New London — The Coast Guard Academy football team was picked to finish sixth in the New England Football Conference Coaches' Poll for the 2016 season.

Coast Guard will be led by record-setting senior quarterback and co-captain Derek Victory, who led the Bears to a 4-2 last season before a broken thumb on his throwing hand cost him the remainder of the year. The Bears finished 5-5 overall, 4-3 in the NEFC.

"The guys are excited to start the season, the last one in the New England Football Conference," said coach Bill George, whose team moves to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference following this year.

"We have developed some small rivalries in the last few years and there are a lot of talented teams in this conference. We look forward to the last time through the conference, having some tough matchups and some entertaining games."

Western New England was picked to repeat its NEFC title, having won its first 10 games in 2015 before falling in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Salve Regina was picked second, Endicott third place and Curry and MIT tied for fourth. Rounding out the poll were Coast Guard, Maine Maritime and Nichols.

Coast Guard opens the season Thursday, Sept. 1 at Anna Maria and follows with its rivalry game against the Merchant Marine Academy at home on Sept. 10. League games begin the weekend of Sept. 24.