, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Bob Cormier, OL/LB, 5-11, 245, Pat Omar, RB, 5-9, 185, Jr.; Ken Larkin, CB, 6-1, 185, Jr.
Returning letter winners (4): Nick Dyer, TE, Jr.; Sean Reagan, SE/DB, Jr.; Jon Larcom, SE/DB, Sr.; Kurt Livingston, RB/LB, Jr.
Strengths: Depth at skill positions, kicking game.
Concerns: Inexperience at QB, depth on offensive line.
Outlook: Buron will have a deep backfield with several interchangeable parts. Brett Wyman, Colby LeClerc, and Pat Omar are similar backs (the "clones," as Buron calls them) and will allow the coaching staff some flexibility with play-calling. It also helps Buron preserve legs throughout the season and limit some of his two-way players to just one side of the ball. Junior Ken Larkin and sophomore Kevin Bumpus will compete at quarterback.As with most teams at this point, B-R's defense is ahead of its offense. Brett Wyman has moved from defensive end to inside linebacker and senior Alex Sharp will line up at tackle on both sides of the ball. Buron's offensive line will need some new faces to step up. Senior Sam Barrett, Sharp, and senior Bob Cormier are the only offensive lineman with varsity experience. At quarterback, there are two possibilities for the opening game starter: Jr. Ken Larkin, and sophomore Kevin Bumpus in his first year on the varsity. "Both guys have done a good job for us," Buron said.
DARTMOUTH
Coach: Richard White (fourth year, 23-6-3).
Last year's record: 10-1.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: maxpreps.com.
Returning starters (7): Sean Sylvia, QB/S, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Jordan Todman, RB/DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Ryan Andrew, T/LB, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Justin Cruz, C/LB, 5-10, 200, Jr.; Justin Mello, WR/DB, 6-1, 180, Jr.; Owen Higham, WR/CB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Arthur Fontaine, TE/DE, 6-5, 245, Jr.
Returning letter winners (7): Alex Sykes, LB/QB, Sr.; Chris Toole, T/DE, Jr.; Evan Davenport, RB/DB, Jr.; Nick Pettengill, WR/LB, Jr.; Adam Desjardins, C/DT, Sr.; Nick DeMello, G/DT, Jr.; Erik Johnson, G/DE, Sr.
Strengths: Team speed, athleticism at skill positions.
Concern: Depth on both lines.
Outlook: Running back Jordan Todman is back for his senior season after leading Division 1 with 26 TDs last year. "He's the guy," White said. "We're going to try to get him the ball more in the passing game." Junior Sean Sylvia will start at quarterback, making the transition from wide receiver. "Sylvia throws very well and he's a very good athlete," White said. Sylvia and Todman will be used in a two-man option to spread the field. Dartmouth switched to a four-man front on defense. White will use Sylvia and Todman in a two-man option and spread the field. "We're really looking for that 1-2 punch," he said. Dartmouth's offensive line will be smaller and quicker this season, and White wants to use the option to get his offense moving with screen passes, which will also combat defenses that stack the box against Todman. Dartmouth's defensive line got smaller, too, and the rest of the defense will need to be more aggressive to keep the pressure on opposing offenses. Dartmouth switched to a four-man front for the upcoming season and will use its linebackers to shoot the gaps and keep teams guessing.
TAUNTON
Coach: Mark Hannon (first year).
Last year's record: 4-7.
Playing surface: Grass field at Bristol-Plymouth (school installing turf for '08).
Football website: tauntonschools.org.
Key returning players (10): Mike Roy, QB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Taylor Mitton, QB, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Mark Nunes, DB, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Adam Ramey, OG, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Mike Pollard, C, 5-11, 235, Sr.; Matt Shea, TE/DE, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Walter Sabina, WR, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Perrel Walker, RB, 5-8, 190, Jr.; Jesse Westcoat, OL/T, 6-1, 260, Sr.; Brian Terry, FB/LB, 5-11, 215, Jr.
Strength: Competition within team.
Concern: Inexperience on both lines.
Outlook: Taunton is starting fresh with Hannon, and Hannon wants his team to have a balanced offense, as opposed to some of the run-heavy Taunton teams in recent years. Perrel Walker will start at running back, and Hannon is excited about having him in the backfield. "He's pretty electrifying," the coach said. Quarterback is up for grabs between Taylor Mitton and Mike Roy. "I think he's going to be really good." The quarterback situation is a little murkier. Taunton started two quarterbacks last season: Mike Roy for the first seven games and Taylor Mitton for the remaining four. Hannon doesn't know who's going to start the first game, but either way, both Mitton and Roy will be involved in the offense. "The backup quarterback will be involved in running plays and involved in the offense at wide receiver." The offensive and defensive lines are young, and Hannon will use an attack spiral defense or a 5-2 defense and be very aggressive. "We're going to try and use our quickness to fill gaps," he said. Due to construction for a new high school, Taunton won't be able to use its home field this season, and instead will play its home games at Bristol-Plymouth. Hannon said that the team will use the situation to get mentally tougher for road games.
Compiled by Rob Greenfield 
